How It’s Working
City Hall has been helpful, Cal Trans less so, in his view.
As the president of the Sunkist Park Neighborhood Watch, he has kept his favorite camera at his side while roaming the southern Culver City residential area, recording scores of smudged images.
Two-thirds of the blighted markings remain as silent, annoying testimony, Mr. Netzel says, to the presence of “careless” Cal Trans workers.
Cal Trans Assignment
The state employees came to the perimeter of Sunkist Park last year when they were assigned to the widening of the 405 Freeway.
“Ever since Cal Trans came here,” said Mr. Netzel, “our problems have increased.”
In a letter to Cal Trans executive Judy Gish, Mr. Netzel outlined three solutions for the state agency to tackle.
“2. All trash left throughout Sunkist Park on the Balfour Beatty worksites should be removed immediately.
“3. All work areas should be secured at the end of each day. They have become a serious safety threat to the residents and the children of Sunkist Park. There are too many areas open to the general public 24 hours a day, and this has led to the significant amounts of graffiti and trash. Let’s not have an accident before Cal Trans/Balfour Beatty secures the area.”
In her response, Ms. Gish, whose office is in downtown Los Angeles, asserted that “graffiti is not a result of the project.”
Ms. Gish said that for thenear term, the area is under the jurisdiction of the contractor. He will attend to the graffiti cleanup “as his schedule permits,” which will not be often, she warned, because it is a costly undertaking.
Mr. Netzel’s followup email was crisp:
“Fixing the gates and cleaning up the trash is a great start. But I have to believe graffiti also is a responsibility of the contractor, regardless of the cost and manpower.
“I find it hard to believe the contract doesn’t include graffiti removal as a standard clause, and that the contractor hasn’t built in costs for maintenance of the work area.” Finally, “I have to disagree with you on the point that ‘graffiti is not a result of the project.’ I’ve lived in the city for 40 years and the Sunkist Park area for 11 years. We have never had this level of graffiti in the neighborhood.”
And so, the two sides seem to be inching toward a standstill.
“Graffiti is a huge problem but not the only one,” Mr. Netzel said. “Cal Trans people need to remember they have come into a proud residential neighborhood with an elementary school.
Job Requirement
“They have an obligation to maintain a clean, neat work environment. They have not even come close. They need to have a little bit of care for our neighborhood.
“I know there is going to be dirt and machinery, and heavy equipment will be around. But the workers or Cal Trans need to see that these people clean up after themselves.
Hazardous Habits
“They are not doing that,” Mr. Netzel said. “They have caused hazards for residents by leaving gates open so that anyone has access to private property.
“I know some things will be less than perfect while they are here. But heavy equipment and machines are all around.
“I have been trying to nudge Cal Trans gently to respond to our complaints, but it isn’t working very well.”
