Tag: illegal

The Wasteland.

Posted in Van Nuys and the ValleyTagged , , , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

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After depositing an old, fat 1994 television at SCV Recycling (14658 Raymer St. Van Nuys, CA 91405), a thriving and well-run recycling center, we drove out onto the wasteland that is Raymer Street between Kester and Van Nuys Boulevard.

Seemingly enticed by the nearby recycling facility, the median between the road and the railroad has become a vast, out-of-control, 24/7 dumping ground for trash, especially electronics. The sight of so much garbage recalls those National Geographic photos of impoverished India in the 1960s or 70s.

45 years ago poor people in the Third World lived in boxes, and the San Fernando Valley produced cars, well-educated students, affordable housing, advanced electronics and defense weaponry. Now it’s the reverse.

Perhaps La Nueva Councilwoman Nury Martinez will devote some energies and order a clean-up of this blight.

People who imagine that Van Nuys can be brightened by hanging some tinsel from trees surely will be sobered by the reality that this is what reality really looks like.

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Handicap Parking Abuse.

Posted in CrimeTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Lululemon

 

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One of the more egregious and self-centered driving behaviors in LA involves the abuse of the handicapped parking placard.  It is especially prevalent in the richer sections of the city, such as Beverly Hills, Encino and Studio City.  It is almost predictable that if a brand new BMW or Mercedes with a blue sign is parked in a disabled zone, it will be a con.

Such was the case today in front of Lululemon, a sports clothing store selling $98 spandex clam diggers and the $58 Yoga Halter top.  A 40-year-old woman, athletically bounced out from the store, hopped into her Center BMW SUV and sped off down Ventura.

Reporting Housing Code Violations in Los Angeles

Posted in Van Nuys and the ValleyTagged , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

One great tool, that the City of Los Angeles and its Department of Building and Safety provide, is an online form that can be used to report housing code violations.

Some of the quality of life problems that plague this city are actually reportable violations. These include those garage sales that go on 52 weekends a year at the same address; inoperable vehicles stored on a front lawn; nuisance structures that are boarded up and abandoned; empty lots with overgrown weeds; illegal dumping; illegal signs; etc.

Here are some additional categories that practically encompass the definition of what it means to live in the city of Los Angeles:

  • ADULT ENTERTAINMENT (CLUBS, CABERETS, BOOK AND VIDEO STORES) IN AN UNAPPROVED AREA.
  • AUTO REPAIR (MAJOR) IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
  • BLOCKED OR NONEXISTENT EXITS, PASSAGEWAYS, YARDS OR WINDOWS.
  • COMMERCIAL AUTO REPAIR ESTABLISHMENTS IN VIOLATION.
  • COMMERCIAL JUNK YARD (INCLUDING AUTO DISMANTLING) IN VIOLATION.
  • COMPLETED UNAPPROVED CONSTRUCTION (WITHOUT PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS).
  • EXCESSIVE VEGETATION: DRY WEEDS, UNTRIMMED TREES, ETC.
  • GARAGE CONVERSION INTO A DWELLING OR STORAGE WITHOUT APPROVALS.
  • GENERAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS IE; BROKEN WINDOWS ETC.
  • GRAFFITI VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC WAY.
  • HOME OCCUPATION (BUSINESS OPERATED FROM A DWELLING UNIT).
  • VIOLATIONS PERTAINING TO HOTELS AND/OR MOTELS.
  • INADEQUATE PARKING SPACES.
  • MISCELLANEOUS COMPLAINTS THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE CATEGORIZED.
  • NOISY FIXED EQUIPMENT IE: POOL EQUIPMENT, AIR CONDITIONERS ETC.
  • OFF SITE ADVERTIZING (BILLBOARDS) WITHOUT THE REQUIRED PERMITS.
  • ON-SITE ADVERTISING EXCESSIVE SIGNAGE ADVERTISING GOODS OR SERVICES AVAILABLE ON SITE.
  • OPEN EXCAVATIONS, PITS AND OTHER HAZARDS.
  • OPEN STORAGE (STORAGE OF ITEMS OUTDOORS) IE; CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
  • OVER HEIGHT FENCES IN THE REQUIRED YARDS.
  • PACK RAT CONDITIONS.
  • PARKING IN THE REQUIRED FRONT YARD OTHER THAN ON THE DRIVEWAY.
  • POOL CLARITY AND OTHER POOL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
  • POOL ENCLOSURE NON EXISTANT, IN NEED OF REPAIR, OPEN GATES, ETC;
  • PROPERTY NEEDS PAINT OR WEATHER PROOFING.
  • RECYCLING CENTERS OPERATING IN UNAPPROVED LOCATIONS OR AFTER HOURS.
  • SECURITY BARS PREVENTING REQUIRED EGRESS.
  • STORAGE OF INOPERATIVE VEHICLE(S) ON PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
  • STRUCTURAL HAZARD; IE. FAILING SUPPORT OR RESTRAINING SYSTEMS.
  • TENNIS COURT LIGHTS, FLOOD LIGHTS, ETC.
  • TRASH AND DEBRIS ACCUMULATION.
  • UNAPPROVED ALTERATION IN A HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONE.
  • UNAPPROVED CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS.
  • UNAPPROVED USE OR OCCUPANCY.
  • VACANT BUILDING OPEN TO UNAUTHORIZED USE.
  • VACANT LOT WITH TRASH AND DEBRIS.
  • VIOLATIONS NOT OBSERVABLE FROM 7:00AM TO 3:30PM MON.-FRI.
  • YARD SALES NOT MEETING ACCESSORY USE AS DEFINED IN SEC. 12.03 L.A.M.C.
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