Mayor Menino to Declare House on Blue Hill Ave as the First Target of Problem Property Task Force

WHAT: 

Boston, MA – July 5, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Menino will declare a longstanding problem property and known site of drug use and prostitution as the first target of his Problem Properties Task Force.

The house at 102 Blue Hill Ave is the first to be targeted as a problem property after at least 14 complaints of serious criminal activity were filed since May 2010 including five assault and batteries with a weapon, five assault and batteries, nine verbal disputes and various other charges including intimidating a witness, drug activity, weapons violations and a violation of a restraining order. Total, there were over 105 calls-for-service in the same time period and an investigation has provided significant evidence of prostitution, drug trafficking and loitering as well as several regulatory and code violations.

WHO:         

• Mayor Thomas M. Menino
• Problem Properties Task Force Members:
  • Boston Police Department Commissioner Edward Davis
  • Boston Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser
  • Commissioner of Inspectional Services Bill Good
  • Director of the Office of Neighborhood Services Jay Walsh
  • Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Barbara Ferrer
  • Corporation Counsel Bill Sinnott
  • Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority Bill McGonagle
  • Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development Evelyn Friedman
  • Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Thomas Tinlin

 WHEN:          TODAY!! Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM

 WHERE:       102 Blue Hill Ave, Roxbury

During the event, police are expected to:

• Remove illegal materials from the house
• tow and impound a vehicle that has been directly associated with the criminal activity taking place at the location;
  • place a large light-up sign displaying the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline number in front of the house;
• and implement an increased patrol of the area surrounding the house.

The Task Force will hold the landlord, Edward Franco, accountable for the situation and he will be required to meet with BPD and city officials to outline his plan for addressing these problems and ensuring the safety of his tenants.  Franco will be charged for the expense of having an on-duty officer monitoring the property until the City is satisfied with his response.  Edward Franco is also listed as owning 16 other properties in the area.

The Problem Properties Task Force was established as part of a city ordinance that will officially provide the City with the ability to charge negligent or inattentive owners with the necessary monetary costs of securing their problem properties. The City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance Wednesday, July 13.

Once approved by the City Council, the ordinance will provide the City the ability to place an around-the-clock police detail in front of problem properties until specified issues have been alleviated. The ordinance will also hold the property owners 100% accountable for all expenses associated with police details, light-up signs and any other actions taken. Owners will be required to meet with respective district captains to produce plans-of-action to relieve public safety issues.

An Executive Order by Mayor Menino to establish the Task Force identifies a problem property as any location to which the Boston Police Department has been called four times or more within the preceding 12 month period for criminal offenses.

This concentrated effort will be mirrored in the investigation of seven other problem properties. The Problem Properties Task Force will continue to promote, facilitate, and secure safe vibrant living for all Bostonians.

Contact:
Mayor’s Press Office
Press.Office (at) cityofboston (dot) gov