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Public commenter alleges 'receivership' is being used to take Black residents' property
Summary
At the start of the committee meeting, public commenter Stefan Prior alleged that a practice he called 'receivership'—not specified in the vacant-buildings maintenance ordinance—is being used to seize property from Black residents, named organizations and a $17,000 demolition fee, and urged the council to investigate. The committee did not respond in the transcript.
Stefan Prior told the committee he came to raise concerns about what he described as a 'receivership' practice that he said results in the taking of Black residents' property.
Prior said the vacant buildings maintenance license (VBML) ordinance contains no language authorizing receivership and accused private actors and city processes of taking land. He named OTOADOC and an individual he called Danny Klinger and alleged the Port Land Bank has used federal and state funds to buy property and that demolition fees of $17,000 have been imposed, which he described as a conflict of interest.
"They use y'all solicitors to go to court. It's dirty. It's wrong. Y'all need to look into that," Prior said, and urged the council to investigate. He said he had the ordinance in hand and repeatedly asserted that the document did not authorize receivership.
Chair Scotty Johnson thanked the speaker and closed public comment; no council member or staff response to the specific allegations appears in the meeting transcript. The transcript does not show any staff presentation, legal citation, or factual rebuttal to verify or refute Prior's claims.
Because these were public comments, they were not a formal complaint or allegation adjudicated at the meeting. Prior's statements remain allegations in the absence of supporting documents or responses in the transcript.
