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They were demolished for building code violations according to the article. A process that took many months and many meetings with a tribunal.

The question is whether you believe this guy was a victim of political corruption, where city officials targeted a competitor. Or believe the government side that he was a slumlord. Both seem equally likely given the evidence in the article.

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I guess I find that demolishing the house should take more than a few months or planning committee meetings. I think that an independent judge should have to be involved in anything that deprives someone of their property.

I actually think a major component of the problem is property taxes that are too low. If there were minimum assessments on a lot, or alternatively a minimum assessment on a structure; then the landowners would be properly incentivized to put them to good use; or they would naturally revert to the town after several years of non-payment.

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