Incompetent Malfeasance

John here.

Code nonEnforcement wrote Alverson for paint, weeds, and "accumulation" (trash) on July 5. They did a follow-up inspection on July 26. Their "Action File Recap" says of the latter visit:

(sorry about the slant; that's part of the price of making a pdf so the document can be emailed).

Note: Weeds are correctly listed as "complied." Alverson had mowed the property. In contrast, the trash mostly was still there.

Then we have the letter Code nonEnforcement sent to Alverson on July 27. It says, in part:

Notice: Weed and Trash violations. No mention of "complied." These fools contradict themselves in their own records.

Then we have the baseless threat: The letter continues: If the violations are not corrected by 08/16/11, this case will result in further legal action. . ."

Then on Aug 12, Larry Canalejo, an Area Supervisor for Code nonEnforcement, visited the site because a TV reporter was there. As of yesterday, August 17, the "Action File Recap" had no entry for that visit. As of today, August 18, the trash pile out back looks about the same.

The pile of trash still is behind the shed, notably the toilet, the tire, and the open containers breeding mosquitos.

There is another open container around the corner to the left, out of the picture.

As to the paint and exterior repair issues, Canalejo says he will try to get SHIP to repair the windows et al. and Paint Your Heart Out Tampa to do the painting. He enjoins Carolyn to be patient, never mind this has been going on for over four years.

Thus we see:

• Code nonEnforcement gave Alverson forty-two days to pick up the trash he could have picked up in one afternoon;
• Forty-four days later, the trash still is there;
• Code nonEnforcement's "Action File Recap" (talk about a misnomer!) contradicts the letter they sent to Alverson; and
• Code nonEnforcement's Area Supervisor visited the site last Friday and didn't report any problem with trash.
• Code nonEnforcement is planning to get community groups to take care of the paint and repairs. That is, unlike Carolyn and her other neighbors, Alverson is not responsible for the condition of his own property (albeit the neighbors have several times offered to paint it for him). Tampa is sustaining the nuisance at 6003.
  

If this mess didn't affect the health and property values of the neighborhood, it would make a fine comedy.

In the meantime, Ms. Harley in the Mayor's office tells us that there is no Acting Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood and Community Empowerment, despite Carolyn's impression from the TV visit Friday and despite the Mayor's promise (pdf). That suggests that nobody is responsible for fixing the incompetent malfeasance in Code nonEnforcement. Stay tuned on that issue.