The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing July 22 on the proposed Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act-- Senate Bill 1291 (Rhoades-R-Schuylkill)—in Pottsville.

Sen. John Pippy (R-Allegheny) serves as Majority Chair and Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia) serves as Minority Chair.

The Committee is scheduled to hear from representatives of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, and Schuylkill Community Action.

The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act would expedite the process of prosecuting owners of blighted properties and give municipalities the authority to go after the financial assets of negligent owners. The bill would also clarify the identity of property owners and hold them responsible for the municipal costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures.

"This hearing will be held in Pottsville, but blight is not restricted to urban areas. It is a serious problem in communities across Pennsylvania," Sen. Rhoades said. "It depresses property values and promotes crime. My legislation will hold landlords accountable for the costs that blight places on our communities."

The bill is part of a legislative package introduced earlier this year by Sen. Rhoades, Sen. Pippy and other legislators aimed at helping municipalities prevent blight and remediate abandoned properties.

"Combating blight isn't easy. It's a lingering problem with no quick solutions. But there are steps we can take, and we should to do everything we can to provide communities with the tools to reclaim their neighborhoods," said Sen. Pippy.

The hearing will take place July 22 at 10 a.m. at the Schuylkill County Courthouse, 401 N. Second Street, Pottsville.

7/18/2008