Any ideas on how to deal with deadbeat banks and investment companies

[Telly Savalas]

who own vacant properties in your neighborhood and can't be bothered to take care of them?

The folks at the city 311 line try to be helpful, but they've got a heavy caseload so things move slowly.

Anybody got any other ideas on strategies to deal with absentee blight-promoting scumbags?

[Howardx]

1. fire n/t

[Telly Savalas]

2. While the revenge would be gratifiying, ultimately that only exacerbates the blight.

Also, the houses on this block are kind of close together. It wouldn't be safe for my neighbors.

Nice thought, though.

[ima_sinnic]

4. that is an unfair burden on public services

the fire and police departments would come out; meanwhile, someone could die in a house fire because the fire department was busy putting out a fire in a vacant, run-down house started by arson.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Urban Housing Reclamation...

otherwise known as finding a squat.

Main Problem is finding the homeless to move in who will keep the place up. Other problems involve staying one step ahead of the sheriff.

Often more practical, although more of a bother, would be for the neighbors who claim to be so pissed at the mess to wander over and cut the lawn and clean up the trash themselves when demanding others do things doesn't seem to work.