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Residents use program to oust partying neighbors
By: SARAH WILKINS - Staff Writer | ∞
Residents used a program called Safe Streets Now to oust a resident living at 2725 Alexander Drive who they said hosted loud parties, contributed to crime in the neighborhood and caused a number of other problems. The residents were notified by the program of the neighbors' concerns and have since moved out. The house is still vacant.
WALDO NILO Staff Photographer
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ESCONDIDO ---- More than a year after a pair of noisy, incessant partiers moved onto Alexander Drive, residents in the unincorporated Escondido neighborhood say the din has finally faded.
The neighbors ---- about two dozen in all ---- recently used a program known as Safe Streets Now to oust the residents, whom they said blasted music past 3 a.m. and hosted parties that led to violent fights, speeding cars and suspected drug use.
One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said it was so bad that she wouldn't let her children in the backyard because of the "loud, booming music, parties, beer bottles (and) foul language."
B.J. Williams, a sheriff's crime prevention specialist who helped the residents implement the program, said that deputies were called to the house 48 times between April and November last year, when problems peaked. Most of the calls were for disturbances and loud parties, though burglaries, stolen vehicles and illegal dumping were also reported, as well as a violent fight that led a sheriff's helicopter to search several hours for the bloodied victim.
Deputies also made three arrests at the home, Williams said.
"It really was a problem house," she said.
As part of the program, residents kept daily logs of problems and concerns about the house. Then, the county Safe Streets director sent a letter detailing the neighbors' complaints to the resident ---- identified in the notice as Zoltan Jaszberenyi ---- giving him 30 days to respond or face the possibility of a civil lawsuit.
Jaszberenyi could not be reached for comment.
Leo Wilson, director of the San Diego Safe Streets program, said the Alexander Drive home follows an emerging pattern in which problem houses arise in generally quiet, affluent neighborhoods not used to loud residents and ruckus.
"People now have zero tolerance, they're not used to this type of activity," he said of those residents. "Now, half (of the cases) are in affluent neighborhoods ... this really was unexpected."
Williams agreed, saying that the cases she handles in unincorporated areas around San Marcos, Escondido and Valley Center "are in neighborhoods you wouldn't expect."
She is also working on three other cases in those areas, she said.
The Safe Streets Now program was founded by Oakland residents in 1989 to help them combat drug houses and public nuisances, including drug dealing, gang activities, prostitution, illegal sales of alcoholic beverages, excessive noise and blight.
Used now by the county Sheriff's Department and San Diego, Carlsbad and Escondido police departments, it is a last-resort program that helps residents resolve problems through civil litigation after police ---- who serve as liaisons ---- have taken all the action that they can.
This case, Wilson and residents said, never made it to court.
After the letter was served in September, the home quieted down until April, when deputies again began receiving calls, Williams said.
The residents then moved, for unknown reasons, on the week of May 14, neighbors said.
"(Problems) ended when they moved," Wilson said. "It's hard to say exactly what happened.
"It appeared to be a foreclosure, it was one of those things where they say they're going to sell to move somewhere else where they can have parties, and then they walked away pretty suddenly."
Contact staff writer Sarah Wilkins at (760) 761-4414 or swilkins@nctimes.com.
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Nice! wrote on Jun 23, 2007 12:03 AM:Good job guys. It sucks to be forced to take this kind of action, but the end result is worth it. Clean it up!
too bad wrote on Jun 23, 2007 6:30 AM:I live by this house and it was very nice before these people bought it. There were at least 8 to 9 cars in the driveway, and looked like a bunch of college kids. They destroyed this house completely. At least they are gone now. Good job to the neighbors that made this happen.
Wait a second? wrote on Jun 23, 2007 7:21 AM:What's the program? And where do we find more info on it? Why isn't the Police Dept announcing this? Fourthly why do we need a formal PROGRAM when the Police were already called to the house 48 times in a 6 month time period? Is that not enough that we need to form a PROGRAM?! I'm really confused on this article. The Program itself could have been better explained - once again NCT isn't reporting. They're just reacting.
E-Town wrote on Jun 23, 2007 7:30 AM:Sounds to me a foreclosure forced them to move out not the neighborhood group, don't take credit for something the bank did, just be thankful they are gone, now go about your business and live on and wish the next neighborhood luck......
To wait a second wrote on Jun 23, 2007 8:55 AM:1st the police always tell residents about the program but few do it because it requires work. most want to be able to pick up a phone and have someone solve their problems. second it doesn't matter how many times police go to a residence they can only do something if there is evidence of a crime. doesn't mean crimes aren't occuring and they are hiding in the house but residents have protections against serch and sezuries, so there is only so much police can do...However neighbors can each sue in civil court for the quality of life issues, ref the noise, blight, etc... it's a good tool to get rid of problem neighbors...the police can just arrest them and the courts will release them with a slap on the wrist but if you sue them and hit them in the pocket book...they want to leave!!
It's everywhere wrote on Jun 23, 2007 10:38 AM:Used to be you KNEW your neighbors and could just ask them to quiet down after a reasonable time of loud music, etc. Now, you're afraid you'll be shot or fear retaliation if you complain. Houses are built on top of each other, children play and scream, dogs poop on your lawn, but the really scary stuff creeps in too. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Such a shame that many neighborhoods have no camaraderie.
To Mr Wait- wrote on Jun 23, 2007 10:49 AM:The noise makers should be sited and fined by the police for causing a public disturbance or nuisance. It is an unlawful activity and in the code books- revised statutes. Look it up. We had one such an incident in our area. The police were called and did little to enforce the codes or check up on what looked like drug sales. Instead I got sass from the dispatchers-asking what were they selling and how did I know they were selling drugs!! So a call to a big federal agency finally resolved the drug problem. They stepped in and made the arrests. So if the podunk PD with limited manpower, training, or motivation won't do what they are paid to do-there are bigger agencies to call. But keep records-document to make your case.
Problem in Vista wrote on Jun 25, 2007 4:30 PM:I was clearly told by Dispatch that Vista Sherriff "does NOT repsond to disurbance complaints!" Now then, as this article does mention, I live in a neighborhood where every home is $1M and up. I never expected that the barrio would follow me from east Vista (near Vista High School) way out to Rural Vista. Then to have the Sherriffs that we pay good money for tell us to go away, even after having put up with 6 hours of "Cop-Killer" Rap, loud foul language, broken bottles, and obvious fist fights! Finally, around 2am an officer showed up and the noise ended. But, it took over 10 calls to dispatch, and we were told by the last dispatchere that she could find no record of our previous calls!!! I have records of them, and I know they have tapes. So the earlier Dispatcher may want to think about her duty to the force and the public, as she may be looking for a new job real soon!
Quit being so cheap wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:42 AM:There are two patrol deputies on each shift for the entire unincorporated north county area. Think about that. Two guys for Fallbrook, Ramona, Julian, everyplace in-between, and all of those little nooks and crannies around Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido. Why? Because you all are too cheap to pay for more. And because you do not get involved. You all want someone else to do it for you. Well you get what you pay for and what you work for and that, my friends, isn't much around here. ... For those who want to know how to deal with similar problems in your neighborhoods, contact BJ Williams at the San Marcos sheriff's office. She will help you if you are willing to help yourself.
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