Siobhan [SHIV-on] Barton is reporting in the Register Star the Ancram Town Board last week passed an unsafe building law in an attempt to “protect the public from unsafe buildings and structures....” The law is intended to give the municipality more power to enforce needed repairs and gives town Code Enforcement Officer the power to deem buildings unsafe or dangerous based on certain criteria. Supervisor Art Bassin said, "A building is deemed unsafe because it could become dangerous, in anticipation of what could happen.” Under the law the town can recover from property owners any costs it incurs to repair, demolish or remove blighted buildings. If property owners cannot pay for the demolition or repair, the property would be subject to foreclosure by Columbia Co. Opponents of the law believe it opens the door to discrimination against middle- and low-income property owners, and provides town officials with the opportunity to target distressed properties for acquisition. Read the full story in the Register Star.