Bank-owned properties

EDITOR:

I recently read in The Los Angles Times, that the L.A. City Council passed an ordinance that would require the banks that foreclosed on homes, keep them maintained until they are sold. If a bank failed to keep property well maintained a $1,000 per day fine could be levied on the bank. (See the article online at www.latimes.com/news/custom/scimedemail/la-me-derelict-homes-20100711,0,6945778.story ).

Everywhere I go in Douglas County I see vacant properties that are in various states of neglect and disrepair. One prime example is just two doors down from my home. The prior owner left the house over three months ago. The lawn and trees are dead or dying, the house is falling apart and is a real eyesore. The bank that holds the property is not maintaining or even trying to sell the property.

I would propose that our own county commissioners enact a law similar to the Los Angeles law and get these abandoned properties cleaned up and maintained by the banks that own them. This would improve the looks of our community, elevate property values and make this a better place in which to live.

Unfortunately I don't hold out much hope that our current county commissioners or their staff will put the well-being of common taxpaying citizens above the profitability of the banks that own these homes. After watching how they favor big businesses like Walmart over local shops, big casinos over small ones, big developers over the communities desire to maintain a small town atmosphere, the chances of them taking on the big banks are pretty remote.

Hopefully we will get some new commissioners in November that will better represent the majority of Douglas County's citizens.

John Hunter

Gardnerville