"It's important for JPMorgan Chase to support Dr. King's legacy because of the important values he committed his life to promoting, such as equality, equal opportunity, and quality education for all. People like Dr. Martin Luther King are what made America what it is today. The values he espoused are the values that JPMorgan Chase also tries to stand for around the world," said Jamie Dimon, Chairman & CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Meanwhile from Occupy Nashville.
Helen Bailey is a 78 year old woman who participated in the civil rights movement, worked as a childcare provider for autistic children, and was a community volunteer. She has paid her mortgage since 1999, but now she can’t keep up the payments. All she wants is to stay in her home until she dies, in the neighborhood where she feels safe and has lived for nearly quarter of a century. She could have refinanced with a company willing to let her live in the house for free until her death, but Chase Bank would not reduce her principal by $9,000. She’s been paying 7% interest, well above most rates, so Chase could have decided they had made enough. Instead, they have started foreclosure and Ms Bailey could end on the street.
And in video form from Change.org
Here's the Change.org petition.
We request that Chase:
· accept the offer of $85,000
· write off any deficiency between the loan balance and the offer
· waive all interest, legal fees and penalties accrued since the initial refinance offer
· cancel any foreclosure auction scheduled
It has been estimated that at foreclosure, Chase may lose over $30,000 compared to this settlement offer. Therefore this option makes the most sense financially for Chase and given Ms Bailey's specific circumstances, there is little moral hazard in this solution.
Tell Chase that in Nashville, in America, we don’t throw elderly ladies out on the street. In Nashville, in America, we fight for what’s right. Helen Bailey marched for civil rights. It's our turn to march for Helen Bailey.
I believe we all agree that one very good thing Occupy can do is to try to keep people in their homes. Occupy Our Homes has already scored a number of successes in this effort. And now we can help Occupy Nashville help a 78-year-old grandmother and former civil rights activist in her home.
I don't know Helen Bailey any better than I know Jamie Dimon, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that she understands MLK's values better than he does.