How urban..........

"Cynthia Dunham is founder and executive director of The Leadership Centre, a non-profit that promotes homeowner association education and based at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. She said some associations are adding a "refurbishing" expense to their budgets, using assessments made on all properties to keep abandoned ones weed free.

"It is easier to send in a landscaping crew to trim weeds and spray than to have an eyesore," she said. "This is a temporary way to deal with an unfortunate reality."

I wonder how much they are paying the crews?

props to Atrios