Code Enforcement - Can't we get along?

By Kitt K "Roger" Ho

Adapted from the recordings on December 14th Cerritos Council Meeting

I like to thank the Major and the council members for the opportunity of speaking here in the chamber tonight.

I am here to support Jerry Kamashian and to offer my view of the city Code Enforcement program and procedures. First of all, let me say "Thank You" to Jerry, who I just came to know about during the last six months, you are a good citizen and a friend of our neighborhood. I am grateful that Cerritos has people like you who believe in making a difference, doesn't matter how small it is. Secondly, I like to thank all the supporters and volunteers who responded to Jerry's call in reaching out to their neighborhood, as one people.

I watched Jerry emotional appeal to the City Council several weeks ago pleading for working together to help the disadvantaged and the elderly. I was one of the many volunteers who donated time and money to clean-up the nicknamed "Chicken Lady" two-story house on Cuena Street. Jerry had his own problem with the City, and he has a big heart. He championed and organized the effort to help out strangers who had similar problem with the City. How many of you can do what he just did? That is a payback to the community.

I have read the report from City Manager Gallucci to the City Council and here are my comments:

1. The letter stressed that a door tag or a letter to the homeowner is not a citation. Most people don't know and can't tell the difference. Given the high number of complaints/observations, I think the City needs to do a better job in clarifying and educating the residents on the standards, rather that constantly patrolling the streets looking for violations.

2. The Property Preservation Commission only reviews the non-compliance cases brought before them. In Jerry case, the Commission passed a resolution for mismatched color but was later removed by the Department (Community and Safety Services). How do you reconcile that difference between the Commission and the Department? Is it a simple mistake or is there more to it? Does anyone other the City Council investigates complaints made by the residents? Does the Department itself review its internal operation to ensure that they are being conducted fairly and equitably? Does anyone ever survey the people they serve for their feedback as to how satisfied they are regarding the service?

3. Anytime when a case gets to the stage of prosecution, it is almost like a banker forecloses on a property. Its nasty and unpleasant, nobody likes it. It's no-win proposition. There are certainly many reasons why homeowners are not complying: too busy, procrastination, financial hardship, death in the family, other family problem. I don't see the Department is taking into any of these factors into consideration when handling their correspondence or follow-up. In Jerry's case, he was kind of stonewalled (for lack of a better word) when talking to the Department because everything is done by the book, according to the well written program and procedures. And if you continue making trouble, I am going to make your life miserable, that kind of mentality. In the "Chicken Lady" case, financial hardship, death in the family and health problem of the owners, were the causes of the ruins. It's a shame to see your neighbors' home in ruins when you can help to amend it. It's also a shame to see our City, which doesn't lack resources, not taking a proactive stand to reach out. If neighbors are helping neighbors as we proved in the Chicken Lady project, why can't our City councilmen or councilwoman whom we elected help us do something about it?

4. Finally, I want to bring to your attention about the G-RAP (Grant Residential Assistance Program) and L-RAP (Loan Residential Assistance Program) programs are not well known and should deserve some attention. The first one is a grant program to grant a maximum of $3,000 for repairs to qualified individuals. 12 grants totaling $27k in 2005-2006 fiscal year with a total budget of $75k were approved or disbursed. The second one is a low interest rate 15 year loan program up to $20,000. Both are good programs designed to help qualified low-income individuals with exterior and interior home improvements. I think we ought to encourage qualified Cerritos homeowners to take advantage of it.

To sum it up, it is up to us, as a group, to do something meaningful for our city residents. I am confident that the City Council will start a dialog with its' citizens and pay much needed attention to problem in our own backyard.

Thank you.