Letters to the Editor
Opinion
Published: February 26, 2010
Enforcing city codes
To the Editor:
In our neighborhood there is a home that is a health, fire and safety hazard. There are boats, motor home, camper, truck and old cars parked in the front and back yard. The fence is falling down. There are piles of assorted items piled in the front and back yard.
I went to our Fire Department personnel that is responsible for code enforcement. They said they would check into it.
About two weeks later I went back and was told that they were shorthanded. I offered to give them a ride to the property, saving the city any expense; he refused.
On my third visit I was told that if they go to the property and a woman answers they could be charged with sexual harassment. I suggested that they take a female employee with them. They once again said that they were short-staffed.
I went back again and asked to talk to the chief. They called his office and his cell phone but neither phone was answered. I left my name and phone number to have him call me. I never received a call back.
I and other people in the neighborhood have been calling about this problem for over seven months.
I then called one of our City Council members. He agreed to ride along with me to the property in question. When he observed the property he could not believe the condition it was in.
I also spoke with the mayor. He said he would check into the problem, which he did.
I credit our council member and mayor with trying to get this problem solved. I feel that our code enforcement team has been very lax in their duties to get this property cleaned up.
I have talked to others who have complained about this same property to no avail. If code enforcement are so short-staffed maybe we should look for other solutions to keeping our city up to local codes.
Like I said, we have been calling code enforcement for over seven months. Other cities fine property owners when violations are not taken care of. But first code enforcement would have to cite the homeowner for the violation. But like you say, you are too short-handed.
Tom Foster
Santa Paula
|
