If there is any integrity left in the Gang in the Ivory Tower I do believe it's time for you guys to change our way of electing council members. I have spoken to a number of you that feel at the least we should have an elected Mayor. It's really not a big stretch to add changing our elections to the even number years with the rest of the country.
I seem to have heard somewhere that these off year elections are costing the tax payers somewhere around $200,000 or more and as we all know don't really show a true count of what the people want. This last election is a fine example. Only approximately 43% of those who voted for the city council people voted to keep the same. Some 57% voted for something new. Since there were so many candidates, the votes were spread too thin to replace the incumbencies and more of the same.
I would certainly like to see a few of you really moral folks take this problem on and get it solved once and for all. I realize none of you will answer this e-mail but your actions would let the citizens know where you really stand on our city.
Rellis Smith
rellis39@sbcglobal.net
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LETTER TO EDITOR
CAMILLE HARRIS RESPONDS TO COLUMN REGARDING CODE ENFORCEMENT UPDATE
By: Camille Harris
Posted: 01/31/12
To: Arlene Martinez, Columnist
VC Star,
Your article today was very well balanced; but, the public could have been misled by the statements of the city attorney and the mayor. Contrary to the statements you quoted, the council can indeed hear appeals for financial hardship if they are acting as a Housing Appeals Board, which was recommended by the VSHC. It is true that the Local Appeals Board is very limited in what it can address, by law. That is why the VSHC recommended a Housing Appeals Board, whose duties are specifically outlined by law.
A Housing Appeals Board (HAB) differs entirely from a Local (construction) Appeals Board. See attached legal definitions and comparisons. In the Housing Appeals Board Proposal, the legal differences are highlighted at the beginning of the proposal.
One of the reasons a HAB or appeal to the council is important is to remove the potential for code enforcement to be used as eminent domain. Here is a quote from the senior attorney, Dana Berliner, of the Institute for Justice:
"Now that states have cut back on the abuse of eminent domain, cities are turning more and more to the use of so-called "code enforcement" to get rid of older homes in desirable neighborhoods. Loss of a home is always devastating, but when done through code enforcement, the city doesn't even have to pay for the land, so the taking can mean financial devastation for the families as well."
Monday night was a human moment and a good start towards due process, from a new humanitarian coalition on the council. Good for them! These four council-members, Cheryl Heitmann, Christy Weir, Neal Andrews and Jim Monahan, came together to demonstrate their concerns with their votes, about due process, homelessness and our less well-heeled citizens who are hanging on by their fingernails and trying to keep a safe roof over their heads.*
Though Ventura is the only city in the County that uses a method of collection that can end in foreclosure at the county, no objective third party reviewed 145 citizens' violations (attached First Foreclosure List) or offered them payment terms. We do not know the consequences of the council's turning these people over to the county about five years ago, and every June since.
Learning that no terms were offered may have offended some members of the council's sense of decency, and they decided to ensure due process and compassion for those suffering from medical problems or financial hardship. These council-members do not want anyone to lose their homes or for the poor to be forced out because there is no affordable compliance program.
The Appointments Committee is comprised of Christy Weir, Neal Andrews and Jim Monahan. At their meeting, as I understood it, they believed the council did not want to establish a separate Housing Appeals Board at this time, so in effect, would recommend that the council do that job themselves. I do not understand how their intent could have been misinterpreted by the staff. It was clear to those of us who were in attendance.
It is ludicrous to imply that anyone wants less than absolutely safe housing. Safe housing is everyone's goal and there is no way to assure that with our present system because too many are hiding in fear under the radar.
Evidently, the mayor did not attend the public workshops on code enforcement if he believes there have been no instances of complaints about over reach from code enforcement. Hundreds of people attended and there were over 1,000 comments. Many of them were complaints about subjective and arbitrary treatment. Much of this material is posted on:
http://www.grandfatherventura.com
The complaints are about bad policies that need reform, not good people who are forced to enforce them.
Bureaucracies are noted for resistance to reforms. We can hardly expect them to reform themselves, especially if they see this as sharing any power with those they govern. If getting the staff to even consider the clear direction of the Appointments Committee is such a battle, imagine how difficult it would be to institute the reforms recommended by the public.
I hope that you will continue to follow this issue so critical to our community. Thank you again for your objective coverage.
Keeping the faith,
Camille Harris
(805) 901-8188
* Editor's Note:
City Councilman Brian Brennan was not in attendance at this city council meeting; therefore, he didn't vote on this issue on this city council meeting night.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty"
Sir Winston Churchill
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