The Independent challenger to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says he would do a better job tearing down blighted buildings and renovating the ones that are worth saving. Kevin Acklin says an alleged sexual assault on a girl in Greenfield and numerous fires in Sheraden show what kinds of dangers lurk when homes are allowed to sit empty and rot. Acklin says he would dedicate every federal stimulus dollar possible to tearing down or fixing up vacant homes.He also criticized the Ravenstahl administration for being slow to follow recommendations from the city's financial overseers for improving the Bureau of Building Inspection. The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority last month threatened to withhold $300,000 for training at BBI unless improvements came faster. Acklin says BBI is understaffed and has lost some of its most experienced workers.
Acklin also says the city needs to conduct a more comprehensive inventory of abandoned properties, and create a tax-credit and low-interest loan program to encourage individuals and community groups to buy and renovate abandoned buildings.
No comments:
Post a Comment