Pressed by mounting concerns about vacant buildings that harbor blight and empty lots abandoned to decay, the Long Beach City Council on Tuesday overhauled its rules for dealing with absentee property owners.
City leaders say the sweeping changes replace an outdated system kneecapped by delays and loopholes. They hope to halve the amount of time it takes to fix problems when those responsible ignore warnings and refuse to abate hazardous conditions.
It’s not crabgrass fascism, they say, but rather recognizing how to best address a growing trend of absenteeism among a minority of property owners who have, especially since the pandemic, resigned themselves from the process and left their properties to be eyesores…