Letter to the Editor

City needs to do more to get rid of dilapidated homes

Saturday, February 2, 2013

To the editor:

Earlier this month, my two sisters came for a short visit.

One day, as we were driving north on First Street from Main Street, they saw several falling, rotting houses. One sister commented, "What a sad looking area of town this has become." I suggested they close their eyes while driving up the street because I am so ashamed for them to see the condition this part of Blytheville has become.

I also responded, "I don't understand why our city government does not do more to rid us of this blight." It does NOT have to be this way.

We moved into our house in Blytheville in 1999. The same houses rotting in 1999 are still rotting in 2013.

Many people feel the same way I do. Using the Blytheville Code Enforcement forms does not help. I have complained using these forms several times. I have previously written a letter to the editor listing 44 houses on Missouri, Kentucky, Davis and Dougan streets that should have been leveled long ago.

Hopefully, 2013 will be a year in which the city government actually rids our city of this awful condition.

Charles Long
Blytheville