Code Enforcement, Need I say more?
March 19th, 2008
Last year the city declared that Code Enforcement was going to be cracking down on the East Bluff. East Bluff residents were informed that we would only receive one warning and after that we would be ticketed without mercy and the tickets would increase in severity. Those of us who take care of our property welcomed this, in hopes some of the problem houses and slumlords would be held accountable. Then we all got our warning letters.
Code Enforcement decided to send warning letters to our entire neighborhood. It stated that the city only gives one warning every two years and that tickets would be issued for the following violations:
Garbage cans without lids
Using plastic bags for garbage containers
Unlicensed/inoperable vehicles
Litter in yards and alley
Cans left in alley for more than 24 hours after garbage pickup
Tree limbs in alley or yard
Dog feces not being picked up daily
If these violations don’t pertain to your property then disregard this letter but use for future reference. You have until the date listed to fix violations.
Alot of us got pissed. Instead of the Code Enforcement officer getting out of the car and addressing the problems, we all get a generic letter addressed to “Occupant” and “To whom it may concern”. We called Code Enforcement and talked to the supervisor. She said that if our letter didn’t have anything marked that we didn’t have to worry. So Code Enforcement just wasted money sending all of us letters that didn’t mean anything?
We are all concerned that we all having warnings on our property for the next two years for nothing. The supervisor said that wasn’t the case. I imagine none of us will know for sure until we get our first ticket. Then we are informed that Code Enforcement is not required to give a warning. The city says we get a warning yet Code Enforcement says that isn’t necessarily the case. Who do we believe?
I think this will turn out the way these crack downs usually do. Those of us who take care of our property will end up with ticket for an ill fitting trash can lid or a single piece of litter in our yard because we are responsible. We will throw away the litter and pay our ticket. The people who just don’t care and the slumlords with their eyesore properties will continue to operate business as usual.
Good thing I don’t live in the EB, cause I have a garbage can with no lid. That’s a silly law anyway. AND I sometimes have to put an extra bag out beside the cans in the morning before I leave for school too.
Weird laws all around.
Comment by jadedgirl — March 19, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
I would call that supervisor back and request that he/she put in writing what you were told about the letter not applying if nothing was marked. Cover your ass.
Comment by mortonmalaise — March 19, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
The trash can lids are required to deter rats, raccoons, etc. from getting into the trash. I used to leave out an extra bag, if it had no food in it, but now I won’t risk it. Everyone is investing in either new trash cans or renting totes from the city to make sure it isn’t an issue.
As for ass covering, there is already one household that is ready to sue if they are ticketed. They are in Florida for the winter therefore no trash cans, no dog shit, no inoperable or unlicensed vehicles and their daughter stops regularly to check the house for other things. I have been double checking for litter, etc. but their yard is pretty much spotless year round. We kept our letter and we plan to hold the supervisor accountable since she stated at a neighborhood meeting that it isn’t a warning if nothing is marked.
Comment by East Bluff Barbie — March 19, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
By the way, my wife says she loves your blog.
Comment by postsimian — March 22, 2008 @ 12:43 am
Thanks, postsimian!
Comment by East Bluff Barbie — March 22, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
[...] not have trash cans. They had bags of trash sitting on the curb. Didn’t I just get a blanket warning about this, even though it did not apply to my [...]
Pingback by Askewed News » Code Enforcement Double Standard — March 24, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
garbage cans without lids?! Seriously, I can get in trouble for that? How funny. When I first moved to town, I was diligent about always putting the lids on the garbage when I set it out on the curb. After it’s dumped in the truck, I watch as the guys throw the lids and cans on the curb. My thought finally became, if putting the lids on the cans is not important to the workers dumping the garbage, it’s no longer important to me. Bring on my fine COP
Comment by Kate — March 25, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Kate, not only cans without lid but cans that have ill fitting lids also.
Comment by East Bluff Barbie — March 25, 2008 @ 8:40 pm