MIAMI-GARDENS – A group claims that Miami Gardens city employees are harassing homeowners over gravel and grass patches in the city’s Rainbow Park neighborhood.
The problem lies in the ditches at the side of the road. Law enforcement officers are demanding better maintenance and repairs. Anyone who refuses to comply will face fines. However, dozens of people are fighting back with a petition with more than 160 signatures.
“(Building code enforcement) is terrorizing the neighborhood,” said Jack Cunningham, a homeowner.
Allie Thrower, 87, bought her home 60 years ago. Since then, she has never felt pressure from building inspectors who pressure Rainbow Park homeowners – until now.
“You have to do this, that and the other, otherwise you will get a fine,” she said.
City employees are handing out letters demanding that residents remove gravel from ditches, plant or maintain grass, pour concrete or something else, the homeowner said. Code enforcement officers are also asking residents to pay for pressure washing of sidewalks, the homeowners said.
CBS News Miami has sent repeated messages to city officials since last Wednesday, but no one has responded.
The Wallace family has committed two violations in the last few months. The fines total $500. One of these has been revoked from the family. The other is pending. They purchased and installed several hundred dollars worth of turf.
However, they continue to receive letters threatening further fines. The family fears that their property could be seized if they do not pay the fines.
“For us, it’s like we didn’t buy (the skips),” Christine Wallace said. “I don’t have to take care of it, but they tell us yes, we have to do it and yes, we have to maintain it.”
Wallace is collecting signatures on a petition demanding that city leaders hold someone accountable for the threats and put an end to what she calls harassment.
Larry Seward
