Sheriff in Ill. county won't evict in foreclosures

Oct 8, 2:19 PM (ET)

CHICAGO (AP) - Residents of foreclosed properties in Chicago and other parts of Cook County don't have to worry about deputies forcing them out. Sheriff Tom Dart says that starting Thursday his office won't take part in evictions.

Dart says he's concerned that many of the people being evicted are renters who were unaware that their landlords have been failing to pay their mortgages. He says his deputies have no way of knowing whether they're removing someone who has defaulted on a loan or someone who has been faithfully paying rent.

Dart says he thinks he's the first sheriff in a major metropolitan area to stop such evictions during the ongoing foreclosure crisis.

Dart says the number of mortgage foreclosures in Cook County has skyrocketed and will probably keep rising.

------------------------

Oh great! Why enforce laws with which you disagree?

Wonder what his position is on pot...May be the first major metropolitan area to legalize it (in the US).

Today's multiple choice reality check question of the day. . .

Sheriff Tom Dart is:

A. A disgruntled home owner with a 5/1 ARM about to adjust 5 percent higher.
B. Up for re-election and has given up on the traditional methods of remaining in office (such as lowering crime).
C. Oblivious to the concept of a "lease," and it's magical powers of solving the "who owns this house" confusion.
D. All of the above.

DiabloD3 said:You forgot one, Brainy... E. Sick and tired of the government and wants to do something about it, even if its going to get him fired.

Unfortunately he does not understand that sould he actually do what he plans the mortgage lenders will stop lending in the area.

soundtechie said:But if you don't evict, then the renters keep paying rent and only crooked landlord profits from the sher'fs largesse.

yes, it's a win-win for the renter and the (non mortgage paying) homeowner.

The bank is at a loss since it would be easier to sell a vacant property.

BrainySmurf said:Today's multiple choice reality check question of the day. . .

Sheriff Tom Dart is:

A. A disgruntled home owner with a 5/1 ARM about to adjust 5 percent higher.
B. Up for re-election and has given up on the traditional methods of remaining in office (such as lowering crime).
C. Oblivious to the concept of a "lease," and it's magical powers of solving the "who owns this house" confusion.
D. All of the above.

E. wants to see his name on CNN.com

Hopefully, banks will react either jack up interest rates in Chicago or stop issuing mortgages their altogether until this lazy sheriff gets the boot from voters.

DiabloD3 said:You forgot one, Brainy... E. Sick and tired of the government and wants to do something about it, even if its going to get him fired.

I guess you don't own anything, how would you like it?

The FING guys an idiot and should be shot and his dead body dragged behind my car!

I evict people all the time, oh well get over it and go live with mommy.

Maybe i'll move into your car, maybe then you'll understand it. It's not only banks who foreclose or evict people.

Pay your bills, deadbeat!

I would not be so quick to judge. I see two greedy parties (lending institution and landlord) and one innocent party (renter) in this dispute. The big gorilla (lending institution) is try to evict the innocent renter. The renter has lived up to his/her obligations by paying the rent and is no less innocent than the taxpayers who are paying for a mess they did not create. This case has legal merits and the Sheriff is wise to stay on the sidelines until it is heard in court. If anything, many of the lending institutions are partly guilty for this mess and the plight of the renter.