2 Lessons from a Mayor Fighting Blight with Liens and Sales

Wilmington, DE Mayor Mike Purzcki proposed to eliminate blight by:

• imposing liens 
• forcing sheriff sales of blighted property

The opposition killed it by:

• raising concerns that a person’s home will be taken
• raising concerns that property would be taken for a minor violation

What solution did opponents want? Protections in ordinance that limit the ability to take owner occuppied homes and to prohibit takings for minor violations.

Wilmington News Journal | Wilmington mayor’s anti-blight effort hits roadblock