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ANSONIA: An Embarassing Example of How to NOT Tackle Blight! Archived

108 Division Street Ansonia, Connecticut Show on Map Hide Map
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Reporter

Issue ID:

1833065

Submitted To:

Community

Category:

None

Viewed:

6125 times

Neighborhood:

Derby

Reported:

on

Description

I believe about a year ago someone posted a similar image to, in a single photo, show the disgrace and embarrassment to the city that Ansonia’s Blight Ordinance and Blight Officer area to the community.

Here we are again. I’ll call this home “Ansonia’s Salute to Blight”. Thousands of vehicles a day travel down Division Street past this home and often sit in traffic waiting for the light at Cumberland Farms and get to marvel at this wonderful “WELCOME TO BEAUTIFUL ANSONIA” postcard.

I know there are examples downtown of run down factory buildings, the embarrassment that is Healey Ford’s ruins and numerous other homes and businesses in disrepair as good people try to rebuild downtown with places like Crave, Antonio’s, KOI, Copper City Grill and so many other reasons TO visit Ansonia… even while blight surrounds many of them.

(I wonder how much Healey Ford has been fined so far? I bet ZERO!)

I have seen posts about blight here followed by the VERY unhelpful and rude “Contact the Blight Officer” response. REALLY?

Unless Ansonia’s Blight Officer is a part time volunteer he/she should be hanging their head in shame! They should be fired, resign, be embarrassed to collect a paycheck as they steal taxpayer’s money while having no accomplishments to show for it.

It isn’t up to residents to do the job of the blight officer and tell them where the blight is and how it violates the ordinance. THEY should be taking STRONG action and, in fact, putting our press releases monthly to detail what recent efforts were made to clean up Ansonia. List the addresses of the properties, what happened, etc. The public is paying, the public deserves to know.

If an eyesore isn't actually "blight" according to the ordnance.. UPDATE THE ORDNANCE as it clear needs work.

In the meantime, myself and others will continue to look at this poster child for Ansonia’s rampant blight. One that is seen my many more people than other examples. A single home in such disrepair it has a TREE growing out of its roof and a piece of plywood nailed over a window!

I wonder how long until someone FINALLY contacts this homeowner and say “CLEAN THIS UP!”. I’m betting never. The mayor doesn’t seem too concerned and you can’t tell me every employee of Ansonia hasn’t driven by this nightmare 100 times.

(I could quickly look up the owner of this property and post their name, but we'll give the city times to speak to them...)


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