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Going on a Witch Hunt

The word “blight” conveys an image of a community of decay and distress with images that remains stuck even if you seldom visit the community—think Bridgeport, New London, etc.

Westbrook’s Grand List fell this year, raising our taxes and putting pressure on the administration to make Westbrook so attractive housing prices will rise, but going on a witch hunt for non-conforming grass will only make this town notorious and encourage more departures.

A small group of non- and full-time residents are making an attempt to push through a draconian addition to the current functional blight ordinance that allows for anonymous complaints and includes a paid blight inspector, two local courts, a big-time fine system, and the legal definition of blight extending to virtually anything they do not like and exempting commercial and other properties—including one member’s relative.

The existing blight ordinance works—that is partly why you do not see any. Yes, there are a few messy situations, but we have almost 4,000 buildings. Yet the Blight Committee had been busy uncovering its version of blight on a secret list! Fact: In three years of the committee’s existence, it has managed to stigmatize a total of 26 homes as blighted, most for petty reasons. Yes, someone has been cruising our streets and making a hit list of homes and hiding it until I demanded a copy. The committee also illegally failed to record it in the minutes of their few official meetings over three years.

Frankly I consider it libelous and will only share specific data with actual owners, or you can get a copy from the Selectman’s Office—they have to give it to you.

Jeff Kriete

Westbrook