Blight isn’t interesting.

No one wants to talk about abandoned buildings. No one wants to think about old structures left to rot. Those properties already haunt their neighborhoods. Can’t we just ignore them?

Yeah, we don’t like to talk about blight, either.

So let’s talk about the state taking action to help communities avoid it.

State Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville, introduced a bill that passed the House 125 to 78. That’s a remarkable and bipartisan margin in a chamber with a one-person majority.

The bill in question would create a statewide database to track owners that gobble up properties only to neglect them, allowing the buildings to become eyesores that bring down housing values and hurt tax bases. The database would be maintained by the state Department of Economic Development. Municipalities could search it, heading off or dealing with problems.

Let’s be clear: This isn’t just about blighted property. This is about a proactive attempt to keep communities safe, both from the hazards a derelict property can pose and the financial harm it can inflict. Corporate buyers with “we buy any house” ads can be particularly problematic.

“They put tenants in (these properties) with safety hazards, they constantly have new code violations, and sometimes those people are really difficult to chase down,” said An Lewis, executive director for the Tri-Council of Governments and Steel Rivers Council of Governments land banks.

The bill is in the Senate’s hands now. The broadly positive reception in the House might be encouraging, but there are no promises. What the Senate could provide is a way to identify places where Markosek’s bill could use more teeth, like leaning harder on fixing problems and collecting fees to fund enforcement.

Better, stronger systems to allow for more empowered code enforcement could help Pennsylvania communities maintain safe neighborhoods.

This bill could be an opportunity for lawmakers to help that happen by continuing an admirable start and putting the needs of taxpayers and municipalities ahead of politics.

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