‘The best way to deal with bad neighbors is …’

Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon is using public shaming to encourage the owners of “problem properties” in the 6th District to clean up their acts. Do you like the idea? 

Bad neighbors should be ashamed. And if they’re not, Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon will see to it that they are.

He has compiled a map pf problem properties in the 6th District cited for rental violations, licensing and inspections violations, and property tax delinquencies, intended to shame property owners into action.

There are a lot of pins in this map.

Do you like the idea? Complete this sentence in the comments below:

“The best way to deal with bad neighbors is …”

Henon says his “Bad Neighbor Initiative,” inspired by a high number of complaints from his Northeast Philly constituents, is an aggressive education campaign with the goal of getting offenders to clean up their act. He says he’ll subpoena the worst offenders to testify in front of City Council, and if he sees enough action from the initiative, he’ll work to increase penalties.

There’s more detail on his website.

Imagine if this were extended throughout the entire city and all Philadelphians were encouraged to tattle on their bad neighbors — illegal activity; piles of trash; discarded, disintegrating furniture; out-of-control vermin infestations; crumbling houses — and something would actually be done about it.

Is Henon on the right track?