NPR Runs Bank of America PR Piece, Neglects to Explain Why Bank is Donating Foreclosed Homes

NPR ran a sappy story yesterday about Bank of America donating foreclosed homes, which got a critical response in their comment section. Here’s a representative sample of the comments:

This was a poorly researched, uncritical story by NPR. Why is it good thing to dispossess 2500 families from their homes and then give the houses to people deemed more needy by BofA? And why didn’t NPR mention that BofA acknowledged employing people who legally attested to the accuracy of foreclosure documents without reading them; and reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the Justice department for illegally foreclosing on military service members?

The story really facilitated the “camo-washing” efforts by the banks to improve their public image. The story focuses on Bank of America’s donation of 2,500 homes over the next two years, mostly to Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. But it leaves out a number of key details. First, it never mentions what the commenter says above, that BofA was one of several banks cited for illegally foreclosing on service members while they were deployed overseas, leading to a large settlement which included the donation of homes to veterans. That means that this action has nothing to do with a generous spirit but acts as the fulfillment of an obligation.

Rest here…

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