Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation

From: Parker, Michael [mailto:parkerm@talgov.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 4:49 PM
To: Comments
Subject: Community Reinvestment -- RIN 3064-AC50

I would like to register my objection to the proposed revisions of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) which reduces the overall requirements on banks. I am currently involved in community revitalization and also have spent a number of years working in affordable housing. The Community Reinvestment Act has been instrumental in bringing banks into distressed areas and assisting low-income and minority families become homeowners. Many of the affordable housing lending programs which lenders now offer got their start because of CRA requirements. As the banking industry becomes more and more consolidated the CRA becomes even more important to make sure that lenders recognize their continuing obligation to help better the communities they operate in. Without the leverage that the CRA provides I am very concerned that we will see the competitiveness in the lending industry become the rationalization to phase out programs and commitments to low income residents. Michael Parker Economic Development Director City of Tallahassee Florida