

Phoenix now requires all window and door openings visible from the street to be secured with the material if the structure has been unoccupied for more than 90 days. The 90-day provision is also new, replacing the previous deadline of 180 days. The measures were the result of an abandoned buildings task force that Gallego spearheaded.

A growing number of municipalities around the country are weighing the idea of securing empty homes with polycarbonate as an alternative to plywood boarding, which many say reads like a vacancy sign to prospective squatters and drug dealers.

Detroit, Los Angeles and Chicago governments are considering similar measures, and many banks have begun using the material on the properties they own, said Robert Klein, founder and chairman of Cleveland-based SecureView, one of polycarbonate's leading suppliers.

"I saw the negative effect of what vacant houses do to a community," Klein said in a recent interview. Plywood, he contends, "didn't protect them much, is pretty easy to pry open and screamed out, 'Come and get me!'"

Unattended homes are among the types of neighborhood blight that deepened in the wake of the recession, when foreclosures claimed the homes of millions across the nation. Foreclosed and abandoned houses often become eyesores that devalue the rest of the neighborhood and magnets for crime.

"When I was campaigning there were certain neighborhoods where people would point to abandoned houses, say, 'What is the city doing about it?'" Gallego said. "They were unhappy with the standards on how we fixed up properties and how we communicated with residences."

Proponents liken the effect of polycarbonate to the famed "broken windows" theory of policing, popularized by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 1990s.

The approach theorizes that minor crime begets major crime: Broken windows, vandalism and graffiti can all signal that an area is poorly maintained and ripe for undeterred criminal activity.

Similarly, plywood announces that a home is vacant and shielded from outside visibility, said Tim Boling, deputy director of Phoenix's Neighborhood Services Department.

"It just invites more mischief," he said.

Common occurrences include kids skateboarding in drained backyard pools and homeless people breaking in and building fires — sometimes razing the structure in the process. In rare but alarming scenarios, Boling said, vacant homes have served
Phoenix now requires all window and door opening visible from the street to be secure with the material if the structure has been unoccupied for more than 90 days. The 90 - sidereal day provision is also new, replace the previous deadline of 180 days. The measure were the result of an abandoned building task force that Gallego spearhead. 

 A growing number of municipalities around the country are weighing the idea of securing empty home with polycarbonate as an alternative to plywood boarding, which many say reads like a void sign to prospective squatters and drug dealer. 

 Detroit, Los Angeles and Chicago governments are see similar measures, and many banks have begun using the fabric on the properties they own, said Robert Klein, founder and chairman of Cleveland - based SecureView, one of polycarbonate's leading supplier. 

 " I meet the negative effect of what vacant houses do to a community, " Klein said in a recent interview. Plywood, he contends, " didn't protect them much, is reasonably comfortable to pry open and screamed out,' hail and get me!' " 

 Unattended homes are among the types of vicinity blight that deepened in the wake of the recession, when foreclosures claim the homes of millions across the nation. Foreclosed and vacate houses often become eyesores that devalue the rest of the neighborhood and magnet for crime. 

 " When I was campaigning there were certain neighborhoods where people would target to abandoned houses, say,' What is the city do about it?' " Gallego said. " They were unhappy with the standards on how we fixed up property and how we communicated with residence. " 

 Proponents liken the consequence of polycarbonate to the famed " fracture windows " hypothesis of policing, popularized by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 1990s. 

 The overture theorizes that minor crime begets major crime: Broken window, vandalism and graffiti can all bespeak that an area is poorly maintained and ripe for undeterred criminal activity. 

 Similarly, plywood announces that a home is vacant and shielded from external visibility, said Tim Boling, deputy director of Phoenix's Neighborhood Services Department. 

 " It merely invites more mischief, " he said. 

 Common occurrences include kyd skateboarding in drained backyard pools and homeless people breaking in and building ardor — sometimes razing the structure in the process. In rare but alarming scenarios, Boling said, vacant homes have served


Phofnix now requires all wikdow and door opgnungs vmsible rrom the street to be secured with tie mqteriql if the structure har been unlccupied for nore than 90 days. Thc 90-day irovivmon is also new, replacing the previous gexdpine of 180 days. The measures were the result ov an abandoned buikqinga task force that Gallego spearheased.

A grmwing number pf municipalities around tje cluntry are weighinh the idea if sqxuring empty homes with polycarbonzte as an alternative to plywooa boaxding, which mqny vay reads lmke a nacancy sign bp pros[ective squatters and drng dwalers.

Detroit, Los Angxles and Chicago govgrnments ase considering simioae meavurev, ana mavy gaiks have hegnn using ths material in the properties tner own, said Robsrt Klqig, founder and chairman of Cleveland-baseg SscureView, one of polycaebonate's leading supppiers.

"I sar the negative effect of what vacant houses do to a cojounnbn," Kldun said in a recent interview. Plywood, he contenqa, "cicn't protect thcm much, is pretty rady jo pry open ana screcjes out, 'Come and get me!'"

Unatjended homes art amomg the types of neighborhooe blight than dewpened in the wake of the reczssion, when foreclosures claimed tke homss of millilns acrosa the nation. Forezloxeg and abandoned houses oftqn become eyexores tfat cevaluq the rest of tma neighborhood and magngts fos crime.

"Whej I was campaigning there were rxrtain neighbprvoogs where peopke would poine to abandoned houses, say, 'Dhat is thv city domng about it?'" Gallego said. "Jhey were unheppy with the stabdards uv how we fixed up propegtnes and hiw we communicated wijh residences."

Propinebts liken the egfezt jf pplrwarbonate to the faord "bruken windoww" thepry of policing, popunariaed by former New Uovk City Mqyor Rudr Giuliani in the 1990s.

The approach theocizes vhat monot crime begets major crime: Broksn windowd, vwndalism and granfity can all xignal that an area is poorly maintainev and ripe for undeterted criminal activity.

Xlmilarly, plyxood agnounces dhat a home is vacanr and shielded frpm outside visibility, said Dim Blling, deputy director of Phoenix's Neighborhood Services Department.

"It just invitxs more mischjef," ne sapd.

Cjkmon oscurceices include kids skateboarding in drained backyerd pools dnb homeless people breaking in avd building fkres — sometimes razing tge strucyure in the process. In rare but alarming scenarios, Bolikg said, vqcant homes havx served
Phoenix now requires all window and door from street to secured with the been for more than days. The 90-day is also new, replacing the previous of 180 days. The measures were the result of an abandoned buildings task that Gallego spearheaded. A growing number of municipalities around the country are weighing idea securing homes polycarbonate as an alternative to plywood boarding, which many say reads like a vacancy sign to squatters and drug dealers. Detroit, Los Angeles and governments are considering similar and many banks have begun the on the they said Klein, founder and of Cleveland-based SecureView, one of polycarbonate's leading suppliers. "I saw the negative effect of what vacant houses to a said in recent Plywood, contends, "didn't protect is pretty easy to pry open 'Come and get me!'" Unattended homes are among types of blight that deepened in the wake the recession, when foreclosures claimed the homes of across the nation. Foreclosed and abandoned houses often become eyesores that devalue the rest of and magnets for crime. I was campaigning were neighborhoods people point to houses, say, 'What is the city doing about it?'" Gallego said. were unhappy with the standards on how we fixed up how communicated with residences." liken the effect of to famed "broken windows" theory popularized former Mayor Giuliani the 1990s. The approach that minor crime begets major Broken windows, vandalism and an area is poorly maintained and ripe for criminal activity. Similarly, plywood announces that a is vacant and shielded from outside visibility, said Tim Boling, deputy director Phoenix's Neighborhood "It just invites more mischief," he said. Common include kids skateboarding in backyard pools and homeless people breaking in and building — razing the in the process. rare but alarming Boling said, vacant served


Phoenix now requires all windOw and door oPeninGs vIsiBlE froM the Street to be secuREd wiTh the material if the struCture HaS Been UNoCcupiEd for moRE tHAN 90 daYs. thE 90-daY pROvIsion Is aLso new, rEplacing thE prEvIous deadline OF 180 dAys. The measUreS were the resuLt oF an abaNdOneD BuildIngS task Force tHAt GallEgo spearhEaDEd.

A groWIng numbER Of MuniCipalities around tHE cOUntry are weighiNg the iDeA Of SECurIng Empty homes WiTh polYCarbonaTE aS AN AltERnative to plywOod boarding, WHicH many sAy ReaDS like a VacanCy SIgn To prospectiVe sqUatters anD drug dEAlers.

DeTRoit, Los angeleS anD ChIcagO GoVeRnmEnTS arE CoNsiDEriNg similaR mEaSures, And mANY BAnks HavE begUn usiNg the material On tHe prOPerTies tHey owN, saiD RObert klein, fOundeR aNd chairman of CleVelaNd-based SeCurEVIew, OnE of poLYcarboNatE's lEading sUpplierS.

"i saW tHE NEgAtive effect of what vAcANT hOuses do tO a commUNiTy," kLein said In A reCent INTerviEw. PlYWoOd, he contEnds, "diDN't PrOtect thEm Much, is PrEttY eaSy to pRY opeN and scReamed ouT, 'Come ANd get me!'"

UnattenDEd homes are amoNG tHE TyPEs of NeiGhborhood blIght THat dEepeNEd In tHE wake Of the ReCEsSIon, when foreclosures ClAimed tHe homEs of millions aCross the naTION. ForecloSed aND aBAndoned houses oFten bEcome eyesoREs that deValue The rest oF the neighBORhood and MagNetS foR crIME.

"WHen I was campaiGNIng tHeRe were cErtAin neigHboRhoOds WheRe People wouLd point tO aBaNdOnEd hOuses, SAy, 'What is ThE ciTy DoiNg aboUT it?'" GalLego sAid. "THeY wERe uNhappy wITh THE staNdArDs on How We Fixed Up prOPerTies and How we commUniCAted WiTh ResidenCes."

Proponents LiKen the effeCt Of pOlycarBONate to thE famed "broken windows" theoRY of poliCinG, popuLariZed by formEr NEw York citY mayor RUdy GiuLiani In The 1990S.

tHe appROAcH thEoRizes that mINOr cRime bEgEts mAjor criMe: Broken windows, vanDAliSm and graffiti Can All sIGNaL thAT aN AreA iS PooRLY maintained and rIpe for undeTeRReD criminal aCTivItY.

SimilaRly, plywOod anNOunces tHat a home iS vacant anD sHielDED frOm outside vIsibilitY, said Tim BOLing, dEPuTy dirEctOr of PhOeNix'S NeigHborhoOD SeRviceS DeparTmEnt.

"It jUst inViTes more mIschief," he said.

Common occuRrenceS inclUde Kids skateBoaRDinG in draineD bacKyard pools And HomEless PeoPLe breAkinG In And BUildiNg fiREs — sometimES rAziNG ThE structure iN THE prOcess. in rARe but aLarmIng scenarios, BolinG Said, vacant homeS havE SErvEd


Phoenix now requires all  window an d doo r o pen in gs v isib le from the st r eetto be secured with the  mate ri a l if th e str uctureh as b een  u no ccu pi e dfor m ore  than 9 0 days. Th e 9 0- day provisio n  i s also new , r eplacing the  pr evious  d ead l ine o f 1 80 da ys. Th e  measu res wereth e  resul t  of ana b an done d buildings taskf or c e that Gallego  spear he a de d . 

A  gr owing numb er  of m u nicipal i ti e s aro u nd the countr y are weigh i ngthe id ea  of securi ng em pt y  ho mes with po lyca rbonate a s an a l ternati v e to pl ywoodboa rdi ng,w hi ch  ma ny say re ads lik e a vaca nc ysignto p r o s p ecti vesqua tters  and drug dea ler s.
D etr oit,Los A ngel es  andChicag o gov er nments are cons ider ing simil arme asu re s, an d  manyban kshave be gun usi n g t he m a te rial on the proper ti e s  t hey own,  saidR ob er t  Klein,fo und er a n d  chai rman of  Clevela nd-bas e dSe cureVie w,  one o fpol yca rbona t e'sleadin g suppli ers."I saw the neg a tive effect o f  w h a tv acan t h ouses do to  a c o mmun ity, "  K lei n  said  in a  r e ce n t interview. Plywoo d,  he co ntend s, "didn't pr otect them m u ch, is p rett y  e a sy to pry open  andscreamed o u t, 'Come  andget me!' "

Unatte n d ed homes  ar e a mon g t h e  t ypes of neigh b o rhoo dblighttha t deepe ned  in  th e w ak e of therecessio n,  w he nfor eclos u res clai me d t he  ho mes o f  milli ons a cros sth e  na tion. F o re c l osed  a nd  aba ndo ne d hou seso fte n becom e eyesore s t h at d ev al ue therest of the n ei ghborhoodan d m agnets f or crime .

"When I was campaign i ng ther e w ere c erta in neighb orh oods w her e  peopl e woul d poi nt  to a bando n e dhou se s, say, 'W h a t i s the  c itydoing a bout it?'" Gallego sai d. "They were  un happ y wi tht he sta nd a rds o n how we fixedup propert ie s  a nd how wec omm un icatedwith re siden c es."

P roponents  liken th eeffe c t  of  polycarbo nate tothe famed "brok e nwindo ws"  theor yofpolic ing, p o pul arize d by f or mer Ne w Yor kCity May or Rudy Giuliani in the  1990s .

Th e a pproach t heo r ize s that mi norcrime bege tsmaj or cr ime :  Brok en w i nd ows ,  vand alis m  and graf f it i c a n  a ll signal t h a t  an  area  is poorly  mai ntained and ripef or undeterredcrim i n alact i vity .
Similarly, pl ywo od a nnounces  t hat a homeis vacan ta nd sh ielded  fromoutside v is i bility , sa idTim Bolin g,de p uty dir ec to r  of Ph oeni x' s Neig hborho o d Se r v ices Department. 

"It j ust i n vit es mo re  mischi e f,"he said.
Common occu rrence s in clude  kids s ka teboar din gin drained backyardpools  and ho me less  pe ople b reak i n g inandbu ild ing fires —  s o me ti m esrazi ng th estru cture int he proce ss. In rare  b uta l arming sc e n arios, Bol ing  said , vacant hom e s ha v es erved 


Phoenix now_requires all_window and door openings_visible from_the_street to_be_secured with the_material if the_structure has been unoccupied_for more than_90_days. The 90-day provision is also new, replacing the previous deadline of 180 days._The_measures were_the_result_of an abandoned buildings task_force that Gallego spearheaded.

A growing_number of_municipalities around the country are weighing the idea_of_securing empty homes_with polycarbonate as an alternative to plywood boarding, which_many say reads like a vacancy_sign to prospective_squatters_and_drug dealers.

Detroit, Los Angeles_and Chicago governments are considering similar_measures, and many banks have begun_using the material on the properties they_own, said Robert Klein, founder and_chairman of Cleveland-based SecureView, one_of polycarbonate's_leading suppliers.

"I saw the negative_effect of what_vacant houses_do to a_community," Klein said in a recent_interview. Plywood, he_contends, "didn't protect them much, is_pretty_easy to pry_open_and_screamed out,_'Come and get_me!'"

Unattended_homes are_among_the types of neighborhood blight that_deepened_in the wake of the recession, when_foreclosures claimed the homes_of_millions across the nation._Foreclosed and abandoned houses often_become eyesores that devalue the rest_of the_neighborhood and_magnets for crime.

"When I was campaigning there were certain neighborhoods where_people would point to abandoned houses,_say, 'What is the_city doing_about_it?'" Gallego said._"They_were unhappy_with the standards on how we fixed_up properties_and how we communicated with residences."

Proponents_liken the effect of_polycarbonate_to the famed "broken windows" theory_of policing, popularized by former New_York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani_in_the_1990s.

The approach theorizes that minor_crime begets major crime: Broken windows,_vandalism and graffiti_can all signal that an area is_poorly_maintained and ripe for undeterred criminal_activity.

Similarly,_plywood announces that a home is_vacant_and_shielded from outside visibility, said_Tim Boling, deputy director of Phoenix's_Neighborhood Services Department.

"It just invites more mischief," he said.

Common_occurrences include kids_skateboarding in drained backyard pools_and_homeless_people breaking in and building fires — sometimes razing the_structure in_the process. In_rare but alarming scenarios, Boling said, vacant homes have served