FDIC Federal Register Citations

From: Blair Law Offices, LLC [mailto:blair.lawoffice@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 1:52 PM
To: Comments
Subject: Community Reinvestment -- RIN 3064-AC50

To Whom it May Concern;

I am a former selectman in the Town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and have been very involved in local efforts to support and encourage the development of affordable housing in our community. I am vice-president of the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire, Inc., and am vice-chair of the Great Barrington Planning Board.

I understand that the FDIC has proposed to allow banks with assets in excess of $250 million to be reclassified as ‘small banks’ under the Community Reinvestment Act. This Act is critical to encouraging local banks to engage with their local communities and to assist those who are in need of affordable housing. This proposed change in the Act would have the detrimental effect of reducing lending to low-income persons and would reduce the banks’ investment in and support for the less well off in our community. For those reasons I oppose these changes and ask that they not be approved.

Thank you for your time.

Tony Blair

Blair Law Offices, LLC
2 Elm Street, P.O. Box 610
Great Barrington, MA