SAN JUAN, Texas - Los abogados de la vivienda previenen a los tejanos que estén retrasados en el pago de impuestos sobre la propiedad, para que se cuiden de las cartas que reciban de bufetes legales ofreciéndoles pagar su adeudo atrasado. Es una forma de préstamo depredador, afirma Ann Williams Cass, directora ejecutiva de Proyecto Azteca (organización miembro de la Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network -Red de Voces Iguales del Valle Río Grande-). Ella exhorta a los legisladores estatales a que regulen los impuestos por la cesión de gravámenes en el condado, para dificultar que las inmobiliarias embarguen las casas a sus dueños.

Timar a los deudores de impuestos ofreciéndoles ayuda que podría llevarles a perder su hogar, es algo muy común en las zonas más golpeadas por la recesión reciente, según explica Cass, abogada de San Juan experta en vivienda. Ha estado corriendo la voz entre los propietarios de casas con problemas en el Valle Río Grande: una carta que parece oficial, y que promete una solución, podría significar problemas...

“Realmente parece que ayudará. Trae tu nombre, el número de cuenta en el condado; tienen la cantidad exacta de impuestos que debes. Pero son depredadores que buscan no sólo ganar jugosos intereses, sino tal vez hasta embargar tu casa.”

Los grandes despachos citadinos, dice, peinan las listas de contribuyentes de condados que están a cientos de millas, para detectar a los morosos. Ofrecen pagar los impuestos atrasados, pero a cambio piden altísimas tasas de interés. Pero al adquirir las obligaciones de pago de impuestos en los condados, están adquiriendo el derecho de embargar de inmediato las propiedades si los dueños se atrasan en los pagos de la hipoteca.

Cass encabeza Proyecto Azteca, un programa de auto ayuda en vivienda que ofrece hipotecas sin intereses a residentes del Valle con ingresos limitados, que contribuyan con su “igualdad de esfuerzo” para edificar casas que construye este grupo sin fines de lucro. Ella afirma que incluso estos propietarios han sido detectados por los prestamistas depredadores. Así que no se retrase en sus impuestos; y si lo hace, tenga cuidado de los contratos que le parezcan demasiado buenos para ser verdaderos.

“Cuando reciba una carta como esas, tenga mucho cuidado. Lea la letra pequeña. Busque la tasa de interés que estará pagando. Entienda que podría perder su casa en el proceso.”

El engaño no es ilegal, todavía, por lo que Cass planea pedir este verano a los legisladores del Estado que durante el próximo periodo legislativo presenten una ley que regule la transferencia de gravámenes de los condados. Hace una invitación a los bancos y a las hipotecarias a que se unan a la lucha, dado que tienen demasiado riesgo de perder sus inversiones cuando un tercero tenga el derecho de quitarle su casa al propietario. La Oficina del Comisionado de Crédito al Consumidor (Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner) indicó que también está considerando presentar una nueva propuesta de reglas.

Se espera que el Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (presidido por el Senador Royce West, D—Dallas) programe una audiencia sobre este problema en el próximo periodo legislativo.


get more stories like this via email

Washington joins a handful of states to do away with mandatory meetings for employees on political or religious matters.

Sometimes known as captive audience meetings, the gatherings were seen as a way for employers to give their opinions on subjects like unionization, and held potential consequences for employees who didn't attend. Lawmakers passed a bill this session allowing workers to skip the meetings without repercussions.

Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, a sponsor of the bill, said we live in a divided society where emotions run high on political topics.

"This bill simply protects employees to have a real choice on whether or not to attend a meeting called by their boss to be told about some political or religious issue," Keiser explained.

Keiser pointed out the legislation is nonpartisan. For instance, employers could not force employees to attend anti-union meetings, but also could not force them to attend a meeting about the importance of reproductive rights. The bill takes effect June 6.

Keiser noted the bill likely got across the finish line this session because of the uptick in union organizing and support for labor. She added there are widely known stories of Starbucks managers, for example, requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings while the employees organized the workplace.

"Employees have been forced to attend meetings to listen to the boss or the employer basically tell them why they shouldn't join a union," Keiser observed.

Washington is the sixth state to pass a law prohibiting attendance at captive audience meetings. Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota and New York have passed similar laws in recent years. Oregon passed a law allowing workers to skip such meetings without repercussions in 2010.


get more stories like this via email

A bill vetoed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin would have raised the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour starting in 2026.

While the bill moved out of committee and the General Assembly, it did so on party-line votes. Youngkin opposed the bill, saying it could hurt small businesses and some restaurants.

Jay Speer, executive director of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, said it was disappointing to see the measure vetoed.

"Wages are way too low. People cannot afford housing and food and everything else," Speer pointed out. "It's a disappointment that they can't raise the minimum wage so people can survive. I mean, it's long overdue."

Passing the bill was part of a 2020 minimum-wage increase requiring a reauthorization to bring it up to $15. A state study found a person has to make at least $14.55 an hour to afford the cheapest place to live while only spending one-third of his or her income on housing. The current minimum wage in Virginia is $12 an hour, but around 500,000 Virginians make $12 or less.

Youngkin also vetoed a bill ending exemptions from Virginia's minimum-wage requirements for farmworkers or temporary foreign workers.

Kim Bobo, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center on Public Policy, said it was not as impactful since most farmworkers make more than the minimum wage. But she said the exemption remains for another reason.

"The only reason farmworkers continue to be exempted in Virginia is racism," Bobo contended. "That's why they're exempted. And, we should just change that, like there's no reason not to. It really does not affect that many workers in Virginia."

Youngkin and other legislators with a farming background said the bill would hinder farmers' ability to turn a profit.

New York restaurant workers need to know their rights to better navigate their workplaces. A new report finds high rates of what it calls "occupational segregation" in the restaurant industry, which can relegate some people to lower-paying jobs.

Workers' rights organizations are counteracting this with training programs. Alima Iskakova, a server for Exquisite Staffing, a catering company, said the CHOW training from Restaurant Opportunities Centers United is helping her.

"Since I completed this training course, I am more confident when it comes to job interviews," she said. "I am more confident - like, when it comes to these types of interviews, plus with all my experience and the knowledge that I got from ROC United, I have a higher income."

She was also trained in safe food handling, OSHA certification and other need-to-know information about the restaurant industry. These courses are available in several cities beyond New York.

The report also notes that, unlike training offered by organizations such as the National Restaurant Association, these courses prioritize developing restaurant workers' power to support individual career development.

The report says racism and sexism abound in the restaurant industry. White men make up a majority of higher-earning positions, such as bartenders.

Although these training courses are helpful, Iskakova noteed that not knowing English can be a disadvantage. She said other cultural differences can make this work challenging.

"In the hospitality industry, even like when people come here as an immigrant, they don't know the rules, they don't know the laws," she said. "And ROC United, they help us to do the cover letter, resume. There are certain things - like, there is a difference."

Another challenge she encountered was the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Iskakova said her work has been interesting, but she's got ambitions outside of food service. Along with photography, she's a communications major at CUNY.


get more stories like this via email