Evansville City Council Candidate Alex Burton Proposes a Broader Approach to Blight Elimination

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September 1, 2015

For Immediate Release

Evansville City Council Candidate Alex Burton Proposes a Broader Approach to Blight Elimination

Evansville, IN – Alex Burton, Democrat candidate for an at-large seat on the Evansville City Council, believes the real solution to blight is a program that focuses on prevention and efforts to salvage properties before they are beyond repair.

In the coming weeks, he will outline his plan for a broader approach to the problem of neglected and unsafe properties.

“The administration has a plan to demolish blighted homes that have become eyesores and have a negative impact on entire neighborhoods,” Burton said. “I agree with the goal, but we should also explore ways to salvage homes that are in need of repairs before they deteriorate to the point that demolition is the only solution.”

Burton proposes forming public-private partnerships that would be extremely beneficial to our entire community, especially those neighborhoods where blighted properties are abundant.

“We do have a problem with blighted homes, but we also need to have a plan to address the condition of these properties before they become unsalvageable,” he contends. “We need to break the cycle of disrepair that leads to blight.”

He will be having discussions with social service agencies, labor unions and companies in the next few weeks to lay the groundwork for a plan that best serves the residents of Evansville.

Burton’s campaign is based on teamwork, good public policy, and a focus on the future of Evansville.

Aburton1911@gmail.com

Evansville City Council Candidate Alex Burton

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8 COMMENTS

  1. Blah blah blah. This tool lost my support after rubbing elbows with that dirt bag Weaver.

  2. Thank you Mr. Burton for taking a stand in the right direction. I volunteered to help and and attended the Department of Metropolitan Developments workshop meeting in April. There were lots of preventive ideas proposed by those in attendance and the consultant hired by the city. Very little came out of that meeting because DMD used it not as an information gathering tool but as sales meeting to promote the already decided blight initiative called the Browwnfields Corp Land Bank. This $2.2 million land bank proposal is a very good example of how special interest sucks up funding available for programs the citizens want. Just think what community one could do with that funding each year. Good luck in the election. I challenge the other candidates to please speak out on this issue?

  3. “address the condition of these properties before they become unsalvageable.” Good idea Alex. Wouldn’t enforcing current codes and regulations be a good place to start?
    “Blight” is not simply caused by a disease that infects neighborhoods. It’s caused by people. Landlords, tenants, some homeowners, and city officials who do not enforce standards for maintaining property. Tear down the houses and the “blighters” simply move elsewhere, taking their blight with them.

    • Alex is on the right track and Commonsense is right about code enforcement. Code enforcement is a bad term in Evansville though because code enforcement has mostly just been selective enforcement on individuals DMD targeted. We need a new term just like subsidizes housing is called affordable housing. Or the anti union law is called the right to work law. How about we call code enforcement –Home improvement actions. I think that sounds good. Any other ideas out there?

      • Home environmental maintenance? Doesn’t matter what it’s called though if it isn’t enforced.

        • Point well taken. I attended a Goosetown neighborhood association meeting about two weeks ago. I advocated for stronger code enforcement. A DMD rep. that happened to be there took it upon himself to confront me that I was wrong and that code enforcement did a great job. At the conclusion of the meeting and every one was leaving I noticed one of the attendees, Leonard was talking to the DMD rep. I stopped and pointed out that he was parked across the street from two neighboring houses, both, with grass and weeds approaching 3 feet tall. Apparently if its not on the Mayor’s agenda DMD and the Building Commission Does not see Anything. I am working on fixing that.

  4. I’ll support any plain that puts the taxpayers in the loop.. Even if it’s city owned homes restored and traded with a homeowner failing to thrive. There are so many creative solution that could restore our blight to a population and property value growth..

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