Every day, I walk past abandoned houses in our community, full of fear and uncertainty. These empty, dilapidated structures are not just eyesores; they have become dangerous hideouts facilitating inhumane acts such as rape and murder. This is personal to me, and to everyone living in our community. I need your help to make it stop.

Abandoned houses pose a significant risk to the quality of life in any area. A study by the Urban Institute found that neighborhoods with vacant properties had higher rates of crime including sexual assaults and murders (Urban Institute). Here, in our district, the proliferation of these abandoned structures has turned our homes into crime hotspots. We've reported about the dangerous activities happening, yet these houses still stand.

Our voices need to be louder. Our message needs to be stronger. It is time to call upon our local government to take swift and decisive action: demolish these abandoned structures and replace them with safe public spaces. Making this change will not only help increase the safety of our community but also improve our quality of life.

I ask you to join me in this fight for our safety. Together, we can ensure our neighborhood is a place where we can live without fear. Please, sign this petition today.