Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on January 6, 2012 at 11:26am

I suggested a while ago that the City think about a root cause analysis process re: ongoing issues with Code enforcement and lack of follow through/lack of timely communication. This article points out some interesting problems! It seems really apparent that the city has SIGNIFICANT problems with code enforcement, record keeping, follow through and communication with citizens. I don't know the particular city employee named in this article, but the fact that he makes 87K a year (paid for with our tax dollars) and that other highly paid city staff people (NSC, Code, etc) are part of this problem leaves me wondering how our public dollars are being used to benefit the few while the rest suffer!

Permalink Reply by Mark Sweetland on January 7, 2012 at 12:23am

This points out how major this problem is and begs an explanation from the City why they cannot enforce Code.  I would hope and feel the Housing Committee will address this issue (again?) with the City.  I also agree with Toni's thoughts.  There are many violations that will never be addressed.  In my experience with one complaint, it took four years before a decaying garage roof (with holes in it) was fixed.  I have not even brought complaints such as parking on front lawns, garbage totes, etc. to the attention of the NSC, as I believe it would be a waste of my time.   I really hope we can do something about this.

Permalink Reply by Toni Orlati on January 6, 2012 at 12:10pm

Sheri, you beat me to the post!  Perhaps we too should go to a City Council meeting and present our grievances.  What makes me furious is not so much the glacial pace at  which the city moves to correct the 'big stuff' but the  wanton ignoring of the 'little details' -such as the placement of garbage toters in front lawns/near entries/in front of neighbors windows and/or putting said toters at the  kerb before the prescribed time or leaving them out after the allotted time frame- and the city allowing 'fresh' code violations -such as enclosing front porches, installing chain-link fences in front yards and glaring parking lots lights to shine on neighbors lots/houses- to go unchecked.  For if it is true that people may not have the money to fix big problems, it does not cost anything to keep your place looking neat and it costs you money to put up eyesores.   These details are the ones that ultimately bring whole neighborhoods down to ghetto level and trigger the 'flight' from the city. For who wants to live among people who do not care about their environment enough to keep it  clean, decent, and as good looking as can be? 

Toni 

Permalink Reply by Judi Baker on January 7, 2012 at 8:07pm

Believe it or not Code Enforcement issues from this community was beginning to be addressed (or at least questioned) when Capt. Bell was at the helm.  Needless to say, 'address' is all that has ever been done!!!!!!!!!! The  We Care Team tried to address these problems when they were first formulated.  PAC-TAC even turned in Code Violations sheets during our walks.  In fact, we went along with code enforcements during the Uplifts.  Not one step forward has been made! Most if not all the balls were dropped on this one.......This article was not NEW news to many of us who have walked these Southwest trenches for decades.

Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on February 16, 2012 at 9:19am

Today's D&C has another story on this issue - you can read it here:

Code Violations Story

I drove by the Lehigh house this morning - it is easily one of the worst homes on that street so I find the City Firefighter's comments disturbing. More disturbing, however, is my distinct impression that the City's overall approach toward property violations, code issues, etc is completely broken and there are significant systemic failures that allow this to continue unchecked.