|
|
|
Councilman Greg Stanton's
Arizona Republic My Turn Column
March 17, 2006
Supporting Neighborhood Inspectors
Many unsung heroes in our city work every day to make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer and free of blight. Phoenix neighborhood inspectors are code enforcement officers whose job is to investigate complaints about important neighborhood issues like excess trash, cars on lawns and illegal home additions. Last year, they handled more than 40,000 cases.
Strong neighborhoods lead to strong communities. Our neighborhood inspectors are some of the key people working to ensure our neighborhoods stay strong.
Like with police officers, prosecutors and other public safety workers, the neighborhood inspector job can be a risky one. Going to people’s homes and letting them know they need to make changes to follow city regulations can place inspectors in dangerous situations.
That’s why proposed state legislation to give added protections to neighborhood inspectors is an excellent idea. We strongly support state representative and former Phoenix City Councilman John Nelson’s House Bill 2220. It would provide added safeguards for neighborhood inspectors, known in many cities as code enforcement officers. The bill would help ensure that their private information stays private, giving them the same kind of protections already in place for judges, prosecutors, police officers and constables.
Here are a few troubling examples of incidents in Phoenix involving threats to neighborhood inspectors:
●A resident mailed a flyer to more than 2,000 people, criticizing a female inspector and her supervisor and showing photos of the city employees. The resident has shown up at the inspector's house.
●An inspector arrived home and a resident involved in a pending enforcement case was there, speaking to the inspector's spouse and daughter. When asked to leave, the resident made threats and then there was a physical altercation. Assault charges were filed against the resident.
●A resident tried to run an inspector down on a sidewalk with a semi-tractor.
Sadly, code enforcement officers in other states have been injured and even killed on the job. We must support measures that will contribute to preventing similar occurrences here.
Patrick Ravenstein helps oversee 73 inspectors for Phoenix's Neighborhood Services Department.
"I need to know that folks we're asking to do this job for our residents are safe and that they're families are safe," said Ravenstein. "Our inspectors are not armed. They're going out there with a pencil and paper and their verbal skills and telling homeowners that the way they keep their property is not up to code. Someone's home is near and dear to them and when you tell them there's a problem, they can get very upset."
Working to keep neighborhood inspectors safe is just one way we can say "thank you" to these unsung heroes.
Phoenix Councilman Greg Stanton represents Arcadia, Biltmore, North Central Phoenix and the Ahwatukee Foothills.
Last modified on
|
|
|
| | |
| Related
Links |
 |
|
|
