2015 South Central Assembly Summit "New Takes On Old Issues" Blight and Community Revitalization Top-Ten List APRIL 15, 2015

10. If not now-when? Municipalities will focus more resources on blight prevention and remediation given the good return on that investment.

9. “I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” Increasingly, local resources will be dedicated to addressing blight including the use of Neighborhood Improvement Districts, the establishment of blight funds created with general funds and fines from ticketing.

8. Wishful thinking-Not! Land Banks will become more prominent but will not be the silver bullet for addressing blight.

7. Do something. If it doesn't work, do something else. No idea is too crazy. Additional tools to address blight will include vacant property registration fees and fines for missing doors and windows.

6. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Disqualifying bidders at tax sales that have been convicted of code violations, are delinquent in paying municipal owned utilities and have had their rental licenses revoked will gain popularity.

5. HUD help us! Efforts will be increasingly focused on de- concentrating poverty including reforms to the Section 8 program.

4. Try it, you’ll like it! Conservatorship actions to address blight will increase dramatically as this tool becomes better known.

3. Never make fun of the geeks, one day they will be your boss. Communities will become increasing strategic in addressing blight by using data to develop strategies

2. You can catch more flies with honey rather than vinegar. Code enforcement will be less punitive and will increasingly reward property owners for being in conformance with the codes

1. A riot is the language of the unheard. Effective community policing programs will be demanded in response to the Ferguson incident.

Christopher Gulotta The Gulotta Group, LLC 703 Stones Crossing Road Easton, PA