Code violations in the Genesis Neighborhood
One thing about it, all of us have one major issue in common--we want our neighborhoods to look good. We want and expect property owners to take care of their property. When they don't, we all go a little crazy and say, "Enough is enough." We also know that the reason why property taxes are going up and why the City is implementing special assessments, is because our values have gone down and they are running out of revenue. So, the very problem of run down properties is costing all of us in the City, not just that neighborhood where the code violation exists.
Mark Parilla, President of Genesis Neighborhood Association has been trying to get some attention from our Code Department in his neighborhood since April and now has written to everyone who might make a difference or bring awareness to his plight. This morning I got a call from someone in the ROLOH neighborhood with the very same problem that Mark is going through. He wanted to deal with it himself by finding out what bank was in charge of a certain property and call them directly and raise hell.
When everyone in this city is getting a tax increase, you just expect results. And all that screaming is justified more than ever. Now we are all just getting a little hotter under the collar. Enough is enough.
Lynn we are in agreement 200% on this issue so much so it eradicated all other disagreements. We ALL deserve better than THIS! I can sense in your recent posts that you have had enough as well. I bust my hump on the phone for what sometimes is a full time work week of 40 hours or more chasing down bank reps and slumlords doing everything within my power to get them to be responsible even to the extreme of offering to coordinate volunteers to help correct these issues because WE are all affected by them. What burns me to no end is that our city administration doesn't seem to care that residents are putting aside their profesional business responsibilities and family commitments to give to our community but the employees that our taxes pay for aren't doing ANYTHING but dog and pony shows to placate people during campaign seasons. I say "NO MORE" of this blatant disregard for those of us who care enough to voice our opinions, to maitain blogs to share information so that other may become aware of what is going on and those efforts are poo poo'd by Ms. Waterman who I refuse to call our Mayor because she isn't acting like it. She acts as if she was coronated and not sworn in. I have gotten several banks to act responsibly and clean up properties and secure them and pay for no trespass signs and submit the affadavits to the Sheriff's office. I must admit it isn't easy and it's like pulling teeth but it is not impossible. Why don't they care enough to do everything within their power to improve our neighborhoods??? It is sickening Lynn. Thank you very much for helping me bring awareness to this chronic canerous attitude in our City where it is so much easier to blame someone else for it then to roll up their sleeves and do the job that we pay them good money to do!!!
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Mark A. Parrilla
To find out who the banks are go to Papa and look up the address.If it has been changed to the banks name which often takes quite awhile after the foreclosure. Look up the current owner's name on Palm Beach County Clerk Court Court Records or Official Records and it should give you the bank and foreclosure date. Then u just need to track down the bank. I called Aurora Loans in Il over an abandoned house that had crack addicts in it.They did respond and secured the house.I think you should send a written letter to the Banks Presidents. They do read their mail and they do respond. I know because I had the President of Citibank call me directly besause of a letter I sent him.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Someone get up there and cut that mess up at Sunset. The weeds have grown 10 feet high. Rats and everything else live there.
ReplyDeleteTo anonymous poster August 29, 2:46pm thank you for your suggestions but I am way too familiar with the process I have done it for almost 10 home in the Genesis Neighborhood for the unoccupied homes that banks and/or private residents own. I have had more success than the City at getting banks to comply. I was even invited into one of the City Manager's code meeting with Al Vega, William Waters, Commissioner Maxwell so I could present to them how I go about it. The worst cases are the homes that are occupied that having irresponsible people living in them. All of these cases pictured here discovered on APRIL 23, 2011 the City was informed back then and NOTHING has been done about them. No notifications, no fines, no liens, etc. That is my gripe. I am not one to sit back and complain and not be part of the solution. I have been doing this on my own in Lake Worth for three years now since I moved into that neighborhood and incorporated Genesis since there was no association covering that area.
ReplyDeletePeace, Love and Progress,
Mark A. Parrilla
The lack of codes and our city leaders doing something has been a problem for year and has not improved much recently, it is very bad, very overgrown, and very blighted, from 6th Ave south to 7th Ave north from A to H Streets is the real eyesore. We have so many overgrown lots and uncared for properties that it isn't even funny. The city doesn't do much at all, the NA help, but they are limited without the city using their teeth. Our elected officials and city manager need to do more or we need to just get rid of them. Enough is enough. Mark and many others have done a lot for years now and we need our leaders to be more accountable too. Lynn's website has helped a lot. We need to stay on this topic and make them get our city cleaned up once and for all and not let up until they show they are really doing something. We all deserve a cleaner city, one where people care, where it is clean, safe, and orderly, we cannot settle for mediocrity anymore, I am almost at the point of saying let's have one year terms for our elected officials, if they cannot do something in one year, then vote someone new in, if they are good we can keep them. We need major improvements in our city, most deal with codes and what Mark is talking about here. We all deserve better!
ReplyDeleteMerely posting how to get the info for others that may not know the way to find out such information.You are doing excellent job for all you do for your neighborhood,Mark. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks anon I am seriously thinking about offering an instructional workshop at one of our Genesis meetings for any other residents who are so inclined to take this problem on; since our City Manager seems to be fresh out of ideas on how to tackle this problem.
ReplyDeleteNamaste,
Mark A. Parrilla
Code should be a money maker for this City, I read recently in Sun Sentinel how the City of Delray handles trash and debris, they provide notice, a fine, if the property is not cleaned up in DAY OR TWO the City cleans it up and bills the home owner via utility bill.
ReplyDeleteCode has been a problem in this City for years and continues under the current administration.
We have an abandoned property behind us, my husband has secured it five + time, money comes out of our pocket, can we bill the bank or the City for doing what they should be doing, he also keeps the side that faces us, across the alley in good repair, repairing the fencing/painting/mowing.
To anyone that is interested I have already published a step by step with screen shots of how to look up abandon and/or foreclosing properties to identify the banks.
ReplyDeleteThis used to be on the Cities website but I can no longer find it there but just contact me if you would like an electronic copy at nhnproject@gmail.com
This publication probably needs some tweeking as I wrote it 3 years ago but the basics still works and its geared for those who have never gone through the process before.
Thanks RW
I have uploaded the document to www.roloh.org for anyone that is interested in it.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS