Looks like a Ligustrum. Someone else will be able to tell you the particular species. Can you give us a geographical location to help narrow down the possibilities?

Yep, looks like privet. It certainly can be a monster, 3 species are declared noxious weeds in my state.

Floral I think it's everywhere...although the species we have here in CA is different than the one that I remember from my NJ childhood. The birds apparently love the seeds as the plants pop up everywhere and develop woody stems and strong roots very quickly.

>It has killed the Wisteria<

Not that it's an important point but this seems doubtful. Yes, the small ones do look like Ligustrum (the shot of the parent plant is taken from too far away to tell).

It's a box hedge!

It is Ligustrum and after viewing several photos it's the Chinese privet. I forgot all about the white flower-like blooms in the Spring, that send some people who have seasonal allergies running indoors.

It is on the list of "Invasive Plant Pest Species of South Carolina". I don't know if that well help in getting it removed. We can, but we don't, use precisides. The reason the owner will not take care of the lot is because the town claims the right of way for stormwater run off, if needed. Overflow from the street drains runs across the lot, past the Chinese privet and meets up with a old creekbed that pours into the Saluda River a 1/2 mile away.

We are not above making a stink to get that thing removed. Any suggestions?

The owner owns a tree service (he cuts down trees for a living) so it's not like he'll need special equipment. It's just getting him here to do it. We've cut his grass for eight years to avoid blight and the wild life. It's his turn to do some work.

What blight is that?