The recent headline “Cato Township blight complaint reveals problems with the process” had us believing that perhaps they were seeking a solution to long standing issues, such as where are notices being sent (https://www.munireg.com/still-on-the-hamster-wheel) orREAD MORE
WSJ “Politicians Are Using ‘Blight’ to Bulldoze Neighborhoods and Seize Property”
A recent video report from the Wall Street Journal focuses on the utilization of eminent domain for economic development. Though it does touch on important sub-topics that should be addressed (assuring transparency, lack of uniformREAD MORE
Wichita Eagle Op-Ed “Kansas lawmakers on the wrong side in fight against blight”
A recent Op-Ed discusses the progression of Kansas HB 2083 that has now passed the House. VPRO’s are widely utilized across the country. As the author states, the legislators are on the wrong side ofREAD MORE
Institutional Investors in Housing
A new report has been released by Nowak Metro Finance Lab in collaboration with Accelerator for America titled, “We Buy Houses”: You Lose Out. This study follow a September 2022 study titled, “Investor Home PurchasesREAD MORE
Nuisance Lien Recovery
Two recent developments in this arena from Georgia and Michigan. Georgia The LaGrange City Council is considering limiting the interest that accrues on liens placed on properties to pay for the demolition of unsafe houses.READ MORE
NLC Local Eviction Prevention Policy and Program Tool
The National League of Cities has developed the Local Eviction Prevention Policy and Program Tool. This tool is an “interactive resource that aims to help elected officials, city staff, non-profits, service providers, researchers and others,READ MORE
Lessons to learn! Vlog Series Volume 2: Episode 1
In our next installment of our Vlog series, Michael Halpern, president and founder of MuniReg LLC discusses a recent situation generating negative headlines (“Homeowner faces city fines after suspected DWI driver damages house”) and optics.READ MORE
Coordinating the Authority and Resources to Remediate Blight
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan (not-for-profit public affairs research organization, founded in 1916) recently released a report titled, “Coordinating the Authority and Resources to Remediate Blight”. From the summary; In a nutshell The termREAD MORE
California Seeks to Boost Code Enforcement
Senate Bill 356 was introduced on February 8th, and was referred to the Housing Committee the following week. According to the Legislative Counsel’s Digest; The bill (titled “Housing: Code Enforcement Incentive Program: Community Code EnforcementREAD MORE
Public CEO Op-Ed “How to prevent dangerous properties and increase revenue” – Value of a VPRO
Following up on a January Op-Ed (by Ryan Griffith Bay Area Receivership Group) discussing the benefits of receiverships, MuniReg’s President Michael Halpern discusses the value of a “VPRO”. To view the Op-Ed, please click here.
Fees for Vacant Property Owners Who Receive 311 Complaints
Baltimore City Council is considering establishing fees for vacant property owners who receive 311 requests against their properties. The ordinance would create a fee structure with increasing fines as more and more substantiated 311 serviceREAD MORE
“Unprecedented Test Case” in Pittsburgh
In what the Pittsburgh Gazette is calling an “unprecedented effort”, “dramatic move” and a “test case”, community groups are pushing in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to step in under the state’s Abandoned and Blighted Property ConservatorshipREAD MORE