Occupy group to protest foreclosure

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Occupy Youngstown will protest the foreclosure of the Pig Iron Press, 26 N. Phelps St. in the city’s downtown, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

Pig Iron provides photocopies and office services and also is a thrift shop.

Jim Villani, owner of the business and an Occupy Youngstown member, failed to pay his property taxes from 2007 to 2009, an amount he said was $4,088.67. The Mahoning County treasurer sold a tax lien on his business to American Tax Funding, a Florida company that buys liens.

ATF began foreclosure proceedings against Pig Iron Press in 2010, but that was stayed when Villani filed for bankruptcy. Villani then withdrew the bankruptcy request and said he paid $9,000 to ATF last year.

But the company had billed him for $16,500 for the unpaid taxes and penalties, and refiled a foreclosure case against Villani in March.

Villani and Occupy Youngstown object to the compounded late fees, ATF not telling the building owner of his debt before foreclosure proceedings, offering a payment schedule, and that the $9,000 was an effort to meet his debt obligation.

Villani concedes he should have made arrangements to pay his debt and he should have a penalty, but it shouldn’t be the 18-percent compounded interest the company accessed.