Is the City Aiding Criminals?

[Towntalk]

It's extremely difficult for a municipality to seize vacant and run down properties for a very simple reason, would you want the city to seize your property because it doesn't measure up to arbitrary standards? I agree that something more must be done. The Police and Fire Department drives up and down our street and totally ignore properties that are so run down that they are starting to cave in. One house in particular has been in this condition for at least five years. It has been reported several times but is still there and it's on a main street leading into YSU. No one wants it, it's beyond rehab, and certainly a fire hazard.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS ... NONE, AND FOR MY PART, I DON'T CARE TO HEAR ANY EXCUSES FROM ANYONE. The front porch has caved in, and the roof is caving in, many of the windows are gone, and the house has been stripped, the grass is so high that it's becoming a jungle.

[Glenna]

I hate to sound mean but I do not have that much sympathy for people that leave their houses vacant with high grass and weeds. I think the criminals already know which houses are vacant. The grass is a dead giveaway to a vacant  house in its self. I know there are exceptions but some of the vacant houses in my neighborhood are owned by people in the suburbs. They are not old and it should be easy enough for them to come cut the grass. Some actually have mail in the mailboxes showing. I guess what I am saying is that they do not care about the neighborhood how much should I care about them. The only thing I worry about is fire. The houses in this area are close and a fire could damage the house next door. I wish the city would do more to these people. Some of these people are often hard to find as the property tax address is the same as the vacant house. I am not sure what the solution is.

[jay]

The stickers are also very difficult to remove.  One home owner tried to peel the sticker from her door window and was left with the ugly white and orange adhesive residue.

[our2cents]

I couldn't agree more.  They should send certified USPS notices like most other cities to the registered homeowner.  You would think someone in the housing department would of thought of this issue before having their inspectors tag potential vacant property.

[jay]

Yesterday the city of Youngstown announced a new program to deal with high grass at homes and other buildings.  An orange sticker will be placed on the front door or the front window of any home where the owner was not present when the grass inspector made the investigation.  I have a problem with this practice.  Criminals are always looking for homes to break into and strip.  The presence of high grass tells the criminals that a home may be vacant.  An orange sticker on the front of the home will almost guarantee the criminal that a city inspector also found the house to be vacant.  The orange stickers should not be used.