Mayor Lopez: On the Ground with Code Enforcement

Since taking office, I’ve made it a priority to be hands-on when it comes to addressing some of the toughest issues our community faces blight, homelessness, illegal dumping, and code violations. On March 26, 2024, I joined our Code Enforcement team once again for a ride-along, continuing a tradition I started a few years ago. These regular ride-alongs have helped me understand the day-to-day challenges our officers face and shaped many of the recommendations and ordinances I’ve introduced to improve our city.

Many in our community remember the case I shared on Instagram, the infamous “slumlord from hell” at Lazy Wheels. That situation not only underscored the need for tougher code enforcement but also demonstrated the power of community awareness and action. Since then, we’ve made significant investments in our Code Enforcement Division, currently staffed by two senior officers and one new officer who’s been with the team nearly a year.

Our mission has always been clear: keep Ceres clean, safe, and thriving. That means abating homeless encampments, enforcing property standards, and holding everyone including myself accountable. I've even helped pick up trash on ride-alongs, although the team prefers I don’t! I’ve seen the impact of homelessness firsthand riding with the Sheriff’s Department along our riverbanks, where stolen goods, mopeds, and bikes have turned once-recreational shores into junkyards. These aren’t just eyesores, they’re safety hazards.

We’ve worked with the County and Supervisor's office to clean up “no man’s land” areas outside city jurisdiction but still within our neighborhoods. These efforts aren’t about placing blame, they’re about results. We must continue pushing back against those carving illegal encampments into our dirt embankments and stealing from our residents.

Ceres is my home. I’ve lived here since I was five years old. I care deeply about this city, and anyone who says otherwise just doesn’t know me. I’ve answered thousands of calls, emails, and social media messages because I believe leadership isn’t confined to two council meetings a month it’s, about showing up.

Recently, we received multiple complaints about school zone safety and speeding in Eastgate. Instead of letting those concerns pile up, we brought together residents, our Chief of Police, Public Works, and Engineering to find real solutions. That’s what community-driven government looks like—listening, coordinating, and acting.

During the most recent Point-In-Time Count, I joined our CARES team and discovered a hidden encampment near the Whitmore on-ramp. The year before, we were pressured to leave encampments standing for more accurate counts. I opposed it, and it cost us weeks in cleanup efforts. This year, I said “never again.”

Code Enforcement isn’t just about citations. It’s about protecting families. Just this week, we encountered a possible unpermitted ADU being rented to a young family with two children,  paying more in rent than I do for my mortgage. These are the kinds of issues that break your heart and fuel your commitment to finding solutions.

Programs like Love Ceres are another way we tackle blight and support our neighbors. Last year, my wife, father, two student-athletes from CV, and I volunteered to help seniors with yard maintenance. One of those seniors was Jean Yakly—a veteran and regular attendee at our council meetings. Despite our past disagreements, I showed up to help because that’s what real service looks like. My father always taught me: “Help those in need, even if they don’t agree with you.”

We mowed, weeded, and bagged the overgrown lawn, and even the neighbors came out to thank us. Jean’s wife was so kind, and the moment reminded me why I continue to serve.

These ride-alongs have taught me something important: If we don’t consistently address homelessness, encampments, blight, and illegal activity, we risk letting things spiral out of control. Ceres is full of beautiful neighborhoods—let’s keep them that way. Use the MyCeres app. Report issues. It’s not “snitching” it’s being a responsible citizen.

And yes, that includes me too. I’m committed to being active in the community as much as possible, within my boundaries as an elected official. I’ll continue to praise the hard work of our staff, who keep Ceres clean, safe, and thriving.

So please, reach out. Be respectful.

—Mayor Javier Lopez