The City of Fresno is addressing the issue of blight in the Fresno community.

By a vote of 5 to 2, city council approved a new blight ordinance to rid the city of vacant boarded-up buildings, address slumlords, and take on other visible hazards that lower property values.

Esther Delahey is on the task force that met since October of 2014 to make recommendations to the council.

“My community is one of the hardest hit by the problems of blight in our entire city that plagues everybody.” -Esther Delahey Task Force member & Lowell Resident.

Delahey was on hand at the council meeting, she and other members of the task force were concerned whether or not the city’s new ordinance would have the teeth it needed to make a difference.

There will be daily $250 fines, a Landlord Association and other tools to fight the blight.

Mayor Ashley Swearingen says as the new blight team begins its work, the city will see dramatic improvements in neighborhoods in just the next few months.