Redevelopment and Downtown Code Enforcement

By Martin L. Edwards

"I believe we can continue the redevelopment of downtown and at the same time be honest, fair and decent to the people who own and live in these buildings."

First let me say that I believe the continuation of redeveloping downtown Stockton is very important to the future of our city. I am and have been a proponent of it's redevelopment. Having said that, it is also important that as the city moves forward with it's plans, it is imperative that it do so while protecting the rights, feelings and dignity of it's citizenry.

Enforcement of codes is a must. When conditions exist that pose safety or health dangers to people it is the city's responsibility to enforce standards and codes guarenteeing the public's safety. To be perfectly honest it seems that these codes had been ignored and not enforced at all for a very long time. Some of the buildings are absolutely dilapidated.

Now all of a sudden the city is bearing down on owners and demanding that the buildings be brought up to code, not just the codes prevailing at the time the building was built, as I believe is specified by law, but to todays codes. For many owners this is absolutely impossible. The buildings were never built with todays standards in mind. It would in some cases require the buildings be completely knocked down and rebuilt.

We also have to think of the people living in these hotels and apartments. Nearly all of us have read newspapers or watched on television as residents have been given very short notice to vacate primises. We have seen one group of people moved into the migrant farmers housing. Now with the migrant workers returning they will have to move again. Where will they go? Are we creating yet more homeless people in our city?

When one adds to these scenarios the city's declared ambition to acquire these properties for additional parking etc..., it is no wonder that many in Stockton are seeing the code enforcement as nothing more than a "land grab" by the city and an effort to chase off the poor and lower-income people from downtown Stockton. What a tragedy that the people of Stockton should even have to wonder if this is the case.

I believe we can continue the redevelopment of downtown Stockton and at the same time treat the owners honestly and fairly. And the tenants must be treated with respect and dignity. Building owners must be given fair time and opportunity to bring their buildings up to the codes that were prevailing at the time the building was built. And there should be a spirit of cooperation between the city leadership and the owners to see that this happens. Tenants should be given adequate time and assistance in finding a new place to live that they can afford.

An "All American City" is made up of all kinds of people of different race, economic stature and religions. Some are rich, some are poor, some are in positions of leadership and some are even homeless. All of us deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.