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Politics & Government

New City Law Combats Neglect of Foreclosed Properties

Fountain Valley orders lenders to register and maintain foreclosures against squatters and criminals.

The Fountain Valley City Council unanimously adopted an Tuesday night requiring lenders to register and maintain any foreclosed properties in the city.

“There are 200 properties in foreclosure per month,” said Brent Hoff, the staff representative of the city’s Housing and Community Development Advisory Board. “It takes a year for a foreclosure to complete."

The necessity behind the ordinance is to ensure public safety. According to Hoff, squatters and criminals can take over vacant buildings. One event Hoff referenced was a house the city had bought in which the previous owners had taken “the air conditioning, all of the appliances, and they even took the kitchen sink." Unattended pools pose another potential problem because they can attract mosquitoes and create a drowning hazard

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 “We never hear about it until it gets really bad,” Hoff replied when asked if neighbors around foreclosed homes tell the city about said homes. “It doesn’t happen overnight."

During unscheduled matters, where members of the public can address the City Council about issues not on the meeting agenda, the issue of Dr. Anthony Nobles’s was brought before the city council.

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“It’s very easy for people to write a letter to complain,” Nobles said.  “But it’s very rare for people to tell you in person how happy they are."

The room was filled with supporters of the Halloween event.

“There is tremendous support from the community,” Nobles continued. “There is an expression of community that I haven’t seen in such a long time”.

“The staff has taken a look at how things went,” said Mayor Steve Nagel, who also attended the event on Halloween night. “We should have more information about it next week”.

“My wife and I do this for the children,” Nobles said. “I made it clear to the city council that I want to work with them to make this a community experience."

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