US Rep. Tim Ryan co-sponsors cleanup bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is co-sponsoring the Clean Up Our Neighborhoods Act of 2019 that would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to states to eliminate residential and commercial blight and assist in neighborhood revitalization.

Eligible activities would include boarding vacant properties, demolishing or renovating blighted structures, clearing and maintaining vacant land, and stabilizing activities that provide open green space for public access and redevelopment. States would have to match 15 percent of the grant amount.

“Our ultimate goal must be to completely eliminate blight from our neighborhoods and this bill is a big step in that direction,” said Ryan of Howland, D-13th. “The cost of abandoned buildings and vacant lots cannot be overstated. Abandoned structures account for $777 million in fire-related property losses each year, not to mention thousands of dollars in decreased property values for neighboring homeowners.”