In Atwater Village, people have been receiving “courtesy notices” from something called the Pro-Active Code Enforcement division of the Department of Building & Safety
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She wondered if the notice was some kind of scam. Others wondered if it were a plot to further gentrify the neighborhood, or if a handyman was trying to line up some work.
The answer is no.
This is for real.
Your tax dollars at work.
I called the inspector whose name was on one of the courtesy notices and pointed out that people use redwood because you don’t have to paint it. Redwood lasts a long time, has beautiful coloring and grain lines, and maintains its character as it ages.
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“There’s a city ordinance that says you can’t have unpainted wood,” the inspector told me.
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If unpainted wood is a crime, why not go to Hancock Park or Pacific Palisades and drop some “courtesy notices” in mailboxes?
Because, said Zamperini, the program targets only low-income areas.
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
"In L.A.'s misguided war on blight, an unpainted fence could cost you $660"
LAT: