The True Value of Code Enforcement in a Community
 The time for municipalities to recognize code enforcement as the driver of change in a community is upon us; but the question is, do towns, cities and counties truly value code enforcement? Devastated neighborhoods and a suffering economy, plagued by unemployment, foreclosures, absentee landlords, and community blight provides the stage for this underutilized, under recognized "discipline" to emerge as a community's last line of defense. Code enforcement services in large and small municipalities throughout the country is beginning to emerge as a public service equivalent in importance to that of Police, Fire and EMS; and in many of these communities, this function has been consolidated into the public safety arm of local government service.
Gone are the days when code enforcement was performed by retired police officers with spare time, community activists with personal vendettas or the Mayor's underachieving son or nephew. Today's code enforcement officers and inspectors are members of state and national professional organizations, and are certified, experienced professionals. Continue reading story |
