Union: Health and safety at risk if county lays off 1/3 of building inspectors

UPDATE:
The health and safety of communities will be at risk if Contra Costa County lays off up to one-third of its building and grading inspectors by the end of the months, said officials representing the public workers Monday at a news conference Monday.

This information was disclosed in front of a blighted house with boarded-up windows, graffiti and tall weeds – an example of what is happening
in neighborhoods without inspectors, according to Rollie Katz, of the Public Employees Union Local 1.

Katz said his workers will speak to the Board of Supervisors Tueday, at 9:30 a.m. at the Contra Costa County Administration Building, 651 Pine St.,
Martinez. Katz will hold a news briefing at 9 a.m. at the Supervisors meeting.

See the blighted property at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63133121@N03/?saved=1. It’s one of many examples properties that pose a real health and safety risk to the community when Contra Costa County lays off one-third of the county’s building and grading inspectors May 31 – even though money is in the budget for them, said Katz.

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A major news conference Monday morning in San Pablo will disclose evidence the public’s health and safety is being put at risk – beginning May 31 – in Contra Costa County when 16 Contra Costa County Building and Grading Inspectors will be laid off. The news conference property is blighted, and an example of what is to come.

It’s one of many examples properties that pose a real health and safety risk to the community when Contra Costa County lays off one-third of the county’s building and grading inspectors May 31 – even though money is in the budget for them, according to Rollie Katz, of the Public Employees Union Local 1.

The County has already reduced the number of inspectors by about 25 percent over the last three months through attrition and retirements.

“We are concerned about the public’s safety. Blighted, illegally modified and out of compliance properties will go months without being inspected,” Katz said, noting that the daily case load for building inspections will nearly double the national average, and increase to 70 (from 30) for code enforcement inspections.

Katz, who will provide additional details Monday, added that County has the money budgeted to employ the needed inspectors. The County has budgeted $500,000 for new furniture for the department that employs the inspectors even though it admits it does not need the furniture. The County has refused to apply those funds to preserve these critical jobs.

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