The sessions most attended related to economic development, surviving the changes in redevelopment and pension reform.
While here I took several calls from my office staff concerning complaints by residents who had received notices of code problems following the recent Shaping Up the 5th District walks in several parts of the district. The code enforcement problems were noted on report sheets completed by walkers who lived in each neighborhood. The problems were referred to code enforcement and if the complaint was valid, the residents were given notices to fix the problems. Well, apparently that process doesn't sit well with some residents who basically believe it isn't the city or other resident's business if their lawn is overgrown on to the sidewalk or their tree needs trimming because it is hanging over where people walk, or other issues. They are angry and are now threatening to sue everyone in the world, including the city. One resident called to alert me to the fact that because a neighbor was told to trim his tree, neighbors are building block fences between each other...interesting, but they will have to go through building inspection which should really make them unhappy. Hey folks. We are trying to make sure our neighbors continue to be quality neighborhoods --that's why your neighbors took the time to walk the area and help identify things that need to be fixed.
Which is an interesting transition into the Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic which is tomorrow beginning at 10 am. The public is invited. At last count, we have 45 neighborhood organizations and city services coming out for the festival. There will be games, free food and of course, the Elm Street Band. And we will be giving out our annual Good Neighbor Awards.
Well, I write this in the San Francisco Airport waiting for my Jet Blue flight back to Long Beach.
