While Butler city officials must accept the legal right of due process when it comes to eliminating blighted properties, it is encouraging to hear city officials discussing the issue this month with the intent of making it quicker and easier to remove abandoned and potentially dangerous buildings.

City officials are considering changes including larger fines and shorter times to respond to property-related offenses. City council also plans to adopt a new rental inspection ordinance that might help prevent properties from becoming a nuisance or blighted.

The action has been precipitated by a blighted property on Virginia Avenue, but city officials say there are other properties in similar condition. No doubt there are, and city residents should let officials know of any other properties that might be classified as blighted.

In action on Thursday night, city officials approved a first reading of two ordinance changes, increasing fines to $500 from $300 and reducing the appeal period from 20 to 10 days.

Sadly, blighted or abandoned buildings are a reality in Butler. They are eyesores, hurt neighbors' property values and also can be dangerous.

In some cases, they can become a favored location for drug or other illegal activities. For all these reasons, blighted properties need to be eliminated as quickly and efficiently as possible, while still protecting the legal rights of owners to repair or otherwise make the property acceptable.

Butler is moving in the right direction to improve its ability to eliminate these properties.

The federal prosecutors involved in successfully bringing more than 130 counts of corruption, obstruction, theft and other charges against former state Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadephia, want the courts to take another look at the 55-month sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter.In July 2009, when the sentence was handed down, it seemed way too lenient. Many people argued that the sentence was an injustice, given the seriousness of Fumo's crimes.After last month's sentencing of former state Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, to a much longer prison term — six to 14 years — it is clear that Fumo's sentence should be longer.Both men used state taxpayer funds wrongly.Veon mostly used taxpayer funds for political purposes, to help Democrats get elected. Fumo, while he did gain politically from his abuse of the system, seemed more motivated by personal financial gain. Already a millionaire, Fumo misused an estimated $4 million worth of taxpayer funds and funds and assets of a nonprofit agency with which he had close ties. He was reportedly fond spending "OPM" — or other people's money — whenever possible.Prosecutors in the Fumo case say that the judge underestimated the amount of taxpayer money that Fumo stole or misused by failing to account for numerous people on the public payroll who did mostly personal or political work for Fumo.Prosecutors recommended at least 15 years of prison time for Fumo. The former political power broker received a sentence of less than a third of that.The judge noted Fumo's "public service" as one reason for leniency. But public service should not be a factor, given such a blatant, intentional, widespread and multi-year misuse of public funds.Fumo's sentence should be longer. His case, and Veon's, can only serve as a deterrent to other public officials if the penalties are stiff — very stiff.

People in and around downtown Butler last weekend could be excused for thinking, for just a moment, that they were in a small French town during the Tour de France.Throughout Butler last Saturday, bicyclists could be seen congregating near Diamond Park and riding on side streets to warm up, or maybe just tour the city before the two races in the city started.Well-managed traffic control had a long stretch of Main Street blocked off, but bicyclists could be seen on McKean and Washington streets. Other racers could be seen unloading their bikes from rooftop racks and then riding around town in the traditional racing gear, featuring colorful clothing and teardrop-shaped helmets.Saturday's event through city streets in Butler was followed by a Sunday race south of the city, in the hilly and scenic areas of Penn Township, covering Brownsdale, Renfrew, Meridian and West Airport roads.Several participants in the races wrote letters to the editor praising the organizers, city security forces and local people. The riders also said they were looking forward to coming back next year.The Butler County Stage Race is just getting established, but the positive feedback is encouraging. This race has the potential to be a well-respected and well-attended regional event that can be good for Butler — something everyone can cheer.