A Christmas Message for my Neighbors
As we enter into the Christmas Holiday I
have spent some time reflecting on the meaning of Christmas and the Hope that
it brings to the world. This past 2 years have been bittersweet for our family
and many of you have watched as my sister and I cared for and buried our
mother. You have also no doubt followed
the progression of the Illegal Foreclosure and sale of our family home.
But first, let’s start at the beginning.
My home at 745 Overiver Drive was purchased by my Grandfather Henry Dambacher
in 1968. I was 4 years old. This Christmas Season I am celebrating my 50th
birthday. I have played in the Mangroves
where most of your houses sit now. I watched the Apollo Missions launch from
Commander Wolcott’s backyard and I helped swing the huge houseboat into the
dock using the metal rod that sits on the property line when Frank Alderman was
still our neighbor. I remember when this was an “Old Florida” neighborhood and
your neighbors were your friends. I spent most of my childhood playing on my
dock in my underwear, a practice that would no doubt get my parents arrested
today.
Over the years I have watched and grieved
as riverfront property was sold and developed. These beautiful pieces of my
neighborhood could only be afforded by the wealthiest of individuals. With
wealth came corruption
and greed and names like Morton Goldberg and Harry Lowell made an entrance into
the neighborhood. I’m sure you can find their stories on Google if you are
interested.
The early 80’s saw the first generational
turnover in this home. My grandmother passed away and my grandpa was housebound
while my mother and I cared for him here at home. During that time there was a
neighbor who would bring my grandpa communion and eventually handled the
Probate of the home when my grandfather passed away and my mother Kathleen
Kirkpatrick inherited the house. Today this same neighbor is handling my
eviction after my home was stripped from me by OneWest Bank.
The years that followed brought other new
people into the neighborhood and the climate continued to deteriorate. Property
lines that have been in place for 50 years have been challenged over mere
inches and Lee County Code Enforcement and Animal Control have been used to harass
my family repeatedly. He who has the money to hire a lawyer wins.
My grandparents were simple hard working
people who made a very good investment in 1968. An investment that was so wise
in fact that in 2006, at the height of the housing market, my Mother became the
victim of Predatory Lending. She was sold a HECM Reverse Mortgage by a company
called Financial Freedom/OneWest Bank. I’m sure many of you have seen their
commercials on TV. At the time of the signing of that mortgage it was explained
to me and my mom that when she passed away I would have the right to maintain
ownership and PURCHASE my home through the HUD Redemption Program. Since
September of 2013 I have fought with Financial Freedom/OWB to stop their
blatant violation of the Federal Guidelines that entitle me buy my home and
live out my years in this house as my grandparents and mother did. It is
truthfully the only future I have ever seen for myself. It was never a question
of funding as that was all arranged and pre-approved since prior to my mothers
passing. The increasing corruption that
has undermined our banking and financial institutions has been allowed to
prevail by our impotent Government and in the United States of America, an
honest, hardworking, taxpaying citizen has been stripped of her family heritage
by Money and Greed.
It
disappoints me deeply that my “neighbors” have changed so dramatically over the
years that the violation of my rights would be seen as a financial opportunity
for them and their displaced family members. It is most interesting to note
that this house was actually purchased by a dissolved LLC out of the State of
Nevada. Dr. Marchese is involved in at least 3 dissolved or suspended LLC’s in
that state.
How overwhelmingly unsettling it is that a
neighbor would trespass on my property 5 separate times to remove and/or
vandalize signs that I placed to exercise my First Amendment Right to Freedom
of Speech. How completely disgusted am I that the “Good Doctor” that bought my
home would place a hand written letter (Copy Enclosed) in my mailbox and be
arrogant enough to address me by my Christian name. Please feel free to visit
my Blog and read the comments from another of your neighbors who presumes to
speak for the whole neighborhood when they say they are glad to see me go.
To the neighbor who feels the need to hide
behind an anonymous Blogger Profile I say “You are a Coward!” Sign your name
and get it over with. Are you afraid of my signs? I speak the truth and I’m
saddened that many of you can’t see it through your fog of wealth and greed.
goaskleonard.blogspot.com
As I sit in our “studio” and write this letter I am
down to 11 days before I am to appear in court to receive the Order for Writ of
Possession that will force me to leave my home forever. It will come from a
judge on behalf of Dr. Marchese as represented by his neighbor Steve Buckley.
He is the same “Christian” neighbor who brought my grandfather communion all
those many years ago.
As you read this all of the signs will
have been taken down and there will be no more here on Overiver Drive. This is
NOT for the benefit of my neighbors or for Lee County Code Enforcement. I am
removing all of my signs and protest material because my “neighbors” have
trespassed and vandalized this property enough that my Sissy no longer feels
safe in the house that she was born in. My right to free speech is overshadowed
by my sissy’s right to spend the remaining time that she has available to sleep
in the bedroom where she was born in in PEACE! Rest assured that I will appear
in court on Jan. 5th and my signs are portable!
Throughout the last year there have been a
handful of TRUE NEIGHBORS who have stood by my side, offered me support and
were my “cheerleaders” throughout my battle to save my home. As you all read
this you will know which part of this letter is meant for you. To all of you who
have been my advocates, I apologize for the spectacle that I have brought this
neighborhood as I try to figure out how to start all over after 46 years in
this home. You are the people who deserve to live in a fine area such as this.
I want to thank each of you for you kindness and support. It is because of
people like you that I have any faith left in humanity at all. Sissy and I wish
you the Happiest of Holiday Seasons and an Abundant New Year.
To
the rest of you…Merry Christmas “Neighbors.”
