Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim took to the controls of an excavator at a blighted property on Center Street Tuesday - part of a ceremonial effort to kick off what he called "anti-blight day." "This is the first of many properties we'll be tearing down across the city as we enforce our zero-tolerance rule for eyesore properties whose owners have let their buildings languish for far too long," Ganim said. "This property is right across the street from Saint Raphael Academy, where kids come to learn and be inspired by their daily lessons - not be depressed and discouraged by blighted properties all around them," Ganim said. Sister Elizabeth Doyle - the longtime principal of Saint Raphael Academy - said she's "thrilled" to see the blighted property across the street being torn down. "Because it inspires me to dream about how we can create a better and more beautiful world and how our kids can be surrounded by places worthy of their greatest goals for the future," Doyle said. Ganim said property owners who fail to comply with anti-blight orders can face fines and other penalties.