Moore, Tania
From: jjreed85 < [email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2022 3:58 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL; [email protected]
Subject: Code 'Enforcement' - Self Admittedly NOT Enforcing (& keep anonymous option) Hello City Council, welcome new council members, excited to have you! I had this e-mail halfway drafted prior to seeing code enforcement on the agenda, so my message is now two-fold.... to ask you to PROTECT our anonymity, and secondly to look into the department itself. Citizens shouldn't have to choose between their own safety and asking the city to enforce its own rules and laws.
I am all about government leaving us alone, and I am not talking about one-time situations that come up like a tree falling over. I am speaking specifically of the people who are long-time repeat offenders who WILLFULLY break codes. But shouldn't we still 'nip it in the bud' before it gets to that point? Even a quick warning letter sent? If smaller laws and rules of our great city are not enforced, no one has any reason to follow the larger ones. It is a big factor in the uptick of crimes in this city.... there are no consequences for anything.
I BEG you to re-consider the anonymous option. Sadly we live in a world where people are aggressive and snap for nó reason. By forcing this, it will make things WORSE - people won't report and properties will decline and become unsafe, neighbors will get into fights, etc. People who willfully break the code are not the kind of people you want knowing who you are, and where you live. There HAS to be an option to remain anonymous for our own safety. The 3 known problem houses just in my neighborhood are not nice people - 2 are known drug houses. The anonymous submissions are the only recourse our neighbors have around here... and code enforcement STILL does nothing to stop their actions, even with tons of photographic proof. One of those houses has been turned in a dozen times just this year (by many people) for repeatedly breaking the SAME codes every month for YEARS. And yet nothing has changed since at least 2019.
Code Enforcement's own employees have literally stated that they 'do not actually fine or do anything official about violations' - even ones they physically witnessed with their own eyes. What exactly are we paying the department to 'enforce' then? Does our city not generate revenue from fines? Or at least cover its own department costs? If having enough funds to 'check' on anonymous code complaints is an issue.... that would easily be remedied if we actually FINED people for continuing to break the laws.
Again I can understand a sliding scale... 1st violation - a warning letter (hell they don't even have to go out if there is photo proof... which I CAN understand requiring if the complaint is anonymous - although not always possible). 2nd violation - small fine, and so on and so on on a sliding scale of severity of the fine, as they continue to repeat or Please keep an anonymous option, even if we create other parameters like requiring photos. I am quite sure there are 'problem complainers' - I did hear about the shed situation... but everyone else should not be punished or have to risk their safety.
Thanks for listening.
SUPPLEMENTAL
-JJ COMMUNICATION
Sent with Proton Mail secure email. 12/20/22
Meeting Date: a.
Aponda tem Nai 26 (22-1092)
1 Switzer, Donna
From: HB Resident < [email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2022 5:54 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Keep Code Enforcement Anonymous - Safety Risk
It is dangerous to require people to identify themselves these days. Would anyone 'see something, say something' to prevent crimes or danger if it put us at risk? Houses, business, wherever. So the options are - risk my own satety, or shut up and let people do whatever to the detriment of everyone else? I would never report in that case.
If you make changes, find a balance to still allow anonymous submission for valid issues. But for the record, our code enforcement department is a joke - another issue to address. They do nothing about homes with long continuous histories of violations.
Aren't there consequences anymore for people who intentionally ignore rules and laws? Best wishes to our new council. Cannot wait to see what you do.
Thanks.
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Meeting Date:.. 12/20/22
Aponda lom No: 20/22-1092,
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