BALTIMORE CITY — City council is taking another step to combat the vacant crisis.

The issues caused by abandoned buildings is something council hears about nearly every day, including district 8 councilman Paris Gray.

“We know that it's a huge burden on quality of life, it often attracts crime,” Gray said. “People live there illegally, sometimes they set fires to these vacant properties.”

Gray’s bill 25-0059, is up for a vote during its second reading Monday night. It would clear a path for the city to take ownership of vacant properties in receivership that do not sell at auction.

“We're putting the responsibility where it should lie, with the city,” Gray said.

According to open data , the city owns 934 vacants when there are more than 12,454 within city limits.

“A lot of times the

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