In an effort to tackle the long-standing problem of blighted properties in San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan recently unveiled plans to crack down on property owners who have allowed their buildings to fall into disrepair, negatively affecting local businesses and surrounding neighborhoods, according to CBS News.
"This is really about accountability," said Mayor Mahan, who noted that the city's building and code enforcement department has aggressively staffed up, filling open positions, and allowing for better enforcement of property standards. The mayor also reported plans to hire an additional five inspectors, bringing the total to 41 inspectors citywide, enabling the city to proactively fight against blighted properties that have plagued the area for years.
With the support of Councilmember Omar Torres and local community leaders, San Jose will launch the Focus Area Service Team (FAST) pilot program in August, as NBC Bay Area reported. The program will take a more proactive approach to tackling eyesores such as vacant, damaged buildings, and illegally dumped junk, rather than waiting for community complaints. FAST will prioritize problem areas, including parts of downtown San Jose, and work directly with property owners to resolve issues, thus changing the previous complaint-driven system.
The pilot program will span six months, with a two-member team conducting blight inspections and enforcement in downtown and other areas, as reported by San Jose Spotlight. The FAST program will work closely with private property owners to clean up vacant storefronts and ensure compliance with city code, which has been updated to include stronger enforcement remedies and improved definitions related to blighted conditions.
Property owners who fail to address blight issues could face citations ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the severity and frequency of the violation. Mayor Mahan has noted that the city may explore increasing those fines, but it is not the current focus.
For many local business owners, like Chris Patterson-Simmons, owner of the Neu2U Thrift Boutique near City Hall, the problem of blighted properties has persisted for years. Patterson-Simmons expressed gratitude for the help from the city, recognizing that blighted buildings negatively affect the entire neighborhood and can scare away potential customers, as CBS News highlighted.
This new pilot program is a complete turnaround from previous approaches that were largely driven by complaints from neighboring businesses, which often led to slow enforcement and an inadequate response to blight issues. Mayor Mahan has acknowledged the importance of holding property owners accountable while also making sure the city takes a proactive role in addressing blight, providing necessary resources and ensuring systems like the 311 app work effectively to report and track cleanup efforts.
With the new FAST program, city officials and community members are hoping to see significant improvements in the overall cleanliness and appearance of San Jose's commercial districts and neighborhoods. Alan "Gumby" Marques, president of the San Jose Downtown Association, emphasized the potential benefits of the pilot program, stating, "It is making sure that we go from pride to vibrancy, vibrancy to growth... Growth to basically the rising tide that lifts all boats for small businesses and residents and everybody here," as San Jose Spotlight mentioned. As Mayor Mahan and the city officials work to implement this program, many San Jose citizens look forward to the positive impact it will bring to the community.
