DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PhiladelphiaPA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PhiladelphiaPA</span></a>: ‘Beyond frustrating’: Sheriff’s Office problems prevent <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LandBank" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>LandBank</span></a> from buying lots for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CommunityGardens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CommunityGardens</span></a>, houses</p><p>Story by William Bender, Ryan W. Briggs, March 10, 2025</p><p>"Last May, City Council passed a routine bill that amended the Philadelphia Code in order to preserve the Land Bank’s ability to acquire tax-delinquent lots at sheriff sales.</p><p>"The bill was essentially a bit of legal housekeeping. It tightened up the city’s land-acquisition process in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court case in Minnesota over a property forfeiture.</p><p>"The goal was simple: Enable the city’s Land Bank, a quasi-governmental agency, to protect 90 or so parcels of community gardens from development and continue with its overall mission of repurposing <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/vacant" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>vacant</span></a> or blighted land into <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AffordableHousing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AffordableHousing</span></a> and other projects that benefit the public.</p><p>"The bill passed 17-0. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker — whose administration helped draft the legislation — promptly signed it into law in June 2024.</p><p>"Yet, nine months later, the Land Bank has yet to acquire the garden parcels at sheriff sale.</p><p>"In fact, it has been unable to purchase any properties through sheriff sale — for the last five years.</p><p>"The reason: a problem in Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s office. Again."</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/beyond-frustrating-sheriff-s-office-problems-prevent-land-bank-from-buying-lots-for-community-gardens-houses/ar-AA1AB9qk" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">msn.com/en-us/money/realestate</span><span class="invisible">/beyond-frustrating-sheriff-s-office-problems-prevent-land-bank-from-buying-lots-for-community-gardens-houses/ar-AA1AB9qk</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ACAB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ACAB</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CommunityGardens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CommunityGardens</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PublicBenefit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PublicBenefit</span></a></p>