TOUGH ORDINANCES FOR BLIGHT

By Walter Kenneth Ruehlig

I am privileged to live in Antioch and take pride in my home. Those who do not hold the same city pride should pay the consequences for blight and neglect of property.

Maximum legal fines on banks holding blighted foreclosed properties
Maximum legal fines on homeowners/landlords for repeated police calls to their properties
Fees and possible bonding of landlords for conducting rental business

We should hold businesses responsible for shopping carts left unattended in neighborhoods

Antioch has an inordinate number of rental housing with absentee landlords. Stricter landlord regulations and property monitoring is needed.

We should discourage landlord neglect through

Registration and submission of valid contact information
Landlord presence and fee for activation of utilities
Use of a local rental agent for absentee landlords