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Code Enforcement Cases Headed To Court; Resident Claims Racial Bias
December 8, 2009
Five code enforcement cases in Century are headed for either abatement or a special magistrate, the first such cases since code enforcement returned to Century on March 4. And at least one resident says that code enforcement’s actions are racial motivated.
Two property owners will be headed to a special magistrate where they could face fines and fees for failing to bring their property up to code, and three are headed for summary abatement. An abatement involves the county using a contractor to clean the property and then placing a lien against the property for the costs.
The property owners have had ample time to correct their code violations, Mayor Freddie McCall said. “They (code enforcement) have been contacting them for months.”
The Century Town Council voted Monday night to support Escambia County Code Enforcement taking further action on the properties. Prior to the action, one resident told the council that he is concerned that code enforcement officers are racial biased.
“Code enforcement is going around primarily in black areas,” Alphonzie Cottrell said. “They are really in the black areas. I watch them; I know.”
“We are more than 50-percent black in Century,” Council President Ann Brooks said.
Councilman Henry Hawkins, who said he has ridden with code enforcement officers twice, did not indicate that had noticed any racial profiling on the part of code officers.
“When I went with them, they took an area and went,” Hawkins said.
Prior to Escambia County Code Enforcement’s return to Century, Sandra Slay, code enforcement director, told the council that her agency would target the entire town, one area at a time. She told the council that her officers would seek out violators regardless of who they might be.
Cottrell also expressed concerns at Monday night’s council meeting that the list of five violators presented to the council did not contain names, but only addresses.
Brooks said the names are irrelevant to the council’s actions. “The decision we make shouldn’t matter if it was you or me, or who it was,” she told Cottrell.
According to Slay and McCall, the following properties are slated for the action listed:
- 15 block Ramar Street, abatement hearing
- 8001 Alger Road, abatement hearing
- 9441 North Century Blvd, special magistrate hearing
- 13 George Street, abatement hearing
- 8850 Blackmon Street, special magistrate hearing
The list of properties was provided to McCall in an email from Slay last Friday. The email did not contain any property owner’s names.
Pictured top: The owners of this property at 9441 North Century Boulevard will likely be headed to code enforcement special magistrate hearing. The building had been occupied by Royal Pizza until the building burned in the early morning hours of July 6, 2008. The building has been vacant since the fire. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
22 Responses to “Code Enforcement Cases Headed To Court; Resident Claims Racial Bias”
The truth makes so many people mad. I wonder why.
To someone who moved how are we suppose to stop them from taking our schools away? We tried and I didn’t work so if you don’t live her any more keep your mouth closed…
Economics have NOTHING to do with clean yards, houses, cars, etc. Race and income are a VERY POOR excuse for trashy looks!!! Come on; how much does it cost to pick up the garbage and throw it away? My family was without steady income for over 2 years, should that have made a difference in how we keep up with our daily clean-up? GET A LIFE and STOP making excuses based on skin color and/or income!!!
People in Century make me sick I was born and raised in Century and i so glad that I moved away and started a family away from that place. Most people in Century cannot take any pride in anything, we let them take our schools our jobs our money and our pride, I do not understand. The town I moved to is about the same size and I never hear this crap here, i just cannot understand what is wrong with you people.
To wow because people like Mr. Cotrell makes it that way. If He would sit down, shut up for a few minutes he may learn something, but he is to busy thinking of some comment about racism to make. This clean up should have nothing to do with color. I think there is more white trash that needs to clean up than black. If you need to clean up no matter what color you are you need to clean it up! For goodness sakes can’t we have any pride at all in our town?
Why do certain ones use the “race card”? Because it works. The powers that be would rather send them home with a warning and a new time frame to fix the problem than have to listen to Movement for Change rant and rave outside their office. Fact of the business is, it didnt cost you anything to let your property go down and lower others values around you but you might have to shell out to bring it back up. I have no sympathy for trashy people.
your right, it’s easier to play it and then try to sue someone and get money than to do something good with their time and life
Yes observer.
And, it is a self-defeating ploy, for with this attitude and mind set, a person is defeated before they start. If you want to be a real entrepreneur, read some books by Truett Cathy. When you can have a mind set like that, then you will get somewhere. And, he does it without opening on Sunday. For those that do not know, he is the founder of Chick-fil-A. It is not just talk. He is a very responsible person. And, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was from a poor family during the depression, and he promised the people who helped him out, that he would help them one day. And he did just that. And I had the pleasure of meeting one of them before their death. He is also very kind to his own family. I know this first hand. He also helps young people. He did not whine because he was poor. He’s not poor now, nor does he treat others badly. Playing the badly worn out race card is to degrade your own self. You will never get anhywhere or do anything you can really be proud of. If you want to be somebody, remember Who created you, and act like someone who has a future and a hope. Your Creator does not lie, and He said, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, (says the LORD), thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11 You are somebody. Act like it, and quit poor mouthing. Think of some honest original way to may the money to fix your property. Make balloon animals and sell them. Wear them as hats to attract customers. ;D
it ALWAYS is a racial thing when they can’t think of anything else…they see how it always turns out….in their favor, so why not play it
Wow, what a way to take a comment and “Fox News” it into a belligerent rant. I expect the sex scandal will be next. I didn’t say code enforcement was a punishment, but for those who see punishments and devils at every corner…well what can I say. It is a fact that to meet codes and zoning ordinances there are added cost, and I doubt a one of you, if you’ve built anything in the last few years didn’t complain about something you had to add during construction due to some ordinance or code. All I was saying, that those who are struggling to have a residence or to start a business, should have some relief when it come to this extra cost, and that relief wouldn’t have to just be for the lower incomes. Small businesses are the back bone of our economy, and it is they who give the most back to their community which they reside; not Walmart, Target, or any other corporate retailer.
you know , Cottrell You need to sit down. I know im not black and code enforcement gave my neighbors and i a warning. BUT i guess you wasnt following that day.And yes we did get everything cleaned up per the CODE.
Why do some want to pull people down to their level, instead of stepping up higher themselves? If you want to have a higher standard of living, then do what others have done to reach that standard (if it was done honestly). Hearing about race and discrimination has become VERY irritating. We have a BLACK PRESIDENT. SO, that tactic just doesn’t cut it anymore. When there are calls for things likie affirmative action, I cringe. If I were a black person, I would not want affirmative action. I would want to qualify for/earn that position I sought, instead of feeling like I got there because of affirmative action and was looked upon as “too dumb to get there myself.” Think about it. Hand outs are not always helpful, in the long run. And for goodness sake. Take some pride in what you have. Who wants to shop around in filth, decay and dangerous, unsightly surroundings. Please quit whinning. It is becoming more and more obnoxious. Strive for excellence, so you can be proud of your accomplishments. And, help one another out. When I worked in Century, I actually saw people charge their own relatives as much as $20 when they neededed a ride, even to the doctor!!! I also saw jealousy when someone else did well. Do well yourself and help one another out. You may see things change for the better. But if you don’t……..yet you have all you really need, remember……it is written: “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy6:6-10 So try to do the best you can. Meanwhile, if you have all you need to live, be thankful to God. You are better off than most in the world. Most of those here that are considered poor, would be considered rich in many places. I know a family like that now, in the Philippines. Trust me. You could do worse. I do agree however, that there are far too many government regulations. Take it to your representatives. Be heard for the problem, not your race. Please.
As crass as it may sound, better to kill the dream than the residents, tenets, or customers…….
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/index.shtm
Century has a “Black Area?”
“So my point is how does society make sure our expanding requirements don’t kill the dream of a residence or a small business for someone of limited means?”
By being socialist liberals that’s how!!!
“Codes are not punishment for the poor. They’re enacted to protect the public who go into these businesses and just because an owner is in a lower income bracket doesn’t mean that code enforcement should give a free pass or ignore safety violations.”
Spoken like a true conservative republican!
Codes are not punishment for the poor. They’re enacted to protect the public who go into these businesses and just because an owner is in a lower income bracket doesn’t mean that code enforcement should give a free pass or ignore safety violations.
I’m not going to make any comment on the sad state of affairs in Century, but in general codes have had an impact, that is not impacting people due to race, but class level. Those of lower incomes are being forced out of home and business markets more and more as the cost of construction goes up, some of which is for special construction or products to meet code, zoning and accessibility standards for the handicapped. We seen people have to walk away from a business plan when the full cost of upfitting a building was realized. One of the biggest hits is usually trying to force someone to sprinkle an existing building, which adds cost per square foot, cost of a larger water service to the building, but here in Charlotte, tap fees and back flow prevention devices that will literally double the cost of the system. Add in the parking lot changes, area of rescues on upper levels with thousands of dollars for fire alarm devices, and other cost the average person just doesn’t realize will be put upon them, and in the end, instead of a new business opening up, you have someone walking away with nothing. Residential is not as bad for additional cost, but there is a move to require sprinklers, and yes, the cost can be recouped in several years of insurance savings, but when someone is very tight on budget, these up front cost can be a deal killer.
So my point is how does society make sure our expanding requirements don’t kill the dream of a residence or a small business for someone of limited means? I say we should be able to write off all direct expenses for meeting accessible codes as a start.
When all else fail, play the “RACE CARD”, right?
Fix your property you lazy loser !
It’s about time. There should be more than 5 going to court or hearings. Code enforcement starts by asking nice. If they don’t answer, throw the book and the bulldozer at them.
I for one appreciate the efforts to clean up the town.
And Mr Cottrell, I don’t know all of the people on the list, but at least one of the two court hearings is white. That’s 50%. Pretty fair to me.
It’s about time they do something. I thought what in the world have they done with Century’s Code Enforcement. Go up and down all those streets, it is embarrassing. I used to live there. No wonder Century can’t get any business. Take some pride in what you have and CLEAN……………. it up.
As a matter of public record, one can find the owners to each of the listed properties a the Escambia property appraiser’s website at http://escpa.org/Search.aspx
Why dose everything have 2 be a racial issue..it shouldn’t be like that my car broke down and I had a black man help us he stopped when no one else would…