Tracy Press

Code enforcement is the city's best option for cleaning up junky lots.

EDITOR,

Regarding the letter about rundown homes ("Peeved about rundown homes," April 26), one viable option for the city of Tracy is to increase its code enforcement staff. Code enforcement officers typically enforce city law (ordinances), while police officers primarily enforce criminal (penal) and vehicular law.

A strong, well-run code enforcement department/division will proactively address blighted properties (weeds, trash, appliances, furniture, etc.), in addition to citizen complaints.

If Tracy already has ordinances in place that regulate it, code enforcement can also address "junker" cars, lawn-parking, substandard housing, blighted/vacant properties, illegal businesses, illegal signs, illegal land use, etc.

In all cases, property owners are held responsible and ultimately made to comply or face the possibility of fines or other legal action. In some progressive cities, loss of the property itself could be a consequence, if violations are severe and ignored repeatedly.

If problems are addressed in a timely manner, it could greatly reduce the possibility of other problems cropping up in the immediate neighborhood, such as graffiti, vandalism, theft, loitering, crack houses and so on. These types of problems can lead to loss of property values, as well as quality of life and, more importantly, overall public safety.

Though I no longer live in Tracy, the city does have a code enforcement department and, starting this month, a new city manager. Now might be a good time for citizens of Tracy to speak up, with letters, phone calls and e-mails, and by addressing elected officials at council meetings.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (11)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

...
written by maybenotdumBcommenT , May 03, 2008

Celeste, I whole heartedly agree. Code Enforcement could use 2 or 3 more people to help and there would be more then enough work. Where does the money come from to hire them and I think there is a hiring freeze here.

...
written by such as TRAQC houses??? , May 03, 2008

such as graffiti, vandalism, theft, loitering, crack houses...

...
written by bigger is better , May 04, 2008

Yes, the police tell you that they will welcome more officers in Tracy. However, they are doing a really great job with the resources they have. I would say kudos to the chief and his staff for the high marks that Tracy recieves. I heard that we rank somewhere around 14th in California, for cities our size. That's not so bad, after all. Good job Chief Krauss!!!

...
written by notnice , May 04, 2008

I do not believe code enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of the police department.

TPD does a good job with the resources they have. There is always room for improvement.

...
written by I dont believe TRaqc , May 04, 2008

Lot's of people like to go around saying 'there is room for improvement' - even without knowing the statistics. As a person who knows exactly how good TPD does with the resources they have I can say they should get more respect, because they compare well to other cities. Statistics show that the City of Tracy, Police Department is doing their job! You heard it here first!

...
written by Get the code book and throw it at em , May 05, 2008

notnice,

OMG, I called the police about the five families that were living in the house next door and they wouldn't do anything about it. They told me that the people were not breaking any laws. Their cars were parked in front of several people's driveways and they had at leas five families living there. I am seriously not kidding. Our neighbors counted. This became a big nuisance home. And the music from the teenagers. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. All hours of the night and day! Finally someone showed us the code rules. As it turns out there is a limit on how many people can live in one house. It depends on the size of the home. In square feet. Next time you call TPD you will need to do your homework, or they will probably tell you the same thing. But if you do your homework they have to do their jobs.

Good luck!

...
written by code book , May 05, 2008

To get the code book and throw it at em,

the code your talking about is enforced by the code enforcement officers.. So maybe you should do your homework before you slam TPD. Just because there is a code doesn't mean it is enforced by the police!

...
written by notnice , May 05, 2008

To "Get the code book and throw it at em"......there is a section in the Vehicle Code that prohibits a driveway from being blocked by another vehicle. TPD should have known that or the vehicle wasn't blocking it. TPD should also know that unnecessary noise, no matter what time it is, is a violation of the Penal Code. If they didn't act on the noise you're complaining about it probably wasn't that bad. Code enforcement is responsible for the number of people occupying a single family dwelling.

To: "I don't believe TRaqc"......No one is disputing the fact that you should respect the police department. Within every police department there is always "room for improvement".

'As a person who knows exactly how good TPD does with the resources they have'....from this statement you're either a member of the department or a relative of an employee. I say "room for improvement" from experience.

...
written by CMS , May 05, 2008

I am the author of this particular Letter to the Editor.

My intention was not to open a forum against TPD. Having worked for a police department myself, I am aware of challenges of police work, as well as the challenges of their public relations. That said, code enforcement is NOT the same as police enforcement. (Refer back to my original letter; first paragraph)

I am voicing a possible solution to a problem which appears to have many citizens concerned. In a nutshell, that solution is more code enforcement staffing. Though Tracy already has code enforcement staff, I'm willing to bet the few they have are completely overwhelmed for a city of 85,000-90,000 population.

Public officials may not always know a problem exists or needs to be put on a 'front burner' until citizens collectively express their feelings on the subject via email, letter, phone calls, or attending city council meetings. The squeaky wheel get the grease.

Celeste

...
written by maybenotdumBcommenT , May 06, 2008

Code Enforcement can work closely with the police dept. In fact they enhance the knowledge of the codes and the enforcement of those codes. If they are not enforced blame it on the DA for saying it's to petty to fight it.

CMS, I have said for a year they are understaffed. 2 people for the entire city of Tracy, ridiculous.
Also code enforcement has many other responsibilities such as fire investigation. All the cars that drive into buildings have to be checked for safety and all the little stuff inbetween.

...
written by maybenotdumBcommenT , May 10, 2008

There is so much more going on in code enforsement, you all will never know. You have poor knowledge of what is goig on. Maybe you could get a ride along then you would see how hard
they work.