RSS Feed MenuIt was a long time coming, but the Rust Belt and Northeast – once the home to working class Reagan Democrats – are now solidly blue.
Republicans seeking to retake some of this ground would do well to address the plague of abandoned properties in these regions.
There are between 10,000 and 15,000 abandoned houses in Cleveland alone. Across the Northeast and Great Lakes there are likely hundreds of thousands of abandoned properties blighting these communities and depressing the economy.
Any party that cannot fix this problem in a prompt fashion has no serious claim to govern. As these working-class communities continue to hemorrhage population and industry, these residential and commercial properties are accelerating the region’s economic death spiral.
The scope of this problem is almost inconceivable.
Detroit is only the sorriest case.
When Americans tell pollsters they have lost faith in their representatives’ ability to meet even rudimentary responsibilities of civilizational upkeep, this urban rot is what they have in mind.
Democrats representing these communities have responded with a serious legislative proposal. But whatever its merits, the childish spending of congressional Democrats on useless government bloat – spending enabled by the President – crowds-out spending for worthy projects such as this. Cleveland, for example, will get $25.5 million in federal neighborhood improvement money this year. But after allotting over $14 million to demolition, they can still pay for only 1,700 demolitions in a city with over 10,000 abandoned properties.
What should Republicans do to fix this problem?
They could start by paying to rip these houses down. Republicans have criticized Democrats for watering the grass while the house is on fire – taking on immigration, health care, cap and trade, and other lower priority items prior to fixing the banking crisis. Republicans should argue the same when it comes to spending. The problem with earmarks and indiscriminate budget increases for government programs is that they disable government from taking on a genuine crisis.
Republicans should take every opportunity to strip money from the pet projects of Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi, reallocating it to the states for the immediate demolition of abandoned properties.
And when some on the left predictably respond that we should not act rashly because there is something to admire in societal collapse, Republicans will only benefit again from their populist appeal.
In addition to the spending side, Republicans could promote economic development in these communities by temporarily waiving corporate and personal income taxes for anyone who purchases and occupies land where one of these properties stood.
Fixing the abandoned housing problem will cost federal dollars, but it will also promote conservative values. These properties undermine families and business development, promote crime and community breakdown, and by eroding the tax base lead to ever more clamoring for government support.
In 2010, with the right candidates and economic environment, Republicans could have a shot at Senate seats in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and Connecticut. Any Republican who wants to be taken seriously for these statewide elections needs to offer creative and serious solutions to the abandoned property scourge.
Cforchange // Mar 19, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Now you’re talking – I see this every day right before my very eyes. I do not agree with tearing down. There are sound ideas from the inside, community members who want to use this housing to train the skilless youth which appear to be the throw away population that isn’t going to go away. Some have had brushes with the law, most need to pursue a GED because while no one has been paying attention, high school drop out rates have soared to almost a majority. Anyone who concludes that the idle adult portion of these communities has nothing of value to share and the housing isn’t worth saving your opinion is wrong – the neighborhood wrecks will be standing long after that 1990’s “Wellington Court” special. I have made friends in my hood that are quite an unlikely match on the surface. As our friendships have developed, it has become clear that we differ little, only the circumstances of our lives contrast. But I totally agree that this is the IN for Republicans. However if you don’t live there or start businesses there how do you, a GOP prospect expect to be invited in. I would recommend that Republican’s start to invest in and offer mentoring when requested/ necessary to seed these ideas that community stakeholders have. $100,000 could go very far like 100 houses or 50 homes and materials. Should the interest arise I could certainly lead the horse to water.
Rhampton // Mar 19, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I’m uncomfortable with what would essentially be governmental seizure of private land. Abandoned does not necessarily mean no longer owned. If it can be shown that there is a truly legitimate reason for seizure – for example unpaid taxes being equal to or more than the value of the property – then I might agree. The devil is in the details, as they say.
Cforchange // Mar 19, 2009 at 2:20 pm
David Frum, here’s the problem w/ the movers and shakers of the GOP and a blog site. They’re out moving and shaking never to sit and passively express themselves at a keyboard. My point: Look at the pssing match going on the active scroll today regarding ideology and introspect about the party itself but when you have a topic about doing something to advance the perception of the party or to open doors to new opportunity like this article- little interest. Do you and your big picture supporters have any plans to move this talk to the next level – action. Talking for the next 2 years will be death. Someone at the big picture level needs to realize that things are going from bad to worse and the line in the sand now exists. The last month of “GOP” entertainment fodder was very damaging and maybe the final straw for many. When the spotlight was on, these media hacks on our lucky behalf really portrayed ugliness in every regard. Some of my Republican friends are now strongly considering the exit for Independence. I would classify them as very strong community influencers and of course life long Republicans.
gibberish // Mar 20, 2009 at 9:35 am
“Government action Now!”, says Clay! Not Democrat earmarks but Republican ones instead. Sounds like a liberal solution.
dendup // Mar 21, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Earmarks are clearly the one thing that is truly bipartisan. Focussing on Pelosi’s and Boxer’s earmarks rather than the overall phenonomen is not helpful in building support for the goals of the Community Regeneration Act. Tax relief may be a helpful addition, but the experience of Enterprise Zones is not encouraging. It is unfair to critciize it for addressing a small part of the problem since it is a demonstration program. Tone down the rhetoric if you really want to build support for addressing this problem.
whitetower // Mar 22, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Who cares about the northeast? The country’s population is rapidly growing in the south and southwest and is just as rapidly declining in the northeast — after the 2010 census FL will displace NY as the country’s 3rd largest state. NY, OH, PA, and MI will lose Congressional seats. FL, TX, AZ, and GA will gain.Appealing to the interests of declining demographic sounds like a loser strategy to me.
Cforchange // Mar 23, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Whitetower, I hope you live in TX, AZ, or GA and need the northeast water! When that day comes, we will remember the lacking attention. Hmmm, $3.29 per gallon because it’s all premium.