Connecting You to Your Community
Lodi, California •

Indexes


November 21st, 2009
November 20th, 2009
November 19th, 2009
November 18th, 2009
November 17th, 2009
November 16th, 2009
November 14th, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
Al Baldwin takes photos of abandoned homes in Galt and contacts city code enforcers in an effort to keep the homes from becoming eyesores. Baldwin stands in front of a home on Toni Court that has a damaged garage and a weed-choked lawn. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Battling blight

The dilemma cities, area residents face

By Chris Nichols
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Saturday, June 14, 2008 7:04 AM PDT

Comments (39 comment(s))

Al Baldwin still has hope for the black-eye of a home at 126 Toni Court.

Despite its crumpled garage door — busted when a car was repossessed — the thick weeds and yellowed newspapers that litter the property, the 69-year-old Galt activist says good can come of a very bad situation.

"The people in Galt look at this house and say 'We can't do anything about it,'" Baldwin said, clutching his camera and a log of photographs. "When they say 'I can't,' I say I can. I'm going to try."

Baldwin documents Galt's abandoned, distressed homes, sending photos and addresses to the city's code enforcers.

He's one of a growing number of local residents frustrated by foreclosure-related blight.

And he wants to help.

The path to erasing the area's eyesores, however, isn't clear.

The highly publicized fine levied last month on Galt Councilwoman Barbara Payne for trying to water an abandoned home has caused trepidation and confusion. Payne connected a hose from her home to the abandoned house, which is a code violation. But so is manually watering a neighbor's lawn or mowing it without the property owner's permission.

Elder Galtonian leads by example

When Bob Biederman's neighbors of more than four decades moved away, the elder Galtonian stepped in to prune their roses, water their lawn and fix the occasional broken window screen.


Galt resident Bob Biederman took care of his neighbors gardening while the home was temporarily abandoned for 13 months. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
It was only fitting that Biederman, an energetic 84-year-old and longtime city leader, share in the upkeep.

He, along with his wife, Edna, had shared much of a lifetime with Leroy and Caroline Arrants on the city's quiet 600 block of G Street.

The families never put up a fence between their adjoining yards. Instead, they shared games of basketball, shuffleboard, birthday parties and lazy summer afternoons together.

Never did they need two sets of hedge trimmers or ladders. They shared those, too.

"We had neighbors there for 47 years — his yard was mine," Biederman said, seated inside his immaculately kept living room this week, a picture of his wife, who passed away eight years ago, prominently displayed.

Leroy Arrants, Biederman's neighbor, moved away shortly after his wife passed about two years ago, Biederman said.

That left the property vacant for just over a year, until renters moved in this spring.

In the interim, Biederman made sure his neighbor's yard stayed green and trim. He helped clear branches after a violent winter storm and ensured the side fences were in good repair.

Taking initiative is nothing new for Biederman. He was a warehouse supervisor for General Mills for more than 36 years, and served three decades on the Galt City Council.

Outside pruning his own roses this week, Biederman said he won't stop taking care of his community.

"I hate lost motion," he said, his pruning shears in action.

— News-Sentinel staff

Galt's water-use rules will be discussed in detail at the city's Tuesday night council meeting.

In the meantime, city leaders in Galt and Lodi, from police lieutenants to city managers to politicians, are hesitant to give any advice for how neighbors can address blight on their block.

Private property rights prevent them from doing so, several said.

Lodi City Councilman Bob Johnson, known for his forceful opinions on matters large and small, declined to give any tips at all on the issue.

Back in Galt, City Manager Ted Anderson said that aside from calling code enforcement, the public should avoid taking matters into their own hands.

"If they do, they may end up with a lawsuit they wish they never had," he warned.

Still, some common-sense tips include: Call the police if it looks like there has been a break-in at a home, and call code enforcement about abandoned pools or high, thick weeds, said Joseph Wood, Lodi's community improvement manager.

One of the biggest frustrations with abandoned homes, several residents said, is that it's nearly impossible to track down the owners.

A majority of the hundreds of vacant homes across Lodi and Galt are bank-owned, say city officials and real estate professionals.

In Lodi, code enforcers are monitoring a total of 115 abandoned homes, said Lodi Police Lt. Chris Piombo, who oversees the city's code enforcement.

He said he hasn't received any complaints about people mowing or watering lawns at abandoned properties. And while he said he can't advocate residents trespassing, his department takes "a big-picture view of what's going on."

"I think the community understands what's going on," Piombo added. "They understand it's a quality of life issue."

Foreclosures and the blight that's followed has hit Galt's westside neighborhoods, including Toni Court, particularly hard.

In Lodi, a southeastern subdivision, The Villas at Lodi, is among the most affected.

Piombo estimates that a quarter or more of the 80 homes are empty in the neighborhood, built in 2005.

Pigeon droppings, thick weeds and dead lawns are a common sight at the empty homes.

A smashed flat-screen TV sits outside one on Felino Lane, where three of the six homes have 'For Sale' signs on their lawns.

"We're just angry at the people who bought these (now empty) homes as an investment property and are not taking care of them," said Lydia Tella, who has lived at the Villas since it was built.

"I know the economy is tight, but still take pride in your home," she added.

Galt's proposed changes for water use on adjacent homes

The Galt City Council on Tuesday night will consider two changes to rules that govern water use on adjacent properties.

The first would allow residents to manually water a neighbor's property, so long as they have gotten permission from the owner of that property.

The second would be more involved. It would require residents to gain a permit from the city and permission from the property owner before manually watering an adjacent lawn.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Giovanina wrote on Jun 17, 2008 3:39 PM:

" There were "extenuating cultural influences.

That is not an excuse, nor is ignorance of the law. If it were you or me, would they treat us the same way? No! "

Report Abuse

marzo2008 wrote on Jun 17, 2008 12:57 PM:

" The solution is lower the price of a home everywhere. rent should only be 100 a month. I will not waste my money buying a home for the asking prices if they are not worth the money. WE all know that the homes sales will not happen until after the election. WE are waiting for the New President. To see where we are going. "

Report Abuse

lapdog wrote on Jun 16, 2008 1:56 PM:

" Al, you and your Barbara "Pain" supporters are shameless in your pandering to the media. You are doing more harm in Galt than good. You focus on a single house on Toni Court out of political reasons and ignore the four houses on Justin Court (where your PAC is registered)! This whole ordeal has been nothing more than an illegal premature campaign kickoff for that whiney, useless blight of a councilperson: Barbara Payne. "

Report Abuse

LodiJoe wrote on Jun 16, 2008 9:34 AM:

" I guess after blasting Barbara Payne for her GOOD DEEDS, the paper needed to run another article about a "good neighbor" on a positive note. What was the difference, other than political? "

Report Abuse

moradaexpat wrote on Jun 16, 2008 8:43 AM:

" Solution: Negotiate with the bank to take it off their hands for 50% of what they want. Chances are, all these repos are killing them and they'll go for it. Get a few friends/neighbors together and buy the place. Then it's yours to do with what you want.....rent to a nice, quiet old lady until the market picks back up. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:16 PM:

" edumacation, you know as well as I do the games the boys play at city hall and management. Just why do you think Krueger and the other two big boys quit? Those three wanted away from those little games before they were too deeply involved in the money transferring and book cooking. It won't be too long before these issues are brought out into the open and show who the real bamboozlers and greedy parties are responsible for Lodi's financial woes. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 15, 2008 9:00 PM:

" You have an interesting theory. We contacted Mr. Wood about one of the worst offenders (renters) and he gave us a "reason". Nothing could be done because we "didnt understand" two things: 1) How difficult it is to enforce the law. 2) There were "extenuating cultural influences". I didn't know that the law had different definitions and enforcement depending on WHO owned the property and WHO caused the violation. Its exactly like the Galt fiasco with councilmember Payne. The mayor and galt GOB don't approve of her, so she gets cited. If it were a politically correct homie or gangbanger, they would be left alone. galt gangbangers have to live somewhere---as long as they pay rent to the town council. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 15, 2008 7:01 PM:

" edumacation, chances are, one of our council reps or management or their wealthy contributors and owners are the proud owners of these slumhouses. One councilwoman's husband, I understand has several rentals in this very same area. Mr. Wood is not going to initiate any problems for himself by asking for an investigation or code enforcement. Why do you think he's been in his position as long as he has? They're all afraid of the big bad wolf of Lodi. Talk and you'll be replaced, that's the motto at city hall. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 15, 2008 5:15 PM:

" We - including three neighbors have talked to his office many times with DETAILS, addresses APN numbers, but the mess is still there. Don't you think it is illegal (it is) for a person to live in car parked on their lawn---for months and get electric power from an extension cord that is used for cooking or whatever they do in there. I have even seen them living in a toolshed. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 15, 2008 5:07 PM:

" Yup we did all that. We turned over videotapes of them doing the illegal no permit work. The city of Lodi limits the percentage of a single family residence compared to lot size. Some of these properties are 80-99 % covered living quarters. That is by using plastic tarps, siding, boards, and sheets of wood as a roof. The fences are the house walls. And the neighbors get to look at the mess. It has all been documented and turned over. 3 families living in a two bedroom with attached rooms in garages carports a mess. "

Report Abuse

Giovanina wrote on Jun 15, 2008 12:03 PM:

" Edumacation- I believe that any citizen can file a complaint on blighted proporties. Maybe you could list a few of these proprerties locations so we can file a load of complaints. With a lot of action on the same ones, the CC will have to do something. Also if they a places with a load of illegals, ICE can be called for suspicious activity at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE
1-866-347-2423 "

Report Abuse

tgANT2am wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:34 AM:

" to Galtmastermind - You are right on the money. This appears to be a jump on the "Pain" re election campaign. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 15, 2008 10:03 AM:

" When you go to the tv stations and the papers to pat yourself on the back for doing a good deed, the good deed itself is suspect. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 15, 2008 7:37 AM:

" This stupid story was on TV again last night. This resident and Barbara "Pain" yet again got air time for this story. What a great way for "Pain" to get free publicity. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:43 PM:

" edumacation, $425,000? Sounds like another high ball appraisal from a retired real estate appraiser who sits on Lodi city council. Hear he's made plenty of those overpriced appraisals for himself and his realty buddies. "

Report Abuse

shrubeater wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:01 PM:

" Where is the Villa? Is that the KB Home place that was in the news when this mess first started? Just off Harney? "

Report Abuse

Alacante wrote on Jun 14, 2008 6:47 PM:

" Maybe some of the council people will have neighbors lose their house. Then they can live next to an eyesore house that needs its yard kept up and then becomes a fire hazard. See how they like it. It can happen to anyone. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 14, 2008 5:56 PM:

" The house in the LNS photo looks familiar. It looks like one of those local builder houses that cost $65/sq foot but was sold as an "estate" in a lottery for only $425,000 in 2004. Maybe we should send one of our Realtors over there to give it a shot of green lawn paint? That will sure fix her up. It looks like another semi-custom 'estate home' from here that is worth every penny of the $304/sq foot they are asking for it. Show and sell! Do Realtors get 6% ($25,500) to list and sell that? $12750 to list and $12750 to fill out the forms (CAR forms only cost $50). No wonder people are losing these houses. Too many middle men and flippers. "

Report Abuse

tgANT2am wrote on Jun 14, 2008 5:21 PM:

" The real issue?? Maybe as a member of the council, someone who sets policy and should encourage the city's employees to do the job they are being paid for, Payne should have gone to the rest of the members and said that she fells this issue needed to be looked at instead of playing victim AGAIN. How many times do we have to watch her act like she has no idea what is going on and has no clue she did anything wrong. She makes a motion and at the next meeting acts like she didn't know what she was doing - learn or leave!! The other issue is finding a reporter who does his homework and reports all the facts. "

Report Abuse

Scrutiny wrote on Jun 14, 2008 5:11 PM:

" It`s a code violation to water or mow the lawn of your next door-neighbor`s abandoned house? That is the most asinine load of BS, "Barbara Striesand" that I have ever heard!!! "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 14, 2008 1:15 PM:

" To T&C: Say what? I have just made a moral conversion. I no longer support McCain. I have been a Republican since birth--its in my genes. I am now an advocate for Ron Paul. If we can deny McCAin the Presidency, the Republican party must listen. There is NO difference between the three candidates.

Hillary=Obama=McCain. Most of us are voting AGAINST candidates not FOR them. A vote for RON PAUL as a write in, is NOT THROWING AWAY YOUR VOTE. Whether "liberal" or "conservative" you will be voting against ALL THREE. Maybe the political parties will start listening to people instead of polls? In any case the message will be strong. No more welfare for the lazy(DEMS) or handouts to the rich (REPS). The billionaires already have money and they want more via government contracts and favors. That MUST STOP. Who elected Halliburton to tell us what to do? The Free handout to banks must stop as well. The Federal Reserve will be abolished. You can't give away trillions of NEW dollars to banks and not devalue the dollar. Google "MONEY AS DEBT". "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 14, 2008 12:56 PM:

" The code violations are now under the watchful eye of the police department. They don't have time and are seriously understaffed to worry about these codes unless there's a criminal element involved. Don't you think that's why council voted to move the code department there, rather than enforce them all these years and just look the other way? There'd be some embarrassing names involved when the real owners of these slumhouses and apartments were made public. Almost all live here in Lodi and think they're well respected, while many other of us know their greed drives them and we know who they are. "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 14, 2008 12:49 PM:

" edumacation, those are your city fathers, the wealthy, realtors and local slumlords that own those homes that're being occupied by illegals and lowincome families, mostly Hispanic. Why should they bother getting a building permit? Then it'd be listed in the paper and the owner would be revealed. They're the same ones who only accept cash or a postal money order for their rent, too. We all know the real deal on what's going on over there. Mr wood is just a part of the little games the city plays with our money behind our backs. "

Report Abuse

T & C wrote on Jun 14, 2008 12:27 PM:

" Glad to see "Edumacation" finally posting here after his ENTENDED vacation. Welcome back! "

Report Abuse

WY wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:59 AM:

" Papercut... I do believe that last week end there was a walk to raise money for Cancer. So It was called "Relay for Life" It was a grand event raiseing close to 200,000.00 dollars Many Lodi families and young people walked through out the night and day to bring in Big Boocoo bucks for the people that have been stricken with cancer. Most everyone you meet will know someone who cancer has been effected.
So there's the story in a nut shell. That was good Lodi news. Could have been front page stuff. It was almlost 200,000.00 bucks! WOW... That's alot of money to raise. I just want to say personally THANK YOU to the people that gave up their weekend for this event. Great Job!!! "

Report Abuse

Alacante wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:54 AM:

" To papercut...you are exactly right....Lodi sure isn't like it used to be. My parents and grand parents have been lucky to move out of here. We are hopefully next..... "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:54 AM:

" Code and safety violations are so blatant over here, they were documented in the LNS, Sacramento Bee, as well as state and national television news. Remember back to 2005 when the FBI arrested people for criminal law violation? At least one of those arrested invited the news media and the police into his garage living space for an interview. He said something about paying rent to live in the furnished garage. Photos of a couch and space heater were all over the media. Where was Mr Wood? Look it up in old LNS articles and photos. I thought it was illegal to convert a garage to a living space and charge rent. See link
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270322

QUOTE:
"I don't have anything right now," Hayat said, adding that he supports his family on $550 a month worth of welfare and food stamps while living in a converted garage."---in LODI!

Where was Mr. Wood? "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:42 AM:

" There is also an apartment that has several small garages, but people live in them. When it is warm they move out of the garages into the driveway. I have seen other apartment garage conversions. NO permits. These are obvious code violations, and they have also created fire and safety hazards. This has been going on for years. At one of the apartments, tenants will park vans and old trucks next to the garage so they can have a "patio" to live in between the garage living quarters and the vehicles. "

Report Abuse

Mrs. S. wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:37 AM:

" Abandoned home, repossessed car? Sounds like the people in that home on Toni Ct. were living beyond their means. "

Report Abuse

JD wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:37 AM:

" As I understand it, if you repossess a car you are not allowed to cause a breach of the peace while doing so.

Baldwin should track down this repo man and press civil, if not criminal, charges. "

Report Abuse

Edumacation wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:36 AM:

" Good article. There are a few houses on the eastside that have families living in the garage. We watched as they brought in lumber and walled in the garage door, added windows etc. We called Mr. Wood and sent him the photos. NO PERMITS. NOTHING HAPPENED. Today, instead of one family living in the garage, there are two families living in the garage. They added a carport which has since been converted to a garage which was converted again to more living space. The cars park on the front lawn or on the street. But the CC which could have intervened did not. The CC calls this blight and wants us to spend tax money to fix illegal construction with no permits. We should send Mr. Wood the bill for cleaning the mess up. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 14, 2008 11:02 AM:

" Shouldn't Mr. Do-A-Good-Deed be pointingthe camera the other direction? Another staged photo op. Nichols, you should be ashamed of yourself for this piece. Looks like you're destined to stay small potatoes at the LNS for the rest of your career. A real reporter would have explored all avenues, like the banks and why they don't maintain these homes themselves. Better go ahead and join the company pension plan: you're stuck here. "

Report Abuse

tgANT2am wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:47 AM:

" The reporter should also have reported all the facts on the garage door being busted, it was because a car was repossessed but not from the family that also lost the home, a neighbor hid his truck in the abandoned garage to hide it. COME ON CHRIS - get out there and get ALL the facts!! "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:31 AM:

" tgANT, would yoiu expect anything different from the Lodi news? They only print what they want you to know and usually far from the truth with the real facts swept under the carpet. What does Lodi cc Johnson even have to do with this article? Maybe he's a member of that same Galt PAC? "

Report Abuse

EJ wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:19 AM:

" Chris Nichols should be complimented for exposing the problems in Galt. It appears the city government has failed
to listen to the citizens and their concerns that affect the quality of life
It's time for a change in getting better qualified people elected to represent the citizens. Galt deserves a
good city nanager, Mr. Anderson should resign so Galt can develop and grow. Don't see much progress under his administration. "

Report Abuse

tgANT2am wrote on Jun 14, 2008 8:44 AM:

" Great political reporting Chris!! I thought you had to mention any type of connection when quoting people "In a story that looks at the politics of a matter, yes, I do think we need to identify people and their affiliations as best as possible." Remember that quote from your email Chris? I guess having copies of the signed paperwork from a PAC-Political Action Committee doesn't allow you to do the "best as possible"???? So let me help - Bob Biederman has signed paperwork as the controlling officeholder of a registered PAC and Al Baldwin is listed as one of the committee members. Your paper has given some great free space to members of this PAC. When does the opposing side get the same? "

Report Abuse

T & C wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:59 AM:

" Neighbors who have pride in their neighborhood are very hard to find! On the other hand, low quality tenants or owners who let their home and yard go to "HE**" are very easy to recognize! Just as a homeowner can be cited and forced to improve terrible conditions, EVERY CITY should immediately file suit or proceeding to force owners/Banks to "Keep up abandoned properties or face huge fines! But since banks have millions and no city wants to piss off banks, nothing will happen to improve the blight! The sad part is that neighbors who try to pitch in and help end up "FINED"! "

Report Abuse

papercut wrote on Jun 14, 2008 7:37 AM:

" Gotta have the Galt front page news to sell those papers no one is buying in Lodi. Lodi CC Johnson isn't saying because it's those retired RE appraisers, realtors, ex-realtors, part time realtors and investors on city council and their shoddy local lenders and realty companies that wrote many of these bogus loans knowing that the figures were exaggerated that are responsible for these dumpy homes in nice neighborhoods. Why aren't they the ones accountable for their own blight they've created. Both Lodi and Galt have had these codes on the books but seldom enforce them. They're too busy letting Lodi and Galt go to hell for that redevelopment money. This isn't going to change anytime soon with California being one of four states that're declared in official recession. Thanks planning commission and council for your poor foresight for a buck for the wealthy. "

Report Abuse

galtmastermind wrote on Jun 14, 2008 5:55 AM:

" Memo to Chris Nichols: You're beating a dead horse here. Get off the watering lawns tangent and right a story about real issues. "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Special Sections

Photo Reprints

Find Ads




Leaf Pickup

Services

Contact Us

Office

125 N. Church St.
P.O. Box 1360
Lodi, CA 95241
(209) 369-2761
Fax: (209) 369-1084

Newsroom

E-mail

(209) 369-7035
Fax: (209) 369-6706

Subscriptions

Subscribe

Problems with your subscription?
(209) 333-1400

Advertising

E-mail

(209) 369-2761
Fax: (209) 369-1084

Classifieds

Place an ad E-mail

(209) 333-1111
Fax: (209) 369-1084