San Jose couple stunned after receiving $250 fine for blight violation

NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON AND GOTTEN RESPONSES FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS. YOU CAN FIND REPORTING ON NBCBAYAREA.COM. WE POST ALL OUR BIG STORIES THERE. JUST SEARCH OAKLAND 911. >>> AND THE PUSH DOWN ON BLIGHT IN SAN JOSE. TONIGHT, A SAN JOSE FAMILY SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY WHEN THEY WERE TREATED WITH A $250 FINE. WE HAVE MORE FROM SAN JOSE. >> Reporter: THERE IS DEFINITELY A BLIGHT PROBLEM TO CLEAN UP IN SAN JOSE AND THE COUPLE WHO LIVE AT THIS HOUSE AGREE BUT SAY THEY ARE NOT PART OF THAT PROBLEM. TARGETING FLIGHT IS JUST ONE PART OF THE OVERALL CITY CLEANUP EFFORT STARTED BY MAYOR MATT MAHAN AND. AND BLIGHT WAS A PET PEEVE LEADING TO THE FAST PROGRAM, THE FOCUS AREA SERVICE TEAM TARGETING SIX NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A HIGH RATE OF COMPLAINTS. AMONG THE BIGGEST ISSUES, JUNK AND DEBRIS IN YARDS, INOPERABLE VEHICLES, GRAFFITI, PARKING ON UNPAVED SURFACES, AND OVERGROWN VEGETATION. DURING CHRISTMAS WE, CODE ENFORCEMENT ENFORCER CITED A HOME IN NORTH SAN JOSE FOR HAVING A DRESSER AND A EXERCISE BICYCLE ON THE PORCH. KATIE WYATT AND IT'S LAWYER LESLIE WERE STUNNED AND ANGRY. THE DRESSER AND EXERCISE BIKE WERE ONLY PUT OUTSIDE TEMPORARILY WHILE THEIR DAUGHTER WAS VISITING AND WERE STUNNED TO FIND THEY WERE FINED $250 WITHOUT EVEN A WARNING. >> NO ONE EVER HEARD OF IT. WE DID NOT GET A NOTICE IN THE MAIL. NORMALLY YOU WILL GET A NOTICE IN THE MAIL SAYING SOMETHING IS ON THE FRONT PORCH. YOU NEED TO MOVE IT OR WE ARE GOING TO CITE YOU. WE DID NOT GET ANYTHING LIKE THAT. >> Reporter: THE COUPLE WHO OWN AND OPERATE SPICY WHITE'S RESTAURANT IN SAN JOSE SAY THEY'RE NOT ONLY TRYING TO KEEP THEIR LOCAL BUSINESS RUNNING BUT THEY ARE DEALING WITH HARDSHIPS INCLUDING A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. >> WE HARDLY CAN EVEN FIND WHEN TO COVER OUR MORTGAGE. AND THEN OUR STRUGGLE AND SITUATION. AND LATER IN THE MAIL, A CITATION FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE ON OUR FRONT PORCH. >> Reporter: WE TOLD MAYOR MATT MAHAN ABOUT THE SITUATION AND HE HAD A SOLUTION. >> I WILL OFFER TO PAY THIS FAMILY'S FINE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND THEN WORK TO CHANGE THIS SO WE CAN JUST FOCUS ON THE FORMS OF BLIGHT THAT MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMERCIAL

Channel: NBC Bay Area

Views: 47,022

Keywords: San Jose, blight violation, Bay Area news

Id: Ty7tz51lkk0

Length: 2min 33sec (153 seconds)

Published: Sat Jan 13 2024