(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
Blighted buildings across the landscape of Augusta are arguably one of the biggest issues facing the “Garden City,” just behind the never-ending challenge of rising crime.
To its credit, the Augusta Commission voted on a new blight ordinance that has teeth to it, which is designed either to force compliance or eventually strip slumlords of their property so it can be cleaned up and put back into productive use.
So far only a handful of properties are headed to Magistrate Court via the new blight ordinance.
Director of the Planning and Development Department Carla Delaney recently appeared before the commission to provide an update on the city’s fight against blight. Rather than ask the commission for more funding to augment the current staff of eight inspectors, who handle thousands of enforcement cases each year, Delaney called for a “rebranding” of Code Enforcement.
Delaney wants to rename the department “Code Compliance” to remove the possible stigma that chronic neglect of property is somehow a criminal act.
It almost seemed Delaney might break out in song as she outlined her new “Supply to Comply” program that will provide vouchers so landowners can rent lawn mowers and weed eaters at taxpayers’ expense.
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In Delaney’s world, maybe if everyone has equal access to a lawn mower, no one will notice the broken windows and sagging eaves on a property because they will be too busy admiring the lawn.
Delaney also wants to take away the inspectors’ Kevlar vests to make them look less menacing. It is no matter to her that in 2020, code enforcement officer Charles “Chip” Case was hanging up a condemned sign on a residence when he was ambushed and shot to death; no, officers should never look “off-putting.”
Instead of having code enforcement professionals committed to ending blight by issuing citations and taking people to court when necessary, Delaney wants to find a kinder, gentler way of achieving code compliance.
Blighted buildings stifle investment, halt progress, contribute greatly to the eroding tax base and, yes, invite criminal activity. Hopefully, the incoming mayor and commission will take the matter more seriously in the coming year and work with Delaney to find appropriate ways to enforce the code so as to assure compliance.
Code enforcement can call itself whatever they want to as long as at the end of the day their function is to enforce code compliance. Why stop with renaming Code Enforcement? Why not rename Law Enforcement to “Rule Administration” or even better rename Storm Water fee to “Rain Tax.” Or just leave the names alone.
