Living in a historic city such as Natchez means a perpetual tug of war over historic preservation issues.

Some people suggest that it’s wise not to have historic preservation rules or blight ordinances in the city, thus allowing the free markets to decide what goes and what doesn’t.

Imagine how the City of Natchez might appear if that were, in fact, the case.

How many historic buildings would be lost? How much of the city’s character would be removed, only visible in historic photographs?

We shudder to think about it. Historic preservation organizations and groups are vital to our community. They work hard to hold the fabric of our community’s historic character and charm together.

But those organizations are only as strong as the enforcement that follows the regulations.

On Tuesday, motorists along Homochitto Street saw first hand what can happen when city ordinances are not enforced. Evidence was strewn all across the street.

A building collapsed after years of neglect, leaving a pile of rubble in its wake.

That the building fell should have come as no surprise. A motorist struck the building years ago, leaving a huge gaping hole in the building’s side. Clearly the hole should have been addressed before Tuesday.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

Fortunately no one was hurt in the collapse.

The city’s lack of action on the building could have resulted in a lawsuit, had someone been injured.

We have laws to protect life and property, but they’re not worth the paper on which they’re printed if they go unenforced.