Letter to the Editor: St. George fear squad bullies meet Citizens Against Incumbent Tyrannical Servants

LETTER TO THE EDITOR – A local organization committed to fighting the fear imposed by Mayor Dan McArthur and his bully-like fear squad, (otherwise known as code enforcement officers), upon the citizens of St. George was formed approximately one week ago.  It is an entity named the CAITS Institute, which stands for Citizens Against Incumbent Tyrannical Servants.

The establishment of CAITS is a direct response to Mayor McArthur’s overlength stay in the mayor’s office, (two decades), during which time he has presided over the passing and enforcement of vague and overbroad city ordinances that trample upon private property rights, which ordinances are enforced at the expense of property owners’ constitutional rights.

The penalties for not complying with the code enforcement include daily fines, a lien levied against your home, and criminal prosecution.

A sampling of these city ordinances includes what property owners can or cannot park in their driveways, including boats or RVs; what condition yards are in, including small dry spots on a lawn or the height of grass and weeds; the manner in which property owners may hold a yard sale; what kind of a tree can be planted in our yards, and where it can be planted; what items property owners can place in their yards, including back yards; and whether a fee can be earned for performing a service upon private property.

A Government Records access Management Act (“GRAMA” request) has been filed with the city requesting information on these so-called city ordinance violations in the past three years.

Early review of citizens served with these abusive ordinance violations indicates that many were elderly, economically disadvantaged, or otherwise physically unable to maintain their yards.

In addition, at a recent hearing held at the St. George City Council Chambers, local attorney Aaron Prisbrey was permitted to cross-examine code enforcement officer Jeff Cottam about his enforcement of these city ordinances.  Mr. Cottam made the remarkable admission that he conducts approximately 200 warrantless searches of private property each year in an effort to enforce city ordinances.  Mr. Cottam testified that although he obtained no warrants before conducting these searches of private property, he was nevertheless authorized to conduct these searches because of city ordinances.  In other words, even though the Constitution prohibits Mr. Cottam from conducting such searches, he conducts them anyway because he believes city ordinances authorize it.

The CAITS Institute insists that a city ordinance is not greater than constitutional rights, and that such warrantless searches of private property must cease.

Mayor McArthur has presided over this unconstitutional enforcement for twenty years, endorsing the draconian penalties against those least able to fight against it — all in the name of community aesthetics.

The problem with Mayor McArthur’s lengthy stay in office is that he, as Thomas Jefferson once wisely warned, has taken the power entrusted to him, and “in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.”

If this abuse of power were not enough, photographs show that many of our local public officials’ properties, including the mayor’s, are in violation of the very city ordinances that the mayor’s fear merchants selectively enforce against those least able to defend themselves, which reeks of the worst kind of hypocrisy.

For more information on how to become involved in ensuring that Mayor McArthur is voted out of office in the upcoming election, and how to fight Dan’s fear squad and its bully-like enforcement tactics, visit www.caits.org, look for us at parades and events, and “like” the CAITS Institute Facebook page.

Submitted by: Trevor C. Sanders

Ed. Note: Trevor Sanders is an occasional contributing columnist for St. George News’ Legal Briefings, an opinion column with guest attorneys writing on a variety of matters with legal overtones; this piece, however, was submitted as a letter to the editor. Sanders is an attorney at Aaron J. Prisbrey, P.C. and a resident of Hurricane. The opinions stated by columnists and letters to the editor are those of the writer and not representative of St. George News.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.

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32 Comments

  • Liesa Swejkoski September 14, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Mayors come and go with elections. We will always have the overpaid, stuffed-shirt city manager. He is not elected. He is the puppeteer behind the puppet.

    • DoubleTap September 16, 2013 at 7:58 am

      “Mayors come and go”….yes that is correct. But with a new Mayor, the “puppeteer” CAN BE fired and replaced. Hopefully this WILL occur…right Jon Pike?? Then keep a very watchful eye on Mr. Pile as well. He is NOT too far removed from McArthur, either.

  • Mike September 14, 2013 at 11:31 am

    It’s happened to me. I can’t park on the lawn even when the city takes my street for the marathon. They did trespass and take pictures of it too. But then spectators of the marathon trespass and make a mess in my yard too. The city does nothing about it or all the illegal parking going on near my property. I have to park a mile away or leave at five AM if I want to get out of my home that one Saturday. It would be nice if the city could understand the imposition they put us property owners in.

  • Mike September 14, 2013 at 11:43 am

    I would be better If they would just knock and the door and talk to people.

  • Edward Hafen September 14, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Here it is again…….. don’t know who’s running against him but vote him out. Anyone would be better than “him”. Sound familiar? Anybody but McArthur. I Don’t know who I want or who I will ultimately vote for but B.S. Propaganda such as this article is more frightening than any “Draconian” thing McArthur has done. SLC, WVC, and yes “Happy Valley” have the same such ordinances. I’m surprised this committee hasn’t learned from an unidentified source that the Mayor was caught with a prostitute. Tell me about the “HOPE and “CHANGE” that the new Mayor will bring? Buy the way…. one of the highest compliments I give or have heard regarding our long time citizens is……… “He’s one of the good ole’ boys” My father is a good ole boy, my brothers, aunts, uncles, and the like are good ole people. It is a term of endearment to many instead of a label derision or abuse of power that some would have us believe.

    • Get Real September 14, 2013 at 2:39 pm

      You being ignorant is not complimented.

  • Withdraw Consent September 14, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    In addiiton to replacing the City Manager Gary Esplin, if elected as St. George’s next mayor, will Jon Pike replace City Attorney Shawn Guzman and his underlings?

    Statutory law may prevent Pike from indicating his staffing preferences before the election, but there are other ways to get that message out.

    If not, the change of guard will be cosmetic and not substantive.

    And although I appreciate CAITS efforts, its use of the word “Servants” in its organizational name seems at odds with the word “Tyrannical.” Those terms are mutually-exclusive in the minds of many.

    City of St. George employees calling themselves the “servants” of its tax-slaves is like a rapist calling his victim his “girlfriend.”

  • Maggie September 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    OMG the crowd that does not want any rules or laws or to have them enforced has moved to St George.
    I moved here because I thought it was beautiful, well run and affordable. I moved from an area where there was little money or desire to enforce some of these laws and people can be pigs if left alone to do so.
    I met the mayor and the city council members and they are just people elected to do a job for all of us. To run a city, keeping it safe and clean ,affordable and pleasant to live in. I think they have done so.
    Why do you want to live in a second class city?

  • V September 14, 2013 at 2:07 pm

    These folks who are delinquent in these (right infringing) violations, are probably to busy trying to get the code violations inside their homes fixed that the city building inspectors passed off, to worry about how far back on their property their RV is parked.

  • Craig September 14, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    I wish examples included names, dates and the exact “infraction” someone was cited for.
    That would lend a little more credibility to this opinion piece.
    RE:An over length in office, start with Orrin Hatch. He really needs to be replaced with a younger, non-sappy song writing person.

    • Michael September 14, 2013 at 8:51 pm

      Amen! Orrin Hatch should have been voted out two terms ago.

  • B September 14, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    I realize the following statement will raise the hair on the back of a few necks but let’s raise a subject that most people won’t bring up. If you are a member of the majority religion and live according to the “rules” Mayor McArthur is doing a wonderful job. If you live a different lifestyle and run certain legal and law abiding businesses in town that are frowned upon by that religion you understand better what this article brings up. The “sinners” are the one’s footing the bills here. Patrons of such businesses are targeted, followed and cited whenever possible. Not all people that smoke, drink and/or have tattoos are bad people. You have no idea of the profiling that goes on here. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to live like a pig or next to a pig and some city ordinances are necessary. The licensing and laws for the “outsiders” are so incredibly unconstitutional. I do understand how this continues though. People that should vote don’t, they just sit around and complain about it. I am affected by the St. George government daily but don’t reside within the boundaries to vote in St. George. I do not mean to offend anyone but there are many facets to this gem of a Mayor you have. Whether you vote for or against him, please vote. The only way to make a difference is to exercise your rights. I am a law abiding resident, I live here for the same reasons many do and I’m not leaving. I have an excellent driving record, do not drive drunk etc but the few times I have been pulled over for minor traffic violations, the first question I am asked is “have you had anything to drink today?” My reply is always the same as I raise my bottle of water and say “why yes I have but not probably not enough”. I wonder if I was a member of the officers ward if he would ask me the same question? Have you been pulled over and asked that question? I will always take every opportunity to use all of my constitutional rights. I am a proud American and would like to be treated like one, not a second rate citizen. I would like to see the separation of church and state here…. fire away….

    • C September 15, 2013 at 1:31 pm

      I just moved to the area. I can’t speak to allegations about MacArthur. I will get myself up to speed over the next few months; some or all of them may be true or there may be cultural clashes that better explain the heartburn. I like small gov too and do not want any officials filling the books with regs, rules and laws. Law-abiding people don’t need their lives to be codified. Mormons aren’t perfect nor do they claim to be. I have an open mind and will come to my own conclusions. That said, your adhominem attack on the Church and insinuation that a police officer will treat someone differently if they are members of the same ward are unproven and speculation on your part. Secondly, you insinuate that Mormons believe people who drink, smoke or have tatoos are bad people. As a member of the Church, I have never heard that in almost 4 decades attending as an adult. What I have heard is that we are all children of God and he has granted us agency to choose for ourselves. Third, we live in a free country; you and I don’t have to ask anyone permission to live in Washington county or Missouri or Illinois. Nothing wrong with you stating that you aren’t leaving….no need to. Guess what, we’re not leaving either. There is no reason for Mormons to run away from this area that they colonized. Some of the community standards may be different than in other areas of the country. Some people move to southern Utah to escape the urban chaos of Los Angeles?, Chicago? New York? First thing they want to do is bring many aspects of the degradation that creates the urban chaos to southern Utah. I am not throwing all non-Mormons into this; but that is my observation. Fourth, most of my friends are non-Mormons as I spent my entire professional career outside of Utah and have never lived here even tho my family roots are in this area. Finally, I do believe the majority (mormons and non-mormons) want this area to remain low in crime, beautiful in nature, friendly, assessible and affordable. I have never had a problem getting along with neighbors who were non-Mormons and don’t see why there has to be this great heartburn. As I said, I am going to investigate all the issues behind the regs, and MacArthur. If he has been in 20 years, just as a matter of principle, I would say that is way too long. Cheers

  • Maggie September 14, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    OK I get it now, an attorney. They do like to stir up trouble and then offer to handle the “case.” LOL!
    Perhaps a little politics thrown in prior to an election. Money,money everywhere and how to get a drink.
    Washington DC tactics spreading to Washington County,Utah. I hope not folks. It just took me a few hours to wake up . Sorry.

  • truthseeker September 14, 2013 at 8:16 pm

    it’s not just happening here. It’s happening nationwide. State and local governments are grabbing power and control little bit at a time. The mayor in office is probably receiving orders to do that. Our political leaders have bosses too. They’re puppets. Ordinances and fines and fees and ths and that, is to generate revenue. Cities are ran like corporations. In fact, “City o St. George” is technically a corporation. It’s listed as one. 😉 look it up. I’m glad to hear about this Citizen group though. I hope they are also armed and can defend themselves against the tyranny. Tyranny does exist people. Start looking deeper and get out of your false perceived world view before it’s too late.

  • truthseeker September 14, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    it’s not just happening here. It’s happening nationwide. State and local governments are grabbing power and control little bit at a time. The mayor in office is probably receiving orders to do that. Our political leaders have bosses too. They’re puppets. Ordinances and fines and fees and ths and that, is to generate revenue. Cities are ran like corporations. In fact, “City o St. George” is technically a corporation. It’s listed as one. 😉 look it up. I’m glad to hear about this Citizen group though. I hope they are also armed and can defend themselves against the tyranny. Tyranny does exist people. Start looking deeper and get out of your false perceived world view before it’s too late.####################

  • truthseeker September 15, 2013 at 1:27 am

    Wow my message keeps getting unapproved. I guess I was exposing too much on this one.

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic September 15, 2013 at 6:37 am

      Not that I’m aware of, truthseeker; sometimes an editor has to take a few hours off. 🙂

      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

  • Trevor Sanders September 15, 2013 at 9:40 am

    This letter to the editor was not, and is not, intended to be an opinion piece, which has been made abundantly clear by St. George News. Specific instances of selective, unconstitutional, and abusive tactics do exist, and yet more will be identified when the city responds to the GRAMA request.

    As it is received and analyzed, new Information will be published at http://www.caits.org, and on the organization’s Facebook page: CAITS Institute.

    Finally, it should be noted that CAITS has no affiliations with any of Mayor McArthur’s political adversaries, and it may indeed be that Mr. Pike may carry out similar tactics if he is elected, (or any other candidate), in which case the focus would shift to him and other public officials who support the subversion of private property rights. I submit that Mayor McArthur and his lengthy term in office is only a symptom of a much greater problem: selective,unconstitutional enforcement of vague or overbroad city ordinances against those whom the city chooses to target. The ordinances themselves will be called into question, along with the flagrant constitutional violations committed while enforcing them.

  • Reality Check Time September 15, 2013 at 11:40 am

    Interesting that this inflammatory letter writer is a Hurricane City resident. In other words, he really has no say in WHO the people of St. George elect for mayor. But, since he is a lawyer, I’m betting that this letter was not written out of the “goodness of his heart,” or his “heartfelt concern for the poor people of St. George.”
    I wonder just how much he was paid by “the opposition” to write this letter.
    Now I don’t necessarily have any love lost for Mayor MacArthur. However, I believe he has done a “fairly good job” in his time as mayor of St. George. Sure there are problems. There are always problems. It is called “life.”
    But when I see just how low down and dirty the politics have become in this election, I believe it is truly both sad and frightening to think of “the opposition,” being elected. If “the opposition,” is willing to crawl in the sewer the way “the opposition” has been, before being elected as mayor, just think of the things “the opposition” will do if elected.

  • truthseeker September 15, 2013 at 4:57 pm

    Awesome. Good to knw that voice is heard and not suppressed. Popular opinion doesnt need protecting, it’s the unpopular opinion that the first amendment protects. In a time of universal deceit, truth telling is a revolutionary act. But usually only appreciated or recognized after the fact..We should be grateful to have the chance to speak “radically” and out of the mainstream….. Mrs. Kuzmanic, thank you for replying. Now do you know if people commenting have teir email addresses and identities collected that make unpopular comments opposing the govt?

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic September 16, 2013 at 8:03 am

      On that, dear truthseeker, I will leave it to others to opine. 🙂
      St. George News, however, does not do that.
      JK
      EIC

  • Ride the September 15, 2013 at 10:15 pm

    I love how people hide behind their perceived interpretation of the constitution to justify their lazy actions, just clean up your crappy yard and the “tyrants” will leave you alone. In the time you spent making the website you could have pulled your weeds, cut your grass, moved your RV. I am guessing you are a person that thinks any government regulation you might disagree with the “tyrants” are infringing on your rights. (Or maybe your just to lazy to pick up your crap). For the record I don’t think McArthur has made the best decisions, but making you clean up your $#]+ is a good thing.

  • DoubleTap September 16, 2013 at 8:47 am

    It is time for McArthur to go. There are many reasons that McArthur should be replaced. But I will list a few that people should be thankful to McArthur for getting these things done:

    A) The airport with destinations to only Denver and SLC.
    B) The $300 thousand Carousel, that works off and on.
    C) The purchase of a historic downtown theater for a little under 1 million TAX dollars.
    D) The city animal shelter.
    E) The scar on the Black Ridge.

    These are but a few of the “great things McArthur has accomplished during his tenure as Mayor. I am certain that there are more, but you get the idea. But his #1 biggest fault is his arrogant demeanor that he projects to all he comes in contact with. His supreme arrogance is evident as he goes about his Mayoral duties (mostly ceremonial) with the public. He rules City Hall with an iron fist and things always need to be done his way. It is time for McArthur to get replaced.

    • Respectfully Disagree November 2, 2013 at 3:08 pm

      I have personally seen this Mayor in action for several years. Anyone who knows him, knows that the last thing he does is rule with an iron fist. That is not his nature. Your slander is unbelievable.

      I personally have still not chosen who I am going to vote for. I am for term limits but slander that has accompanied this campaign is unbelievable. I have begun to wonder what part of this is driven by Pike and his supporters.

      This enforcement could be a real issue but it would be great if one of the “media groups” actual did some investigative reporting and found out how our ordinance compares to the other cities in Utah. Then we would know if this a local issue that Dan’s legal people failed him and us on. Then we would really know if Dan ought to be held accountable since he is responsible for the legal team. (sucks when your guys really screw up.) If numerous other cities have identical practices and codes, then this is broader issue that really isn’t Dan’s fault but is still something he needs to address. Still thought, we can expect that it is reasonable that a city maintain a clean community enforcing that slobs don’t cause deprivation of our community.

      City ordinances are created through recommendations of the legal staff after concerns have been raised by the elected officials or others. It’s the legal department to compare and provide recommendations based on a review of many other community’s best practices.

      On another note, the absolute political trash in this campaign has caused me to rethink supporting Pike who I was originally for. The email sent out regarding soccer was ridiculous. I believe that soccer fields is a valuable attribute to our community but the Mayor has got it right by only providing enough fields to meet local needs after the school system has been relied upon. It appears that Pike is offering public money to build private facilities to a private organization in exchange for their member’s vote. Sounds like Washington D.C. has invaded St. George.

  • Trevor Sanders September 16, 2013 at 8:53 am

    Since the anonymous commenter known as “Reality Check Time” obviously lacks the courage to provide an actual name and stand by his or her foolish opinions, I hesitate to dignify anything he or she says with a response.

    However, for the record, and in the interest of full disclosure for anyone interested, I have not charged nor been paid anything to write the letter to the editor, participate in the parade event on Saturday, or do anything else relating to CAITS. Neither has any other member of CAITS. In fact, money has been paid out of personal funds for the parade event and the website.

    As to me personally, I have put in longer hours and spent time away from my own family in an effort to help get CAITS off the ground. So have others. All without being paid by anyone. Disingenuous assumptions about me being compensated for my work, or any other incorrect implication about my involvement with CAITS, is emphatically false.

    • Respectfully Disagree November 2, 2013 at 3:10 pm

      So our we to understand that at no time in the future you or your family will ever receive any economic compensation of any form?

  • Unhappy With the City September 16, 2013 at 9:17 am

    Oh the ignorance of the people! I am astounded at some of your comments! How little you know. I have lived in this town for 3 short years, and will share my story.

    We purchased our home(from a bank), and within less than a week of ownership, received our first notice. We were not even living in the property yet in our efforts to prepare it so that we could actually move in. Basically the notice was…”drop what you’re doing inside, and CLEAN UP THAT BACKYARD ‘ (Yes BACKYARD, not even front yard – they were trespassing on my property to come into my backyard to take pictures), or we’re going to fine you. You have a week to come into compliance” Because we were not yet living in the property, we were not checking the mail daily yet either. We received this notice 2 days before the threat was to go into place…to the tune of $25 a day. Nevermind the bank that owned it for the year prior. So, we did just that, delayed moving into our home by another several days to clean up the yard. It WAS horrendous. I agree, but it didn’t get that way overnight, and we were expected to fix it overnight.

    The next notice came after weeks of rain, which caused the weeds to again get out of control, no sooner was it drying out enough that we could actually do something about it, lo and behold, another notice comes in the mail. Clean up your backyard or we’ll fine you.

    That winter, we wrecked a car. It was still driveable, but not to the point that it would pass inspection. Once the registration expired, we weren’t sure what we were going to do with it yet, so we parked it in our backyard, behind our garage. Not even visible, and sure enough, a week later, the notice came. We had no choice of what to do with the car. We had to sell it or be fined.

    My last example was when we purchased another home as an investment property. It had been an eyesore in Dixie Downs for 2+ years. Again, bank owned. We COMPLETELY fixed it up and turned it into a beautiful home. We re-did the front yard, re-did the exterior of the home, and all flooring, new paint, etc. It was a night and day comparison. 2 weeks before we were scheduled to close on the sale, we receive a notice that it is non-compliant because the garage had been converted (several years prior) into a room. The law is that you are required to provide 2 off street parking spaces, and one of them has to be covered. Due to this properties particular location, there was not a place that we were “allowed” to put up a carport. We were being told we had to convert the garage back into a garage. Ludacris. Eventually we were approved to put up a carport right over the front door, so took a beautiful new home, and had to throw up a trailor trash awning so that we were “compliant”. Again, why was this not made the bank’s problem?!

    Nevermind my neighbor who has TWENTY CATS, doesn’t maintain her yard, and receives no notices. They pick and choose who they want to scrutinize. Either enforce the law for ALL, or get rid of it. I will never purchase another home in ST. George city again. The politics here are RIDICULOUS!

  • Sherry September 16, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Wow, where is Mr. Cottam or any of the other City Enforcement??? They need to come to my neighborhood asap… I call it the “Ghetto of St. George”.. Please come and cite the people of this area that yards look like fire hazards, junk yards, and trash dumps. Funny, I have lived here for years and not one time has anyone been cited or cleaned up the messes. Where do these paid City people hang out??

  • truthseeker September 16, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    To the people that want the govt to over step their authority and come into your homes and cite people; understand that next they’re going to be digging through your garbage, telling you what kind of lightbulb you can buy, telling you thst you can’t catch rain water on your property, telling you you can’t have a garden, or have food freedom with chicken eggs, and can turn off your electricity with a smart meter.. oh wit they already do that haha ;)…… And to the person saying its life that there are poblems, I agree with allowing problems to exist and can’t fix it all, but I dnt agree with govt tyranny. They are suppose to serve us, not control us. But of course the same system isnt going to teach us in school what the proper role of govt is… Wake up.

  • Kris October 6, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    REALLY, Malcom and Jeff are the bullied like fear squad, don’t make me laugh. I have had nothing but good with them.

    I don’t have a problem calling up the Mayor and asking him what the heck, that is what he is there for.

    I don’t mince words and I also get verification from them or go to someone who can give the answer.

    I do agree Unhappy with the City. they need to enforce all and not pick and choose.

    We have had only a couple run in’s with the city and I spoke my peace, in one case I called the Mayor and said “REALLY”, after talking to him, the person who complained was a long time friend of his and the complaint was out of hand. The full facts weren’t given when they complained.

    I am sorry, I have known many of them for years and they know I am not born and raised in ST. George, I have no family here, but there are no insults, facts are given and everyone says their peace. Life goes on.

    I don’t believe in this dancing around, the law is the law. It was made, we have to live with it and we should obey it all, not just pick and choose the laws we want to obey. If people choose not to obey them, then they have to live with their choices.

    I find the City very friendly to work with and if there are any questions on the ordinances they are more than willing to answer them. So it is sad to hear that so much is going on within those department

    I am sorry that so many people are having issues with the City.

    Sherry we only have two enforcement officers now, I haven’t heard that they hired another officer. If you live on the west side of town it is Jeff Cottam and if you live on the east side of town it is Malcom Turner. My best advice is call and complain and follow up and follow up. It may seem like a pain, but there is no reason you have to live like that or put up with it.

    I always tell my mother you complain about the person and want to get rid of them, but you never know the person who replaces them could be worse. You have to watch what you ask for.

    I know Mayor McArthur and every dealing both professional or outside of work he is the same person. He has a big heart and his concerns are genuine.

    The City is changing and they are dealing with many things that these town have never had to deal with. We moved here many years ago and there are some days I wonder why we stay, I am very concerned for the young children, as with the drugs and pedophiles, it is getting scary. With those situations, I would rather have over protection, then less from our government.

    I respect everyone’s opinion and it has really made me think also.

  • Romoex September 15, 2016 at 10:39 am

    I respect all the comments made but the point is being masked by all the debate. The real situation is that residents are having their institutional rights violated and muscled into paying fines. This is illegal. If any resident broke the law he would be arrested. It’s a simple clear issue. Warrantless searches are not constitutional. When the City pays the mortgage then consent is not needed. The residents are the taxpayers and and victims here. Try fighting city hall if you are elderly a member of a disadvantaged group or not related to the city officials and see how far you get. This is a blatant violation of civil rights. If any of you think that is correct than you should go live in another country because that is the law here. No citizen should be promoting unconstitutional behavior under any circumstances. Do you think code enforcement do this to gated affluent communities ? Of course not. The do this to the guy who cant afford to maintain his property and is disabled or elderly and can’t do repairs themselves while living on social security benefits. Affording lawyers to be represented at a hearing for the likely population to be code violators is virtually non existent. Lawyers themselves do not see enough compensation to assist defendants on these type of cases when they are able to do much more lucrative things for commercial and Institutional clients who have repeat opportunities for law firms. The lack of glamour in assisting the victims of this situation will only be available to the one lawyer that is smart enough to think of filing a class action suit . The revenue generated by reversal of all the cases proven to be a result of warrantless searches is enough for that main event. The issue at hand is unconstitutional illegal searches have occurred and used as justification to make people pay fines. The code violations are still violations . This argument is not about that. Give the residents due process fair treatment and the ability to be part of the proceedings with their consent and then it would be legal. Skipping the step to get consent or a warrant is clearly illegal. Why do people cloud the issue? Please provide updated comments that stay on point so that this forum can feature the issue at hand. Thank You.

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