subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Published: February 11, 2008 06:39 pm    print this story  

BLIGHT: Schumer takes aim at HUD

Proposed measures would combat urban blight

By Dan Miner/minerd@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette

Sen. Charles Schumer was in the area Monday, taking aim at the federal agency which exists to maintain affordable and safe city housing.

Standing in a formerly abandoned home in Buffalo’s West Side, Schumer said the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s online sale of houses leads to house-flipping homeowners who have no stake in a community.

Referring to neighborhood revitalization, Schumer called vacant houses “a huge stumbling block that is in the way.”

Schumer was flanked by Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster. Falls Fire Chief William MacKay, Falls City Councilman Charles Walker and several local block club leaders were also on hand.

Vacant housing leads to drugs, crime, poverty-stricken neighborhoods and significant fire hazards, Schumer said. The Falls has 3,700 vacant units in over 1,100 homes, he said.

As a beginning to the problem’s solution, Schumer demanded HUD crack down on online house-flipping. He and fellow Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., also plan on requesting an extra $3 billion in Community Development Block Grant money from the federal government to combat urban blight.

“We have to ensure vibrant neighborhoods,” Schumer said. “(Vacant houses) provide a refuge-net for drugs and crime.”

Dyster called the ownership of large blocks of city property by out-of-town or out-of-country owners “terrifying.”

“They have almost no accountability whatsoever,” Dyster said.

He said extra block grant money and an end to the easy flipping of vacant houses were necessary starting points in trying to solve the problem. HUD only offers a house for 15 days before anybody can buy it without proving they have an interest in living there.

“We’ve got to give (potential homebuyers) more time to see what’s available,” Dyster said.

Over 50 percent of fires took place in abandoned structures in the Falls in 2007, Schumer said.

After the press conference, MacKay documented a fire which began in a vacant house and then spread to nine occupied ones. The city was built for a much larger population which no longer exists, he said.

“They didn’t strap those houses to their back when left,” MacKay said. “(Vacant houses) are a multi-faceted threat to our neighborhoods.”

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Dietitian
Dietitian with duties to incl. cooking & ability to give direction in a health facility's dietary dept. Benefits incl. 4...>MORE

FOREMAN & LABORERS
Basement Waterproofing co. needs a foreman & laborers for expanding business, exp. w/interior drain tile a plus, 471-723...>MORE

Marriage Counselor
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
   
...>MORE

Dental Reception
Maintenance
Supervisor
FT Maintenance Niagara Falls YMCA. HVAC, electr., plbg, carpentry, cleaning, pool. $13.
...>MORE

DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, know WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE

Recreational Aide
Recreational Aide - Full/part time. Performs hand on activities to include crafts, cooking, recreational and social acti...>MORE

Private Investigator
Private Investigator
Proven ability and equipment to conduct surveillance, background inquires and searches. 1-5 ye
...>MORE

Hospitality/Tourism Instructor
Hospitality/Tourism. NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking applications for part-time instructor to teach hospita...>MORE

Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE

Adult Residential Services Administrator
HUMAN SERVICES
Progressive Niagara County Agency serving adults with psychiatric disabilties seeks an Adult Reside
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE

1984 Cadillac Eldorado
CADILLAC Eldorado 1984, runs, inspected, $500. 283-3552....>MORE

1996 Saturn Sport Coup
SATURN 1996 Sport coup, 4 cyl, auto, exc cond in & out, loaded, CD, no rust, 97k orig. mi, $2195. 523-7102....>MORE

1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE

Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE

Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495.
716-525-2889
...>MORE

Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE

Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE

Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index