Resident criticizes city loan-rehab program at finance committee public comment

Autry Liggott, a resident who identified himself as a former JPMorgan hedge fund manager, used the Feb. 25 Santa Barbara City Finance Committee public-comment period to sharply criticize the city’s loan rehabilitation program.

“I didn’t come prepared with actual, notes, but I’m here just to talk again about the, the city's loan rehab program. It is a burning dumpster fire,” Liggott said. He told the committee he has “no financial interest in the outcomes of the program” but urged staff, the city attorney’s office and the housing agency to engage directly with impacted families. “There are people who don't know the basic fundamentals of how things are supposed to work,” he said, and added that families who may have limited English proficiency or who are first-generation homeowners are particularly vulnerable.

Liggott alleged the program’s administration has resulted in threats of foreclosure and pressure on families to sell their homes. He told the committee that while the city attorney’s office may be defending legal authority, “there are historical examples… of things that might be legal, but are still wrong.” He said he would return to speak again at 2 p.m. to provide additional detail.

The finance committee did not respond during the general public-comment period; Chair Friedman noted publicly that the committee is not able to respond during that part of the meeting. No staff response or follow-up action was recorded in the committee discussion that followed the presentation of the Q2 financial review.