Funding for Code Compliance

Posted in: W Meadowbrook
Dear fellow neighbors,

I ask you to contact every City Council District Representative immediately in reference to funding for Code Compliance. I have made the plea publicly for all involved citizens and property owners to actively report code issues now I ask you to fight for more funding. I am not the only property owner who believes this to be a last resort to save our neighborhoods. the following email addresses are fo your use. Please make your voices heard.

Charles.Boswell@fortworthgov.org
Mike.Moncrief@fortworthgov.org
District2@fortworthgov.org
District3@fortworthgov.org
District4@fortworthgov.org
District5@fortworthgov.org
District6@fortworthgov.org
District7@fortworthgov.org
District8@fortworthgov.org
District9@fortworthgov.org

Council Main Number: 817-392-6193

Like many of my neighbors, I have seen our neighborhoods overlooked; unfortunately, it appears public servants and other elected officials don't respect the wishes of their electorate and have refused to listen to their outcry regarding the social decline of the eastside.

What we citizens have been told by City Managers is that on the eastside, we are comfortable and tolerant of social and economic decline. We're not comfortable or assured of security with social decline. We have been told that the city does not not have an adequate budget to fund additional Code Compliance officers. This may be, but we are aware of a number of pet projects finding funding. We have been told that the city embraces the wisdom that teaches us not to arrest our way out of the problems on the street while advocating a system of prevention, intervention and enforcement. Well, the truth is different and I'm prepared to let anyone know that responsible, informed citizens on the eastside are tired of being told by bureaucrats and municipal mouthpieces what we should accept and believe. Where is prevention without Code Compliance?What prevents drug houses, residence for prostitution, vice, and criminal activity is a well funded Code Compliance Department and strict enforcement of City Code.

In District 8 we are plagued with problems that could be quickly remedied with assistance from strict enforcement of City Code.This places quite a burden on our Code Compliance officer, who does his best. Enforcement by Code Compliance is the only effective way we citizens have to stop crime, vice, and the social and economic decline in our neighborhoods. Whether or not Code Compliance gets funded in the proposed city budget, we citizens will continue to voice our disappointment and concerns and a poorly funded department will continue to be overworked. The City Council must reconsider its stand on funding for Code Compliance and substantially increase resources for this department.

The City Council must consider the two following issues. The City must immediately secure funding for a Vacant Property Manager. There are over 400 vacant lots in District 8 alone and the number in District 5 is considerably higher. These properties pose a number of serious problems which demand a dedicated department and its own funding. Secondly, is environmental safety. When considering
the amount of recent and continued gas drilling in our area, an Environmental Investigation Unit would assist in determining the impact of drilling in and near our neighborhoods.

Please immediately consider these issues. The number of residents in District 8 and 5 who are becoming aware of these concerns is growing and our voices are getting louder and prominently more strident everyday. Please as fellow neighbors and popety owners, act upon these issues.

By Jan Lansing Cermak
Where is money going to go?

If we throw more money at the Code Dept....where exactly is it going to go and what exactly is it going to accomplish...more officers? To do what exactly? What exactly is the Director of the Dept. Carl Smart asking for? Anything? What does he suggest will produce results? I'm not sure that putting more of our tax dollars at Mr. Smart's disposal is the correct answer.

What we have is not effective and I don't believe it is because of .....money or lack thereof.

Let's make Carl Smart tell us what is wrong with his department before we throw money at him. If he is unable to do that, then perhaps we get a new Director who can lead and demand from City Council that more money is needed and show us what the money is going to buy us.


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