Mozer: Blight removal necessary for revitalization

The city has torn down nearly 200 dilapidated properties.

Mayor Ron Mozer conducted three presentations on blight in Monessen for the Westmoreland County commissioners, hoping it could result in funding to address the hundreds of dilapidated structures in the city.

In his third presentation, Mozer cited a study from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University that found fixing up blighted structures in Philadelphia led to improved mental health among residents and a decline in violent c...