Menino opens "war room" to fight foreclosures

By John C. Drake, Globe Staff

Mayor Thomas M. Menino gathered top city officials today to try to demonstrate that his administration was committed to battling the local impact of the nation's foreclosure crisis.

Housing, public safety, and legal officials who are members of the city's newly created Foreclosure Intervention Team briefed the mayor on their progress in acquiring foreclosed and abandoned properties. The meeting took place in a formerly unused first-floor City Hall room that received a makeover and has been dubbed a "war room" by the mayor.

"It's something that's plaguing our neighborhoods," Menino said of the increasing number of foreclosed homes that are left vacant.

Officials said the problem in Boston is only likely to grow as hundreds more homeowners in the city with adjustable-rate mortgages are set to see their payments jump over the next year. The team will meet in the room "every couple of week" to assess the city's progress toward averting foreclosures, acquiring foreclosed homes, and cleaning up vacant properties, officials said.

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