December 14: Kaptur Meets with Cleveland Leaders and Officials from U.S. Treasury, President’s Council on Jobs, and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to Call for Additional Federal Assistance for Ohio Homeowners

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur organized a meeting today with Cleveland's Western Reserve Land Conservancy and officials from the U.S. Department of Treasury to express concern over Ohio's lingering housing crisis and to encourage additional federal assistance for Ohio's struggling homeowners.

"Widespread foreclosures and an oversupply of houses continue to leave our region dotted with vacant and abandoned properties, inviting crime and driving down home values," Kaptur said. "Treasury should be investing in these communities instead of pumping more money into big banks on Wall Street."

The group discussed relief proposals, including special emergency recovery bonds, similar to those issued by the Treasury in response to other crises. The bonds would be used for urban revitalization projects, removing abandoned houses, improving property values, and taking strain off local governments.

"I am encouraged by the innovative response from local leaders, and I hope federal officials at Treasury and in the Administration can get behind them quickly," said Kaptur.

The executive director of President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness Don Graves, who is from Cleveland, led the Treasury team at the meeting. He was accompanied by Buzz Roberts, director of the Office of Small Business, Community Development, and Housing Policy.

Officials representing the Western Reserve Land Conservancy included President and CEO Richard Cochran and his colleague, Scott Wilson, as well as former Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis, a leader in housing reform and foreclosure prevention programs.