GARDEN CITY, Mich. – Monday was supposed to be move-out day for some Garden City families who lost their homes to foreclosure.
However, the homeowners say they were supposed to have more time to pay. When they brought their complaints to the mayor Monday night he said he couldn't hear them because he had a pizza party to attend.
At least seven families were denied being heard Monday night. Their attorney has advised them not to go anywhere and to fight.
"I feel like the mayor is providing an opportunity for someone to make money off our distress," said Cheryl Deanda, who is being evicted for owing back taxes.
Deanda is one of a handful of people shocked to learn they were being evicted despite being on a payment plan to pay more than $16,000 in back taxes.
"I was under a tax, a distressed owner, you know, where I could make payments ... and they said I had until Dec. 15, 2016," said Deanda.
The county foreclosed on the properties after three years of no payments. Garden City bought the properties and sold them to a developer.
"I think they had plenty of opportunity to go down to the county make it right," said Mayor Randy Walker.
Walker said redevelopment of those 28 homes will attract new and younger families to Garden City.
"These people were going to get evicted anyway. They city just has the first right to purchase them. What's right is right. Is it fair to the other 11,000 people who have been paying their taxes?" said Walker.
Paula Newcombe said the city manager assured her the developer would work with her to let her keep the two homes that have been in her family for 60 years. However, she got an eviction notice days later.
"We grew up here. My mom passed away not even a year ago in the living room there," she said. "These are people's livelihoods. You have a warm bed to go home to. You know where you're going to sleep."
Newcombe and others were not allowed to plead their case during public comment Monday night because a pizza party was waiting for newly-elected City Council members.
When asked if he could have put off the pizza party for a few minutes to help out these residents, Mayor Walker said: "It would've went on for an hour, hour and a half. It's a school night. There were young kids here. It's a happy night."
Newcombe said she had a $15,000 check to pay for one of her homes, but they told her it was too late. Her daughter and her 9-month-old granddaughter live in her other home, which is $13,000 behind on taxes.
Mayor Walker said he is going off past practices and that the city has never had public comment on swear-in nights. A lawyer for the tenants affected has filed a complaint with the attorney general.