But they are not houses, and they are apartments that are owned by people that don't have a great deal of money, so they are forced to fix the property on their own, and they are having problems making the predetermined date as foreseen by the city. well I say it is not fair for the apartment owners and they should be allowed the time to get the work done right the first time, no matter how long that ti takes, just don't allow them to rent them out!!
When they are out the money they will fix it pretty fast or as fast as they can.
BSRanch
Owners face fines or receivership if properties don't meet code
12:27 AM PDT on Friday, July 28, 2006
Jose Rodriguez doesn't live on Rialto's East Jackson Street, but spends more time there than some residents.
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He is fighting the clock to bring seven buildings he owns up to code before the city asks a court to have a receiver take them over.
"I'm here every day, including Sunday, working on these buildings," Rodriguez said.
"My son and wife also help me. The whole family helps and we hire people from outside to do what I don't know how to do."
A deadline set by the city to correct code violations has come and gone for Rodriguez and 19 other East Jackson Street property owners, who were cited following high-profile raids in March.
Rialto officials are compiling a report outlining deficiencies in each building that didn't meet the deadline, said Chaz Ferguson, Rialto's building official. Once city attorneys review the report, the city will have a better idea about what to ask the court for each owner, he said.
There are two options. The first is to ask a receiver to take over the property. The second is to seek an injunction that would impose fines on owners if repairs aren't done by a set date, Ferguson said.
Property owners were given until June 1 to make repairs following the March raids. The deadline was extended to July for owners who got work permits.
Only one property owner will not be taken to court following the second inspections July 7 and 8, Ferguson said.
Because it will take about 90 days to finish the report, have the city's lawyers review it and set a court date, owners have more time to work on their buildings, he said.
Rodriguez said he will make the most of that time, but worries because he owns more buildings than anyone on the street.
"The city and inspectors need to know I own seven buildings and the time frame is the same for me as ... for people that own one building," Rodriguez said.
"We're talking big bucks, and this is a very bad street and they are trying to make this change into a very nice area very fast."
It should take about six weeks to get the repairs finished if competent professionals are doing the work, Ferguson said.
"And if money is an issue, the equity can be taken out on the buildings to help pay for their repair," he said.
Keeping the buildings in good condition has always been a priority, but it's been hard without the help of the city or Police Department, Rodriguez said.
"It's risky when you don't have the backup of the police because you're putting money and money into the buildings and things continue to get damaged," Rodriguez said.
"I didn't see the support of the Police Department and city. Now that I see it, I'm willing to make the expenses."
The Rialto Police Department's Multiple Enforcement Unit, created to patrol East Jackson Street, spends about 50 percent of its time there, interim Police Chief Frank Scialdone said.
Before the March raids, the street would be patrolled when officers had a chance to get there, but there is no way of knowing how much time that involved, he said.
The type of patrolling done before the raids was different, Scialdone said.
"It was more responsive to complaints or things of that nature," he said. "Now it's more proactive patrol."
When the Multiple Enforcement Unit was formed following the raids, the idea was to disband it after a few months when things were under control, he said.
"The unit has been so successful that we decided it will be a permanent one," Scialdone said.
It would cost about $30,000 to repair each building Rodriguez owns if the city doesn't add more violations and if police can curb vandalism, Rodriguez said.
"The vandalism is really taking its toll," he said. "Last week, I had to replace nine broken windows, and I'm replacing sprinkler heads almost every day that are kicked out by kids."
"Sometimes I think the Police Department needs to do more than just drive by."
On Wednesday, Rodriguez was putting new air-conditioning units into every apartment, costing about $13,000 per building, he said.
At the rate Rodriguez is going to fix his buildings, he is a candidate for receivership, Ferguson said.
"He's not getting it done in a timely manner, and it's not to say he doesn't want to or can't do it. It's just he isn't doing it fast enough," Ferguson said.
Other property owners also need to get more done, Ferguson said.
Rosa Mendez, who lives in a Rodriguez apartment, said she has seen him every day repairing his buildings.
But the condition of the apartments isn't a big concern, Mendez said.
"My concern is the violence on the street," she said.
"The way they come and inspect all the apartments is the way the police should come and inspect the street."
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