Nosy Nitpicker, or a Needed Enforcer of Neighborhood Values?

LA Times ^ | 06/20/06 | Jennifer Delson

[gubamyster]

A Santa Ana man who reports his Latino neighbors for city code violations says he's just trying to raise property values. Some view his actions as part of a culture clash.

How you view the recent news about a Santa Ana man who pleaded guilty to selling cars from his house may depend on which side of South Broadway you live on.

On the east side, Tim Rush says he's "ecstatic, and doing a jig."

For more than a year, Rush had regularly complained to city officials about problem neighbors, particularly Pedro Reyes Rios, whom he nicknamed the "Cal Worthington of South Broadway." Reyes was selling cars parked on the street and in his yard.

"A man's home is his castle," said Rush, 51. "I shouldn't have to be infringed upon by people selling cars, refrigerators and corn on the cob, plus people playing ranchera music at all hours of the day."

On the west side of South Broadway, Reyes and other residents are annoyed with Rush and his stream of complaints, which some view as racially motivated. Some see him as a meddler, an outsider who complains about people and customs he doesn't understand. One neighbor wonders if he's just lonely.

The congested street in the heart of this heavily immigrant city forms an odd divide between the sensibilities of a white man driven to bring suburban order to the street and his mostly Latino neighbors who feel their lifestyle is under siege.

The neighborhood skirmish, say those who study land use issues, is typical of the tension that erupts in densely packed communities in Southern California, where cultures collide.

"The small issues are a sign of a bigger question about how do people with different lifestyles get along," said Kris Day, an associate planning professor at UC Irvine.

[BurbankKarl]

and all of Baja California lives in the garage.

[jra]

The law doesn't make it illegal for Latinos to sell cars unlicenced from your yard, it makes it illegal for ANYone to.

Same for noise ordinances.

[DCPatriot]

I just spent almost $300 bucks for an open house ad this Sunday.

Open House 1-4PM.

The Section 8 tenants on the top floor decided to break condo rules by sitting on the concrete steps of our 6 unit building.

No cars stopped to visit. Not one.

I'm with Mr. Rush.

[al baby]

But if you are an illegal selling cars its ok

[Publius6961]

The law doesn't make it illegal for Latinos to sell cars unlicenced from your yard, it makes it illegal for ANYone to.
Same for noise ordinances.

What are you a smart-aleck? Keep thinking that way and before you know it we won't be able to charge racism and immigrant-bashing...

How mean-spirited is that?

[Inspectorette]

Whew! At first glance, I thought the title read "Nitty Nosepicker"!

[knews_hound]

I was in Santa Ana last week.

It was an odd feeling to be in a supermarket and be the only white person in the store.

ALL of the signage, prices and ads were in Spanish.

ALL the clerks spoke Spanish.

If I had not known better, I would have sworn I was in Mexico.

SoCal is the canary in the coal mine for America regarding Immigration and the bird is really sick.

Cheers,

Cheers,

knewshound

[rpgdfmx]

So, am I right in assuming personal preference trumps conservative values? Leaving aside the illegal dealership, the guy's complaints seem to be that he doesn't care for his neighbor's taste in music and things like that. If a "man's home is his castle" your support for him seems like a justification for the nanny-state and governmental intrusion into non-state matters.

[sageb1]

I get upset about my neighbors' dogs. I know I wouldn't put up with what this guy is putting up with.

[Michael.SF.]

The congested street in the heart of this heavily immigrant city forms an odd divide between the sensibilities of a white man driven to bring suburban order to the street and his mostly Latino neighbors who feel their lifestyle is under siege.

No bias in that paragraph is there?

What if it had been written this way:

"The congested street in the heart of this heavily illegal immigrant city forms an odd divide between the sensibilities of a white man of apparent European decent driven to bring suburban order to the street and his mostly Latino brown neighbors who feel their lifestyle is under siege.

[Jaysun]

Follow the city ordnances, work to change them, or shag ass to another city. This really isn't an issue for anyone except those that want to break the law.

[Jhensy]

his mostly Latino neighbors who feel their lifestyle is under siege.

THEY feel THEIR lifestyle is under siege? From Americans? That one takes the cake.

[Michael.SF.]

Leaving aside the illegal dealership,

Other then that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

[snowman1]

When I lived in Orange County they had an ordinance that said one residence one family. (two adults+kids). I don't blame him I'd ge PISSED too.

[bordergal]

If they don't like their lifestyle being under siege, maybe they should just go back to Mexico.

Simple, effective, neat.

[CAWats]

his mostly Latino neighbors who feel their lifestyle is under siege.

THEY feel THEIR lifestyle is under siege? From Americans? That one takes the cake.


Oh, no. No no no. You can't look at it that way.

[Nathan Zachary]

"What are you a smart-aleck? Keep thinking that way and before you know it we won't be able to charge racism and immigrant-bashing..."

The next thing you know, they will be raizing goats, chickens and cattle in their back yards or balconys. Wait- they already do.

[Michael.SF.]

.....

Si, es el Gringo ‘Tim Rush’. He no like us because he no like our culture. Es uno loco gringo. Look at his clothes. Why does he dress so funny? Por que? Oy, mi mamacita.

[CAWats]

Reyes, a cook, sees it differently. "No one likes him here," he said. "He wants to change Santa Ana.

Huh? It's the ILLEGAL ALIENS that have changed Santa Ana!!