Councilman Proposes Harsher Punishment For Urban Blight

City Council is trying to find a better way to stick it to owners of vacant properties that are allowed to fall into disrepair.

KYW's Mike Dunn reports that councilman Darrell Clarke of the fifth district introduced a bill that could, if approved, greatly expand the penalties facing owners of vacant lots that are not kept up:

"Right now we can only issue that code violation on that particular property. This will allow us to go after assets and the personal property of those individuals who are the property owners."

The new and stiffer penalties, under Clarke's bill, could cover the city's cost in cleaning up the property -- a cost that right now is being footed by taxpayers. The measure also requires approval of a companion bill in Harrisburg, but Clarke thinks passage of that is likely.