City Announces Staff Changes To Blight Reduction Team

NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced a series of staffing changes Friday to the City’s Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau.

         Pura Bascos, Director of the City’s Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau, will be leaving New Orleans after over four years of service to assist the Detroit Land Bank Authority with blight reduction. In her role as director, the City’s Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau has been tasked with eradicating blight and ensuring existing property is maintained for the overall public safety and welfare of residents and visitors. Since coming under her direction in 2011, the City’s Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau has increased its number of administrative hearings and enforceable judgments and has made use of the abatement tools available for the final disposition of properties – sheriff’s sale, demolition or both. She also oversaw the City’s Department of Safety and Permits for a year during her service with the City. Prior to joining City Hall, Bascos served as the City of Chicago’s Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the Department of Buildings as well as the Director of the City of Chicago’s Fast Track Demolition program.

         “When I took office in 2010, New Orleans had the worst blight problem in America and no strategy to deal with it,” Mayor Landrieu said. “Pura was instrumental in righting the ship by applying national best practices and instituting new enforcement policies. Now we’re removing blight faster than anywhere else in the country. Since May 2010, New Orleans as a whole has 15,000 fewer blighted addresses. Pura is a big reason why we’ve been so successful and now we have major opportunities for reinvestment to grow and strengthen neighborhoods across our city. Detroit will become stronger because of her leadership.”

         Chad Dyer, who currently serves as Assistant City Attorney, has been appointed the new Director of the City’s Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau. Dyer will oversee the City’s blight reduction effort and ensure that every building is in compliance with City Code, including enforcing building codes against properties that are determined to be public nuisances.

         Dyer joined the City Attorney’s office in 2011 where he managed real estate transactions and development issues on behalf of the City. Prior to joining City Hall, he was the Attorney for the Louisiana Office of State Lands. There, Dyer oversaw major projects, including the acquisition and development of the UMC/VA site and determination of the State’s mineral rights along the Red River. Before entering government service, Dyer was the principal attorney of a Baton Rouge real estate title company.

         Dyer graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana, law degree from Southern University and a doctorate of medicine from Temple University.