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Residents press council on South Side blight; city explains complaint-driven enforcement and inspection cycles
Summary
South Side residents urged stronger enforcement of property-maintenance ordinances; city staff and council described complaint-driven processes, a three‑year rental inspection cycle, and avenues for reporting problems.
Residents from Bethlehem's South Side told city council the neighborhood's appearance has deteriorated and urged the city to apply its property-maintenance ordinances more consistently.
Joe Daniels, a longtime South Side resident, told council that slumlords and poorly maintained rental properties are harming property values and neighborhood morale and that ordinances on weeds, snow removal and trash are not being enforced. “I'm tired of these slumlords getting away with just too much,” Daniels said during the public-comment period. He urged the city to use some affordable-housing mitigation funds to address residential upkeep in existing neighborhoods.
Council members and city staff responded with an overview of how enforcement currently works.…
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