Patch Blog: Together, We Can Make Abatement Work

On Thursday September 6 at the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council meeting--7 p.m. at the Highland Park Senior Center at 6152 N. Figueroa Street--Deputy City Attorney Vanessa Alvarado will explain how to evict a problem house on your block. It is a legal process requiring relentless and patient neighbors, a collaboration with LAPD, an ability to build a case and a willing City Attorney office to pursue the prosecution of the eviction.

And it can work. Neighbors who band together, build themselves a safer, cleaner and more pleasant block.

A few stories:

One woman told me her neighborhood had begun busily collecting information on a methamphetamine house for a few months, when the tenant suddenly decided to move, clearly not pleased with the scrutiny.

One real estate agent had done several abatements in order to facilitate sales.

One Vietnam veteran, living in different areas of L.A. over several decades, found some streets had an expectation of safety. When the neighbors banded together, demanding the cooperation of the City and the LAPD, threatening problems never took root. He pointed out criminals will avoid any place with a vigilant expectation of peace, looking instead for someplace that will tolerate them.

One woman called and complained about an abused child in a loud filthy house on her block. Child Protective Services, Police, City Officials had all come out. But it was not until she formed a group with her neighbors that she began to see action. The abatement process took over a year, but eventually the child was placed in foster care, the house was boarded up and eventually sold to a lovely couple living there now.

One Neighborhood Watch undertook a single project, developed a plan, and followed it. They worked with their Senior Lead Officer, and insisted the City Attorney help them. They showed me a before photo, and I see the street now. Wow.

I have also encountered:

Cynical: "the City never does anything anyway"

Resigned: "nothing will ever work, the problem is too big"

Exhausted: "too much work, I am so busy"

Although my favorite was: "where will the gang go if we move them off our block?"

In Highland Park we can demand better service. The tools exist. Abatement will not make meth or gangs or bad behavior or cruelty go away.

Can we not work together to improve our own streets even a little? Can we not in the process get to know each other? Who knows what else we could accomplish?

Come to the meeting and let’s begin with information.