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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Tiny houses under fire by builders ... Local veteran's persistence pays off for all vets ... Second SOU candidate embraces liberal arts ... Tiny houses under fire by builders ... Local veteran's persistence pays off for all vets ... Second SOU candidate embraces liberal arts ... OUR VIEW Our View: Don't let the bankers delay blight ordinance Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 26, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 26, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News If banks had been working diligently to clean up the abandoned houses they own throughout Medford, we'd have a lot more sympathy for the Oregon Bankers Association's complaints about the City Council's efforts to get them to do just that. The City Council should not let an overheated email from a lawyer sidetrack its efforts to crack down on a persistent problem. Like many communities, Medford is plagued by abandoned, boarded-up properties that are eyesores in otherwise well-kept neighborhoods and attract squatters and drug users, putting neighbors at risk. The city has drawn up an ordinance designed to force the owners of these properties to fix them up. The proposed rules include a six-month deadline for fixing boarded-up homes. In an email to the City Council, a Salem attorney representing the Bankers Association criticized the proposed ordinance for defining ownership too broadly. He noted that a local lender might have issued a loan to an individual to buy a Medford home, then immediately sold it on the secondary mortgage market. The local lender no longer has any interest in the property, but could be considered the owner under the city's definition. Let us pause to shed a tear for the unfortunate lender who now might have to help the city track down the real responsible party. Sounds like an act of good citizenship to us. As would keeping that mortgage local in the first place, although we realize that's an old-fashioned idea. In fairness, the lawyer may have a legitimate point when it comes to others who might be defined as having an "interest" in a property, such as individuals who are not living in the house but are current on their payments, or are renting a portion of a neglected property. The question is, why are banks suddenly concerned for the welfare of renters? City records indicate there are an estimated 436 vacant homes in Medford, 415 of them bank-owned. Boarded-up houses, the most noticeable, total 42. Of those, 21 are bank-owned. If the banks really cared about this community and their responsibility as property owners, they would be addressing all 435 of those homes. The City Council tabled the proposed ordinance last week, and has scheduled a study session for June 30. That's more than a month away, and we hope that's not some sign they are getting weak-kneed. It can't be that difficult to address any legitimate concerns the bankers may have with the definition of "owner." After that, get the ordinance adopted and start holding their feet to the fire. MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 26, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501