Improved Code Enforcement

REDI Town Hall Leads to Improved Code Enforcement,

Community Stabilization, and Reduced Blight

As the Housing Crisis began to emerge, California ACORN, working with Senator Don Perata, passed Senate Bill 1137 which empowered cities to collect fines on unmaintained, foreclosed properties that cause blight. This new law allows cities to fine negligent property owners up to $1000 per day.

Richmond has been hit hard by a massive wave of foreclosures- 2000 and growing. Many of these homes, now owned by banks, are left untended and in disrepair, endangering the safety of remaining residents.

REDI has actively advocated for the strong enforcement of local and state laws that protect community from blight due to vacant, foreclosed homes.  The City of Richmond has subsequently increased their staff, increased patrols, increased blight citations and fines issued.  They have since collected over $100,000 in fines holding banks accountable for their unmaintained foreclosed properties that are blighting Richmond neighborhoods.   Increased code enforcement can help stabilize struggling neighborhoods and provide revenue for the city to rehabilitate homes and get Richmond residents back into them. REDI members even took to the streets to identify abandoned, blighted homes and provided our findings to the city for their use.

REDI's action to identify blighted properties and our housing crisis town hall put the necessary pressure on the city to step up. Within three months, the city reassigned and hired new staff for code enforcement. There was an immediate increase in patrols, citations and fine assessments. The city even developed a judicial fast track to process the large number of court cases. The city has already collected nearly $500,000.