Date of Award
Fall 2004
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Abstract
In the late 1980's the Oakland Police Department pioneered a process that allowed the City of Oakland and Alameda County agencies to close specific properties that contributed to unsafe conditions in neighborhoods. These conditions include run down and/or abandoned homes where owners allow crime to flourish on the property (problem/nuisance properties). The properties can be businesses, apartments or single-family homes. Those who appose the process feel that it disproportionately affects the poor who cannot afford to fix "blighted" conditions as quickly as more affluent people. They also argue that the process may not be effective because of other possible attracters and causes of crime in a neighborhood. Proponents believe that they must begin to hold people accountable, regardless of economic status, for allowing degrading conditions to exist. Proponents and public agencies often believe shutting down the property will improve safety in the neighborhood.
In this paper, the researcher studied the closing down of the blighted property at 1956 85th Avenue, Oakland, CA. This study gathered and analyzed information from crimes statistics, personal interviews, literature reviews, survey of residents in the 1900 block of 85th Avenue and survey of government employees involved in the closure of the problem/nuisance properties. The case study compares two periods: before the problem property was closed and after the problem property was closed.
The research showed a sharp reduction of crime at 1956 85th A venue and in the 1900 block of 85th Avenue, after the property was shut down on December 2, 2002. It shows that the residents' observations in the 1900 block of 85th Avenue closely match the expectations of the government employees who work on problem/nuisance properties. In addition, the residents in the 1900 block of 85th Avenue felt safer as a direct result of the property closure and rehabilitation.
Recommended Citation
Figueroa, Paul, "Closing Down Problem/Nuisance Properties: Does Oakland's Strategy Work to Reduce Crime?" (2004). EMPA Capstones. 102.
https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/capstones/102