S.79 has passed the Vermont Senate and is now under consideration in the House. The bill would require both long-term and short-term rentals to register with the Department of Housing and Community Development. Inspections wouldREAD MORE
Shelby County Environmental Court Virtual Learning Series
Though facing a federal lawsuit , Shelby County Environmental Court commenced a virtual learning series. These meetings provide the public with a chance to learn about environmental court and ask questions of Shelby County Environmental CourtREAD MORE
Challenges to Cuyahoga County’s (OH) Foreclosure Process
In a decision, hailed as a win by the County, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case at the center of a longstanding legal fight over how Cuyahoga County handles the foreclosures ofREAD MORE
“Historic” legislation in Albany NY
Introduced by Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and already supported by four members of Albany Common Council this legislation is designed to create the first “Good Cause” eviction law in New York State. Enforcement will beREAD MORE
Toledo Ohio and the Center For Community Progress
Representatives of the Center for Community Progress provided to City Council and Assessment and Report titled, A More Strategic, Equitable Approach to Housing and Building Code Enforcement in Ohio. The presentation was followed by a responseREAD MORE
GAO Reviews Covid-19 Housing Protections
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has provided an analysis of the benefits of Covid-19 moratoriums, showing how they have helped limit evictions; however, they recommend the implementation of a communication and outreach plan to makeREAD MORE
Texas Judge Finds National Eviction Ban Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that the national ban on evictions that’s been in place since September is unconstitutional. “Although the Covid-19 pandemic persists, so does the Constitution,” U.S. District Judge John BarkerREAD MORE
Clean & Lien, Clean & Lien & Settle….. Now Clean & Lien & CAP
Pinellas County FL is making changes on its code enforcement liens, demolition/condemnation programs, assumingly as a result of the well-publicized, late 2019 $100,000+ fine for a dirty pool and overgrown grass in Dunedin. For additionalREAD MORE
Flexibility in Duluth, MN
The Duluth City Council has amended an ordinance in an attempt to jump-start repairs to abandoned housing throughout the community. The revised ordinance is intended to remove a financial obstacle for people looking to redevelopREAD MORE
State, County and Local Collaboration on Brownfield Mitigation
A new agreement in New York State, between state agencies and municipalities in Orleans and Niagara counties will promote the redevelopment of dozens of potentially contaminated properties in the two counties. The agreement allowsREAD MORE
New Mexico – State & Local Collaboration on Abandoned School Buildings
A telling quote from a recent report on Senate Bill 43 underscores the potential value to local governments and its fight against blight. “It’s hard for local districts to place priorities in demolishing those buildingsREAD MORE
GAO Report on “Zombie Foreclosures”
On March 5th, 2021 the US Government Accountability Office released a report titled, “Home Foreclosures Sales: FHA, Rural Housing Service, and VA Could Better Align Program Metrics with Their Missions” Why GAO Did This StudyREAD MORE