Controversial Wayne County Prosecutor has positive impact in Detroit.
"A 30-person unit of Duggans staff has identified 12,000 abandoned homes across Detroit and used the law and property records to bring owners to court. So far, 810 homes have been "rescued," meaning renovated; 480 are in the process of being rescued; 508 have been demolished; 372 are awaiting demolition; and 1,975 properties are in litigation. Cynics and Duggans would-be successors may wonder why the prosecutor appears to be in real estate. But realists understand that abandoned housing and the associated crime impedes revitalization and business investment. Duggans office isnt in the real estate business, its in the responsibility business. This is 'the kind of project that has succeeded in the city of Detroit where so many other have failed,' Paul Hillegonds, president of Detroit Renaissance, told me. Thats why officials in Chicago and Atlanta want to know how Wayne County is doing what its doing and others are bestowing awards on it."
Thanks to Richard Layman
FULL STORY: Duggan's work on abandoned housing needs all our support

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