What are the key issues plaguing the City of Costa Mesa currently?
First, the plummeting housing market and the resulting uncertainty in the mortgage/lending community each have had a very definite impact on residential neighborhoods. Costa Mesa has not experienced the high numbers of foreclosures evidenced in the Inland Empire and some areas of Orange County. But each of the plus-400 foreclosures the City has experienced generally results in an impact on a neighborhood. Properties left abandoned or where the lender is unable to secure the property and properly maintain it quickly becomes blighted. These conditions invite vandalism and other criminal activity. Homeowners who have already seen their property values drop substantially understandably become extremely alarmed when the ‘Foreclosed’ sign appears on their block. As a consequence, the City has seen a very sizable increase in code enforcement complaints pertaining to property maintenance along with an increase in calls for service to our police department. In addition to the more obvious impac
