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AFSCME Member Foils Countrywide Bank
The owner of an apartment building where tenants were residing lost the property in foreclosure. The day after foreclosure, Countrywide Financial the tenants that they had thirty days to get out of the building and once they moved, they would give them $1,000.00, minus any damages that “they deemed” to the property, or eviction proceedings would commence.

The tenants had paid their rent up to date and were upset because the former owner refused to return their phone calls, to have their security deposit returned, so they could move.
Tenant’s contacted the City’s Housing Department and discovered that the property was under the City’s Rent Control Ordinance and foreclosure was not listed as a reason to evict tenants, so they filed a complaint. The Ordinance states that if new owners wanted tenants out of the property, they had to give the tenants a “relocation allowance,” which is a minimum of $6,800.00 and could be more, depending on the number of “legal” occupants in the apartment.

The tenant’s contacted the City Attorney’s office to find out what their tenant rights were, but unable to get through to a live person. One of the tenant’s knew that Business Representative, Dolores Spears, represented LA City employees and called for assistance. Dolores knew that AFSCME represented Legal Assistants in the City Attorney’s and contacted Local 3090 Shop Steward, Yolonda Estrada. Yolonda immediately went into action. Upon consulting an Attorney in her office, the tenant’s learned that Countrywide was evicting tenants in foreclosed property all over the city, but no one had come forward to complain. The City Attorney’s office was ecstatic to finally have a case to move forward with an investigation.

Even though it was not apart of her duties, Yolonda took all of the intake information and assisted the tenant’s in gathering supporting documentation to begin the investigation. The City Attorney’s office notified City Councilman Bernard Parks, who represents the 8th District, Eric Garcetti, President of the City Council, General Manager of the city’s Housing Department and City Attorney, Rocky Delgadillo. They all contacted Countrywide Financial, notifying the company that it was in violation of the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance and demanding that the eviction be rescinded.

The politicians held a press conference in front of the tenant’s apartment, to announce that Countrywide had rescinded the eviction notice and apologized for any inconvenience to the tenants.
At the press conference, the tenant’s spoke with the City Attorney, praising Yolanda for her fast action and assistance.

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