FBI investigating Detroit blight removal program

Detroit home being demolished
last year

At first glance this story about the FBI investigation of Detroit's program to raze abandoned homes appears to be a local issue. Nope. The lion's share of the funding for these demolitions comes from the federal government.

From the Detroit Free Press:

The FBI has joined a federal investigation into Detroit’s demolition program, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The FBI is the second federal investigative agency looking into the demolition program — an ambitious effort designed by Mayor Mike Duggan to tackle Detroit's massive blight problem.

"We are assisting," the source told the Free Press. "We're more of a background player at this point."

Late last month, a federal inspector general subpoenaed records from the Detroit Auditor General's office, which is also investigating the demolition program.

Duggan campaigned on speeding up the razing of abandoned dwellings--but the per-house cost has soared since he took office.

Everything seems to be a racket in Detroit--just like in Chicago. And there is big money for the grabbing even as a city falls apart.

Related posts:

• (Photos) Part one: Abandoned homes in Detroit's Grixdale Farms neighborhood
• Photos) Part two: Abandoned homes in Detroit's Grixdale Farms neighborhood
• (Photos) Abandoned homes near Detroit's Telegraph Road