A modern Fred Sanford

Here's an article about the status of a court ordered cleanup of a Norco property. http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_corson05.3c328ae.html

Interestingly, the article says that the property in its cleaned up condition will be worth $2,000,000 while it was unsellable prior to clean up. The court ordered clean up is costing $462,000 which will be offset against the amount gained from recycling. Currently, recycling has netted $75,000 which doesn't come anywhere near the cleanup costs.

Also interesting are the skunks, rats and snakes making a home among the junk.

Now for the legal issues. Obviously, nobody wants to live next to Fred Sanford. I also understand the downward effect on market values of such junk heaps. Still, I'm concerned with giving city attorneys sole discretion to prosecute these claims. I've seen abusive prosecution of claims. A disgruntled neighbor complains and the offending neighbor finds himself on the wrong side of a city prosecution, while a far worse house around the block goes unaddressed. Further, where does the government stop? Sure these guys were way out of control, but what about the neighbor with an inoperable rusting hulk of a 55 Chevy Bel Aire in his driveway? I suppose we have to let the jury decide, but I'm sure concerned with our ever shrinking liberty.