The Federation of Mayors convened a meeting to explain the scope of the new Law 97 of 2026, which establishes the powers of a municipality to acquire properties declared as public nuisances. The law, signed earlier this month, expands the time frames for mayors to intervene with these properties through amendments to the Puerto Rico Municipal Code.
Mayors from San Lorenzo, Aguas Buenas, Vega Alta, Guayanilla, and Camuy are already initiating processes to increase public nuisance declarations in their towns. San Lorenzo's Mayor Jaime Alverio Ramos reported that his town has held two auctions, resulting in 14 properties being auctioned, with 12 being awarded and generating $707,000 in revenue for the municipal treasury.
Alverio Ramos stated that the new law allows municipalities to take action on abandoned properties and provides clarity on the expropriation process, which was previously fragmented and subject to varying interpretations by judges.