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OCCUPY YOUNGSTOWN Protesters assemble to support Pig Iron
YOUNGSTOWN
A small group of Occupy Youngstown participants rallied in support of Jim Villani, a fellow OY member facing foreclosure on his downtown business.
The protest went from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday outside Villani’s business, the Pig Iron Press at 26 N. Phelps St., with about 10 Occupy Youngstown members participating.
Villani failed to pay his property taxes of $4,088.67 from 2007 to 2009. The Mahoning County treasurer’s office sold his tax lien to American Tax Funding, a Florida company.
Villani paid $9,000 to ATF in January, but the company says he owes $16,500 for the unpaid taxes and compounded-interest penalties.
“If this was happening because he was being intentionally defiant, that’s one thing, but he didn’t have the money,” said Diana Shaheen, one of the OY members supporting Villani. “If it happens to someone like Jim, who gives so much to the community, who’s next?”
Villani said ATF never offered terms for him to repay the debt.
But John N. Zomoida Jr., a Poland attorney who represents ATF, said he and the company tried to work with Villani on an 18-month payment plan, the business owner agreed and then didn’t pay.
“I have and my client has done all we can to work with Mr. Villani to resolve his issue with his real- estate taxes,” Zomoida said. “A payment plan was offered to him on numerous occasions. ATF is not interested in taking someone’s property. We offer very reasonable payment plans to people.”
Villani said he is the victim of a company trying to “squeeze as much as they can” in interest and take his building.
“This is a normal proceeding,” Zomoida said. “Eighteen-percent interest is customary for tax-lien certificates in Ohio. It’s not predatory in any way.”
The Pig Iron Press, in business for 19 years, provides photocopies and office services and is a thrift store.