Troy Hoping to Partner with Google

An article in Friday’s The Record announced that Mayor Tutunjian “plans to respond to a request for information from Google relating to the company’s recently-announced plans to build and test ultra-high speed broadband networks in communities across the nation.” Google plans to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks that will provide speeds up to 100 times faster than typical service, with download speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second through fiber-optic connections. Troy intends to respond to Google’s RFI, which is the first step in the company’s process of selecting test communities.

Councilman Ken Zalewski, D-District 5, is also hoping that Google will choose Troy as a trial location. He has listed several steps, below, that community members can take to help build support for the proposal, which is one of the factors that Google will consider in selecting trial communities.

What you can do:
1. Spread the word.  Forward this article to everyone you know in the city. Talk to your neighbors and friends.  Encourage local business, education, and government officials to get involved.  Our Mayor is already on board and the city will be submitting a response to the RFI.  To have RPI, Sage, and HVCC administrators behind this would add more strength to our submission.

2. Nominate Troy. Go to http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options, click on "Nominate your community", and submit your response.  You will answer some questions about yourself, your neighborhood/community, your reasons for wanting this, and your current Internet service.  Creative submissions are encouraged, including videos.

3. Become a Facebook fan.  Join the new Facebook page created for this effort at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troy-NY-deserves-Googles-1GB-hi-speed-internet-connection/298283647502

According to Councilmember Zalewski, “A Google broadband roll-out would be huge for our city.  It would not only bring low-cost high-speed Internet service to many households, it would also bring a tremendous amount of positive attention to our community.  My ultimate goal is to work with Google in opening a satellite office on our riverfront.  Imagine replacing some of the old derelict industrial buildings on the riverfront with a new, modern office complex that creates potentially hundreds of new jobs. Getting Google to come to Troy is the first step..."

Please join in the effort!

New York's Great Appliance Swap Out

The “Great Appliance Swap Out” is a stimulus-funded program run by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The 10-day program begins February 12th and lasts through February 21st or until the $16.8 million available statewide for rebates runs out.

This is a nationwide program designed to provide incentives for the purchase of Energy Star-rated products, by providing consumers rebates for purchasing new energy efficient appliances and swapping out their old ones. The goals include reducing energy waste and stimulating retail sales. “Now is a great time to take advantage of the state’s rebates for refrigerators, stoves, and other costly appliances to save you some money and help the environment.” President and CEO of NYSERDA Francis J. Murray said “New Yorkers have an unprecedented opportunity to save money on energy efficient appliances that could save them hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. I encourage New Yorkers to take advantage of this opportunity and to help New York achieve the ambitious energy efficiency goals that Governor Paterson has set for us.”

Shoppers can choose either the single appliance rebate option, under which they get $75 for a refrigerator or $105 when also recycling the old one, $75 for a clothes washer ($100 with recycling) and $50 for a freezer ($75 with recycling). Or they can choose the bundled option, where they purchase a refrigerator, clothes washer and dishwasher, and receive $500, or $555 if they recycle their old appliances. The program also provides for the removal of old appliances and consumers will receive the recycling certificate they'll need along with the purchase receipt to qualify for their rebate.

Rebates are only available for dishwashers when purchased as a bundle with at least 2 other energy efficient-rated appliances.

The guidelines for the program include:
• Consumers must be New York State residents;
• Replacement appliances must meet specified ENERGY STAR standards;
• Replacement appliances must be for individual residences;
• Consumers must submit in writing that purchased appliances are replacing existing appliances; and
• Proof of recycling of the replaced appliance must be submitted to NYSERDA.

Rebate forms will be available at www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com or through NYSERDA’s hotline at 1-877-NY-SMART. More information is also available by visiting www.GetEnergySmart.org.

Getting Your Finances Back on Track

Many of us have good intentions to get our “financial house in order” and take control of our finances rather than letting them control us.  Daunting as that may be, here are some practical suggestions excerpted from a CBS news story (www.cbsnews.com) about David Bach, best-selling author of "Start Over, Finish Rich," to get your finances organized for 2010 and help save you some money at the same time.

Asked how much money people are losing by being disorganized with their bills and receipts, Bach said, "The key is to start by 'finding your money' - getting organized is where you start. People can lose thousands of dollars a year when they don't know where their money is. Just losing itemized deduction alone because you didn't keep you records can cost you thousands of dollars. Not keeping your home improvement records can cost you tens of thousands when you sell your home."

Bach said the biggest mistake people make is not organizing their statements, stuffing all into a drawer without any system. Asked why, he said, "Most people don't know how to 'get organized financially.' They were not trained, they don't have a system. I have a system. It has helped thousands of people. It's easy and you can do it in an hour."

To get organized, Bach says to shred it and forget it - that is, shred and throw away old bills and statements. "You can get rid of most old statements. First clean out everything that is not tax related for 2009. Old warranties, old annual reports, newsletters etc. Out with the old and in with the new," he explained.

But what if you get audited? How far back should be keep financial documents?

"The IRS recommends you keep records for three years, and as far back as seven. But old tax documents can be filed in the garage or storage. They don't need to stay in your home office," Bach explained,

His next step is called "find it and file it."

"My start-over file folder box has 14 folders. It's a system in a box, that you can build in less than an hour to organize everything in your financial life," Bach explained.

The folders are: Tax Returns, Retirement Accounts, Social Security, Investment Accounts, Savings and Checking Accounts, Household Accounts, Credit Card Debt, DOLP Worksheet, Credit Scores, Other Liabilities, Insurance, Family Will and Trusts, Children's Accounts, Latte Factor.

Bach said, "You can completely automate your financial life in less than an hour, if you do it correctly."

"The secret to 'finishing rich' is to have an 'automatic' financial life," he said. "When you earn a paycheck, you automatically have you retirement account, emergency account, and other savings accounts funded. In 'Start Over, Finish Rich' I go as far as teaching you exactly how to automate your entire financial life into seven categories and that includes paying your bills."

Bach said that part of getting organized is fixing and protecting your credit score. "Everyone should start the year by pulling their credit score for free.  You want to check it for mistakes, and get those mistakes fixed in January. Having mistakes on your credit report can cost you thousands of dollars a year in higher interest," he explained.

(TRIP recommends that you contact one of our housing counselors to pull and review your credit report with you.  Not all sites provide free reports, despite their claims.  And knowing how to correct inaccurate information is key to controlling your financial situation.)

And Bach recommended to "recommit to wealth."

"All recessions lead to recoveries," Bach said. "We are already in the beginning stages of a massive recovery now. The stock and bond markets have posted staggering gains in 2009. Home prices are stabilizing and earnings are improving. You cannot afford to stay down and miss this next economic boom. This is your year to 'Start Over, Finish Rich' and get your finances back on track."

Visit David Bach's Web site, FinishRich.com.

Tools for Tough Times

Economic problems facing you in 2010?   If you need help as a result of the economy, check out “Help Wanted,” a new public television series and web portal that provides information about vital resources available to consumers.  Public Television stations WMHT-Albany and WCNY-Syracuse shed light on the current economic crisis in New York State with the brand new series “Help Wanted,” which premiered on Thursday, January 7th at 8:30 PM (WMHT-Albany). Click here for broadcast schedule. Previous episodes can also be viewed online.

Partnering closely with government and non-profit organizations, “Help Wanted” features a weekly 26-episode television series, a web portal that serves as a vital tool for resources, and public outreach events to expand the reach of the project and the resources. WMHT’s Dan Bazile is the host of the series with field reporting from WCNY's Liz Ayers. Together, WMHT and WCNY recruit guests from various backgrounds and give them real world advice for their real world situations from organizations that can truly help.

The series invites viewers to follow 44 diverse individuals as they are connected to employment and financial resources and both WMHT and WCNY feature stories and spotlight guests within the communities of New York State.

The series gives New York citizens useful and trustworthy information in an accessible centralized manner regarding the factors affecting their family economic situation. Four elements of concern will be addressed in each episode: Employment Resources, Job Training, Consumer Protection, and Family Finances. 
 
More information on “Help Wanted” - including available resources  -- can be found at www.helpwantedinteractive.org.

Dreaming of Buying a Home?

Considering home ownership in 2010?  TRIP’s national partner, NeighborWorks America, has created a web site to assist people who are considering buying a home called “Keys to My Home” at http://www.keystomyhome.org.   NeighborWorks America tells consumers that “Your dream of owning a home can become a reality if you set realistic goals, get sound advice, plan carefully and clearly understand the costs of homeownership." That is why  NeighborWorks America  has partnered with E*TRADE Financial to create the educational Web site “designed to help you make informed, sound decisions related to the home buying process.”  Topics include getting ready, understanding credit issues, financing considerations, finding a home and managing one’s home.   If you are considering buying a home, this website will help you understand the big picture to prepare you for each step.

 You should also plan on attending one of TRIP’s Homebuyer Orientations. They are offered once a month and provide useful information about local home buying programs as well as what TRIP can offer someone on their path to becoming a homeowner.  To register for an orientation or to access quality, free financial and housing counseling, contact the TRIP NeighborWorks Homeownership Center at 690-0020 or rose@triponline.org.

Holiday Savings Ideas

Here are some ideas to help you save money this holiday season:

1. Make a budget and stick to it:  Before you decide who you need to buy gifts for, figure out how much you can afford to spend on gifts.  Don’t forget to factor in your normal expenses (food, gas, rent, etc.) and make sure not to overextend yourself financially.  Once you have decided how much you are spending, then you can decide how much to spend on each person.
2. Cash, not credit: Using cash can help you avoid breaking your budget.  When you start doing your holiday shopping, take out the amount of cash you intend to spend.  When the cash runs out, you’re done shopping.  In addition, using cash helps you better understand how much money you are spending, because you are literally handing over the money, rather than swiping a card and seeing numbers on a receipt.
3. Trim down your gift list: If there are people on your list you don’t really need to shop for, don’t.  Also consider implementing a Secret Santa tradition in your family so that you don’t have to shop for everyone.  For a family, consider buying a gift basket with something for everyone in it.  Consider teaming up with another family member to shop for relatives.
4. Get creative: Spending a lot of money isn’t the only way to show you care.  Smaller items with emotional significance can be much more effective and cost-effective than an expensive gadget.  If you are a creative person, consider making something yourself.  It’s the thought that counts.
5. Shop around: Start shopping early so that you can have time to comparison shop.  Look online for deals and make sure to get store flyers to check for the best deals.  Taking the time to get the best price can wind up saving you a bundle this year.
   

New Foreclosure Law Expected to Be Signed Shortly by Governor

New protections for homeowners facing foreclosure as well as tenants living in foreclosed homes will take effect within two months after the governor signs Governor’s Program Bill #46, which was passed by the NYS Assembly and Senate on November 16th.  The governor is expected to sign the bill in the next few weeks.

Homeowners in default can expect to get a 90-day pre-foreclosure notice, enabling the homeowner to consider his or her options without imminent threat of a foreclosure.  Information about local housing counseling agencies, like TRIP and RCHR, will be provided to encourage the homeowner to seek assistance. 

Another key provision for a homeowner is the right to have a “mandatory settlement conference” with her/his lender (or their representative) in court, where both parties must “negotiate in good faith” during this mediation session.  Lenders may not charge the homeowner a fee for attending a settlement conference and may be subject to sanctions if they fail to come with financial documents and other information required by mediators.  

Additionally, when lenders notify the state of an impending foreclosure action, the state must send the borrower’s name to housing counseling agencies, which can then help prepare the borrower in advance of its settlement conference.  The settlement conference provision stems from the hope that lenders will be more apt to work with borrowers to modify their loans; currently lenders claim they are overwhelmed by requests for modifications while homeowners complain that their cases drag on for months and months, putting them further behind in their payments.  

The legislation also includes important protections for tenants of buildings that go into foreclosure, requiring that a separate notice be delivered to tenants within 10 days of the service of the summons and complaint to the mortgagor (borrower). The notice informs the tenants that the building is in foreclosure and that they may have the right to stay in occupancy for the remainder of their lease term, of if they have no written lease, for ninety days after they are informed of the name and contact information for the new owner by the person or entity who takes title. Tenants in 1 to 4 unit buildings must be sent the notice individually; for larger apartment complexes, the notice must be posted outside each exit and entrance.  

In order to avoid the deterioration that can impact an entire neighborhood when a foreclosed home is not kept up, a provision of the legislation requires the plaintiff (lender) in a foreclosure action to maintain the property (consistent with NY property maintenance code) after the judgment of foreclosure is issued and until the property is sold.  If a tenant occupies the property, the property must also be maintained in a safe and habitable condition.  This provision may be enforced by the municipality, tenants, or a homeowners association, in applicable.

To prevent distressed homeowners from falling prey to “rescue scams,” the bill also includes provisions prohibiting “distressed property consultants” from taking any payment before completion of services.

This legislation creates new legal rights and responsibilities.  The foregoing article is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice. If you are involved in a foreclosure action you should seek the advice of an attorney to understand how this legislation impacts your situation. Homeowners facing foreclosure can contact TRIP’s HomeOwnership Center at 690-0020 for assistance in determining their mortgage options and/or can contact Legal Aid directly at 462-6765.

For more information about the new State legislation providing foreclosure protections, contact TRIP at 272-8289 x214 or hilary@triponline.org.