Legislation would fight blight with jail time
Legislation under consideration in Lansing would allow owners of blighted and neglected property to be jailed if they fail to comply with repair orders.By: The Associated Press, Superior Telegram
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Legislation under consideration in Lansing would allow owners of blighted and neglected property to be jailed if they fail to comply with repair orders.
The Detroit Free Press reports Tuesday the bills are aimed at putting teeth into blight enforcement. The lead sponsor is Democratic Sen. Virgil Smith of Detroit, who says he's "sick and tired" of blighted properties in Detroit. He says Detroit and other Michigan cities need to be able to go after owners.
The bills would allow jail time for those who fail to remedy a second blight citation and up to a year for three-time violators. It also would expedite the process of placing liens on blighted property and bar those with outstanding blight violations from obtaining building and zoning permits on other property.
Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com.
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