Those eyesores that some readers are so proudly defending affect everyone?’s property values and quality of life. Many of our residents live next door to that ?‘eyesore?’ and have to put up with the overflow of rats, raccoons and even fleas that infest many properties. Evidently you don?’t live next door to a house with 25 cats that use the exterior of your house as a litter box. I don?’t consider a car on blocks in the front yard a yard ornament.
I agree that there are properties whose owners need a helping hand maintaining their property. They may be elderly or disabled. However, there are many agencies to help in Abilene, starting with the next door neighbor. But, at what point when the owners are unable to care for their property, but, they don?’t have family, don?’t have friends, and don?’t want neighborly help do you call the city? Many of these homeowners are abled bodied and just don?’t think the City has a right to tell them to clean up their property. Calling the City isn?’t tattling on the neighbors, it brings the property to the city?’s attention, then THE CITY, that you pay taxes to support, deals with the problem. Code Enforcement officers don?’t just write citations, they give the property owner time to clean up. And, they can refer the owner to various social services agencies that can lend a hand. But THE CITY can MAKE the property owner clean up, because every house in Abilene is part of an entire community. How you care or don?’t care for your property affects everyone in the community.
We have many Neighborhood Associations, social service agencies and just plain old good neighbors willing to help. However, NONE of these agencies have the authority to MAKE the property owner dispose of the mattresses, old couches, junk cars, appliances, tires, debris and trash that ?‘decorate?’ many yards. Personally, I?’m not about to walk up to a strangers door and say, ?“need some help getting rid of those bags of trash decorating your front yard?” Anymore, than I?’m going to walk up to that drug house and say ?“do you know what you?’re doing is illegal??”. Calling code enforcement and reporting violations is no different than calling the police department and calling in a crime. Be a neighbor and a citizen of the community, pick up the phone and help your community.
Obviously, there are many ready to come to defense of the ?‘eyesore?’ property. If your property is clean, then what are you worried about? If they do publish a picture of your house surely you?’re proud of how it looks, aren?’t you? If your property does appear under ?‘eyesore of the week?’ it must be the neighbors fault, the city?’s fault, because your yard doesn?’t bother anyone, does it?
By Ms. Neighbor
I agree that there are properties whose owners need a helping hand maintaining their property. They may be elderly or disabled. However, there are many agencies to help in Abilene, starting with the next door neighbor. But, at what point when the owners are unable to care for their property, but, they don?’t have family, don?’t have friends, and don?’t want neighborly help do you call the city? Many of these homeowners are abled bodied and just don?’t think the City has a right to tell them to clean up their property. Calling the City isn?’t tattling on the neighbors, it brings the property to the city?’s attention, then THE CITY, that you pay taxes to support, deals with the problem. Code Enforcement officers don?’t just write citations, they give the property owner time to clean up. And, they can refer the owner to various social services agencies that can lend a hand. But THE CITY can MAKE the property owner clean up, because every house in Abilene is part of an entire community. How you care or don?’t care for your property affects everyone in the community.
We have many Neighborhood Associations, social service agencies and just plain old good neighbors willing to help. However, NONE of these agencies have the authority to MAKE the property owner dispose of the mattresses, old couches, junk cars, appliances, tires, debris and trash that ?‘decorate?’ many yards. Personally, I?’m not about to walk up to a strangers door and say, ?“need some help getting rid of those bags of trash decorating your front yard?” Anymore, than I?’m going to walk up to that drug house and say ?“do you know what you?’re doing is illegal??”. Calling code enforcement and reporting violations is no different than calling the police department and calling in a crime. Be a neighbor and a citizen of the community, pick up the phone and help your community.
Obviously, there are many ready to come to defense of the ?‘eyesore?’ property. If your property is clean, then what are you worried about? If they do publish a picture of your house surely you?’re proud of how it looks, aren?’t you? If your property does appear under ?‘eyesore of the week?’ it must be the neighbors fault, the city?’s fault, because your yard doesn?’t bother anyone, does it?
By Ms. Neighbor
