In 2007, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development pledged $33 million on a program intended to penalize slumlords and improve conditions in 200 rundown tenements per year. Fast track to 2011: nearly half the targeted buildings are still in the program because of continued housing violations and only $10 million of $23 million spent has been recovered from delinquent landlords. One possible solution? Slapping liens on buildings that owe the city for repair work. [NYDN]
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