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
“Padlock Laws” for Nuisance Properties
The New Orleans City Council voted to give the police chief authority to shut down nuisance businesses that could be contributing to the city’s crime crisis. The “padlock law provides for a business to beREAD MORE
“Neighborhood Law Program” – City of Vallejo, CA
In an Op-ED for PublicCEO, Ryan Griffith, Attorney & Receiver at the Bay Area Receivership Group discusses his experience creating the Neighborhood Law Program (“NLP”) for Vallejo, CA in 2013. Coming at a time whenREAD MORE
National League of Cities Resources “Housing Supply Accelerator” & “Landlord Engagement Lab Toolkit”
Two recent initiatives have been introduced by the National League of Cities (NLC). Landlord Engagement Lab Toolkit Per NLC “Engaging mom-and-pop landlords is key to longer-term eviction prevention efforts, housing stability, and supporting both vulnerableREAD MORE
The Price Effects of Greening Vacant Lots: How Neighborhood Attributes Matter
Recent article discusses a University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School June 2022 study on the “economic effects of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia LandCare program on thousands of homes in the city” that resulted inREAD MORE
Taking Tougher Stand on Fires at Abandoned Properties
Two recent articles discuss new strategies pertaining to fires, and the associated costs to local government, at vacant and abandoned properties. Winnipeg (Canada) Newly proposed legislation in Winnipeg (Canada) proposes that owners of vacant propertiesREAD MORE
Bank Versus Land Bank – Surplus Tax Sale Funds
Update: April 4th “Ohio Justices Toss US Bank ‘Takings’ Claims Against Counties” In a recent report from Court News Ohio: “A national bank seeking to avoid transfers of abandoned property to county land banks shouldREAD MORE
Increasing Resources Through a Public Safety Levy
After Billings MT voters approved a $7 million public safety levy in November 2021, the City has now utilized the funds to increase staffing of police, community service and code enforcement officers, along with implementingREAD MORE