Who's Online
We have 687 guests online
Watchdogs keep close eye on vacant homes
While the number of foreclosed homes keeps rising, Hollywood is doing what it can to keep crime down, and homeowners in their homes, say city officials and civic activists.
“We not aware of any increase of crime due to vacant homes, but we’ve had a few calls about homes that are vacant and targeted by people trying to remove central AC units,” said Hollywood Police Department Public Information Officer Manny Marino.
Vandals raid vacant homes for metals such as copper that may be in air conditioners. These metals can then be sold for scrap, Marino said.
Additionally, said Marino, if a home is vacant, there’s nobody at home to call the police, which doesn’t help to prevent crime.
“[Vacancy] doesn’t aid our cause at all. It creates pockets where people can hide. They look at lighting and see landscaping overgrown—that prevents a clear view to see if someone is breaking in, especially if several homes on the street are vacant, “Marino said.
However, Hollywood Police are doing what they can to enlist citizen help. Mobile Patrol is one example of a citizen watchdog group.
Citizens go out in police vehicles, usually a white Crown Victoria that has amber lights like other police vehicles. The cars are labeled, “Crime Watch Mobile Patrol” and are manned by two citizens at a time. Most of these citizens have completed the voluntary Citizens Academy, said Marino.
These citizen officer assistants are given cell phones by the police department.
“They’ve been phenomenal. Traditionally they patrol in their own neighborhood, but I’ve seen these guys everywhere, shopping plazas, streets… We ask them to call police dispatch if they see something suspicious. Sometimes we ask, ‘Could you swing by’ and they usually do,” said Marino.
Additionally, the city of Hollywood has twelve Crime Watch Neighborhood Advisory Board Coordinators.
These volunteers are appointed by the city commission. The coordinators are not required to participate in mobile patrols, but Marino said at least half of them do.
Currently, one vacancy exists for the North Beach Area that borders Atlantic Ocean on the east to Intra-Coastal Waterway on the west, and north of Johnson to northern city limits.
“Citizens Academy is a voluntary program that educates citizens on how things get done in the police department,” added Marino.
He said Citizens Academy recently added a section on liability so that the entire pool of graduates would be eligible for mobile patrol.
But despite police programs, Marino asked citizens to remain vigilant in their neighborhoods.
“In the spirit of Crime Watch, if people have a lot of foreclosed or vacant homes, pay attention. It may just be kids playing, or homeless people showing up, but if you see any suspicious activity, and if you’re not comfortable calling 911, call police non-emergency at 954 967-HELP (4357),” said Marino.
The issue of foreclosure-related crime first entered the arena when City commissioner Richard Blattner raised the concern in November, 2007 at a city commission meeting.
Blattner said the issue was a pet project of his because of his experience in re-development prior to becoming a commissioner.
At the meeting, Blattner expressed concern then that unoccupied and abandoned homes might lead to an increase in crime.
He then requested both the offices of Code Enforcement and the Department of Housing and Community Redevelopment evaluate the situations and institute crime reducing measures.
He also asked residents to keep watchful eyes.
“In this year’s budget, we asked for a quarter of a million dollars into order to remediate these properties. We reallocated money in Community redevelopment from and directed them to take money they might have spent for rehabilitation and spend it for this,” said Blattner in a recent telephone interview.
Blattner explained that Block Grant Community Redevelopment receives funds from the state and are required to spend that money in specific ways to help moderate income families.
But the community has been very proactive, he said.
Combating the effects of mass foreclosures, county and state conducted workshops throughout Broward County, one of which was held in Hallandale.
Other homeowner associations have also conducted several foreclosure prevention workshops and are continuing to do so, he said.
“These homes that are foreclosed are going to be trashed, so these homes while someone may purchase them inexpensively they have to put money into them. We have to make sure issues are addressed,” said Blattner.
However, he takes comfort in the amount of effort that is being put out to help Hollywood home owners.
“I’m pretty comfortable with what the city is doing by combining police resources, code enforcement, and housing and community redevelopment, and cooperating to minimize the impact of foreclosed properties on the neighborhood. We’re working with the neighbors and would like their support, and we’re very sensitive that this is going to cause a lot of pain and heartache,” said Blattner.
However, while the future for foreclosures looks bleak until Federal money finds its way into those who can re-invest; civic associations are doing their best to keep homeowners informed about options and their rights.
Interim Director for the city’s Department of Housing & Community Redevelopment Jeannette Smith said she is able to identify where most home foreclosures are in Hollywood, but no one seems to be tracking crime in relation to the vacant properties.
“Many of the foreclosures are located in: District 2; Pembroke Pines north to Stirling Rd. and I-95 west to Federal Highway, and District 5; Hollywood Blvd. north to Stirling Rd. and Turnpike west to about 72nd Street,” Smith said in an email to the Gazette.
President of Parkside Civic Association Ken Crawford said that while Parkside does have many foreclosures, they have not seen an increase in crime that is clearly attributed to vacant homes.
“Yes there might be a vagrant here or there but nothing out of the normal day to day occurrence,” he said.
However, he said the civic group works closely with Neighborhood Team Leaders Officer John Herl and Hollywood Police Department Chief Chad Wagner to keep the neighborhood safe.
“Many members including myself monitor the neighborhood and report any activity we feel is questionable and the communication between the police and us is stronger than ever. We also have a great presence by routine patrols in and around Parkside and this too is a big help in deterring crime,” said Crawford.
Additionally, he said, because their streets can be dark, the association has plans to dispense door hangers to remind property owners to turn porch lights on. Crawford said he personally drives around the area as well and calls Florida Power & Light asking for replacements if any street pole lights are out.
“Light up Parkside” is our motto. Any little help can make a big difference,” Crawford said, adding, “I have to say I have an awesome group of people who really look out for the neighborhood and each other. That is what makes a neighborhood!!”
Parkside Civic Association also has ‘Block Watch’ in which neighbors watch out for each other and unusual incidents, said Crawford.
Washington Park Homeowners Association, Inc. President and Founder/President Community Enhancement Collaboration, Inc. Nadine McCrea said she doesn’t believe foreclosures have affected her area in terms of increasing crime. But the economy has affected those in her district.
“There are families losing jobs, their homes and each other. It is important to me to try my best to help any families who step forward to look at various options. I don’t want to see any of my neighbors move, unless they want to move. I have been successful helping keep several families in their home by the way of finding funds or loan modification agreements,” McCrea said.
Mel Pollak, who is both President of both Hollywood Hills Civic Association and Council of Civic Associations, said he is aware of some people breaking in and camping out, but he doesn’t know how prevalent it is. He does however, have faith in city agencies helping to reduce crime.
“Code enforcement and resource officers are very aware of the homes that are foreclosed and predominantly in neighborhoods that would include Royal Poinciana, Parkside, and some in West Hollywood. Code Enforcement and neighborhood resource officers arrange for board ups, chlorine dumps from pools, trash removal and, grass cutting.
They also talk to the neighbors, and say if there is any activity, let us know,” said Pollak.
However, Pollak is more focused on helping Hollywood homeowners stay in their homes and protect their credit.
The Council of Civic Associations that consists of 17 city association representatives is holding a series of workshops to inform homeowners, lawyers and real estate brokers on how to prevent against foreclosure and eviction.
Three workshops already held on Hollywood Beach, the Lippman Center and a third location were very well attended. Two more workshops are planned for late January.
“We bring in speakers, bankers, brokers, mortgage brokers, and they say to the participants -- if you are on the verge of foreclosure, here’s what you should be doing…,” Pollak said.
According to Pollak, the workshop idea emerged around six months ago when the association voted to pursue the foreclosure situation in Hollywood.
“Hollywood has the third largest foreclosure rate in Broward. The Housing Department doesn’t have that much staff to handle thousands of people in distress. I met with the Housing Department and found that what we needed from the city was their help and the use of their buildings for the seminars,” said Pollak.
Pollak said he then found and screened six different reputable companies who screen have non-profit organizations, and that could help people who can’t afford to pursue help themselves stave off foreclosure and eviction.
AARP is one sponsor of the workshops.
Pollak said Broward County Dept of Housing has also set up funding for people who cannot afford it, and for those residents lost their jobs and are behind in payments but not so much that it’s too late to help.
Topics addressed in workshops include: modification of mortgages, successful short sales, identifying truth in lending violations where lender might actually owe money, truth about the Federal bailout, refinancing if someone is upside down on loan and house value, and strategies to avoid foreclosure, said Pollak.
During the workshops, said Pollak, attendees view a PowerPoint presentation.
“Someone goes through the steps and holds a question and answer session. We have desks all around the room and professionals who will council them for one hour, and will meet again in a private arranged session. The attendee then may wind up paying if capable of paying but less than they would ordinarily,” said Pollak.
Also on hand are three or four corporations who have specially trained real estate people who are forensic accountants, and forensic lawyers, said Pollak.
These accountants and attorneys are particularly helpful, he said, because 50% of all these [bad] loans which were written violate Truth in Lending laws.
“Many of mortgages were written with improper paperwork, and many of those paperworks were repackaged and lost. These people make heads or tails of it,” he said.them all over. Sometimes we ask, ‘Could you swing by’ and they usually do,” said Marino.
Share your comments on Facebook
...