Struggle restores power to apartment residents

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Kathleen MacDonald on Sept. 11 ordered DTE Energy to turn the power back on at Highland Towers apartments. The building is located in Highland Park on Woodward Avenue near Glendale. The decision is valid for one week when another court hearing will be held on the status of the situation at Highland Towers.

The residents had been without electricity since Aug. 31 when DTE Energy shut off their services without proper notice. The landlords at Highland Towers had not paid the utility bills for months despite these fees being included in the monthly rents collected from the tenants. The owners have gone into hiding and have set up obstacles for tenants to secure justice.

East English Village neighbors demonstrate in support of Belva Davis, who is fighting an illegal foreclosure by Wells Fargo/ Wachovia Bank and loan servicer Ocwen Financial. WW photo: Kris Hamel

The Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shutoffs has worked with the tenants to demand that DTE Energy restore services pending the outcome of the current dispute involving the landlord’s creditors.

Attorney Robert Day of the Legal Aid and Defender Association Inc. filed the case on behalf of the tenants. Other hearings are scheduled for Sept. 15 and Sept. 18. Attorneys for the tenants are seeking immediate relief for the damages endured by the residents resulting from the actions of both the landlords and DTE Energy.

Michelle Hall-Edwards of Legal Aid and Defenders said, “There will be further litigation and [we] will pursue all claims.” LaTanya Lloyd, a resident at Highland Towers, expressed some relief at the judge’s ruling. She is a co-plaintiff in the case against DTE Energy and the absentee landlords.

Organizers for the Moratorium NOW! Coalition are intensifying their campaign in support of the Highland Towers tenants and building on the victory which resulted in the temporary restoration of power. Activists and tenants have appeared on local television and a mass rally is scheduled at the apartment building on Sept. 14.

The Moratorium NOW! Coalition held an organizing meeting Sept. 12 which included representatives from Latinos Unidos of Michigan, United Auto Workers Local 1700, Legal Aid and Defender Inc. and state Sen. Martha G. Scott of Highland Park.

A resolution was passed supporting a rally on Sept. 25 to protest the slated 2010 closing of Chrysler’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. A statement circulated at the meeting and issued by UAW Local 1700 said, “There are ten billion reasons why you should be concerned with Chrysler’s actions: $10 billion dollars of U.S. taxpayer money was used to bail out Chrysler and permit Fiat entry back into the North American market. Already in the last twelve months, Chrysler has closed the Newark, Delaware Assembly Plant, the St. Louis South Assembly Plant, and the St. Louis North Assembly Plant.”

After the meeting the group then went by car caravan to the East English Village neighborhood on the city’s eastside for a demonstration in support of homeowner Belva Davis, who is fighting an illegal foreclosure by Wells Fargo/Wachovia Bank and loan servicer Ocwen Financial.

The action was attended by over 100 neighbors and community activists. Davis, a longtime resident of the community, has been willing to make reasonable payments in accordance with the Home Affordable Modification Program, but the loan servicer has consistently refused to work with her.

Nancy Brigham, an East English Village resident and labor activist, chaired the rally outside Davis’ home on Bishop Street. Speakers included Sandra Hines of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition; Olivia Boykins, special assistant to U.S. Rep. John Conyers; Detroit City Council members Alberta Tinsley-Talabi and Kwame Kenyatta; the Rev. Ed Rowe of Central United Methodist Church; and attorney Jerry Goldberg, who is representing Belva Davis in her struggle to halt the eviction by Wells Fargo and Ocwen Financial.

Davis’ supporters have called for a demonstration at the Wachovia offices located at 19770 Mack Ave. in

Grosse Pointe Woods on Sept. 29 beginning at noon. Davis’ supporters can also send e-mails to Ocwen Financial president Ronald Faris at [email protected] or call 561-682-8000 to demand justice for Belva Davis.