We’ve been blasting CAPS — forgive the pun — a lot in the last few months. But the city’s “code enforcement squad” also does good, no make that great, work that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
From a recent city news release:
Code Enforcement Wins Case Against Blight
A judge found one of the city’s largest vacant property and blighted property-owners guilty on 16 violations on Thursday, July 16. The City’s Code Enforcement squad has worked diligently in concert with the City Attorney’s Office and the Police Department on this case.
Here is an excerpt from the Times-Dispatch article:
“Richmond General District Judge David Eugene Cheek Sr. found Oliver Lawrence guilty and told him to correct those violations that pose safety hazards by Aug. 14, the day Lawrence is to be sentenced.
City officials said yesterday’s convictions stemmed in part from three properties in downtown Richmond that are so damaged that one business owner calls the area “Little Baghdad.”
Before yesterday, Lawrence already had been convicted of at least 152 misdemeanor property violations, fined $357,050 and sentenced to 270 days in jail, all suspended. Those charges stem from problems at more than 30 properties owned by Lawrence.
Code Enforcement Division also served Lawrence with 152 “show cause” documents because they contend he has not met those conditions… that hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Make no mistake — Richmond’s Community Assisted Public Safety program may have come down with a serious case of “mission creep” of late, but this is the kind of stuff that really helps our city: Holding vacant landlords accountable.
Good on them.