LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Project will demolish homes where drug, crime activity occur

(Laredo, TX ) Last year, the City of Laredo, in partnership with the U.S. Border Patrol, worked together to rid the community of structures that had been identified as having drug and other criminal activities occurring at those locations.  The structures were demolished through Operation Crackdown, a program offered by the U.S. Army National Guard, helped to not only clean up Laredo, but also helped to rid these neighborhoods of crime and eyesores.

Operation Crackdown provides engineer assets to assist municipalities in reclaiming control of known drug trafficking areas by working with affected communities to knock down structures that are proven drug trafficking locations. This mission helps rid neighborhoods of gangs, drugs, and associated violent activity and allows for community revitalization.

The City of Laredo and Border Patrol will once again partner for this all important initiative to come to Laredo, and this year, is asking for the citizens of Laredo to help make this happen.   Laredoans are asked to call in addresses or properties in their neighborhoods that they would like demolished, or if they have information on owners of such properties; especially, contact information for those owners.  Information can be called in to the City of Laredo Community Development Department at 795-2675 or to the City of Laredo’s Customer Service line at 3-1-1.

“Our Laredo Police officers, as well as Community Development and Building Development   code officers, and our law enforcement partner in the community, the U.S. Border Patrol, have long identified areas of drug and crime activity taking place in old and abandoned structures around Laredo,” said City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz.  “But Laredoans know best what is taking place in their neighborhoods.  We ask for their help to make this program a success.” 

Last year, after following a rigorous process of investigating properties that were flagged as having a possible drug nexus, as identified by the Laredo Police, Building or CD Departments, or those by the U.S. Border Patrol, a total of 42 structures on 22 properties were demolished in late May of 2014, after the Laredo City Council approved this project to move forward. 

The City of Laredo invested heavily for this program, including providing crews from Fleet, Health, Parks & Recreation, Public Works, Solid Waste and Utilities departments throughout the two-week period the operation took place.  In fact, crews made 357 trips to the City of Laredo Landfill, dumping 1,650 tons of demolition debris.  Additional support was provided by the Laredo Police Department, City Manager’s Office, Community Development Department and Public Information Office.  

Once homes are identified, property owners must be notified and consent must be given by these owners to have the properties demolished.  Clearance from the State’s Historical Commission must be received and asbestos testing must be completed, as well as other documentation required by the Texas National Guard. One benefit of the program is that there is no cost to the homeowners to have the properties demolished.

There are costs incurred by the municipality involved in the program, including:  asbestos testing, and if demolishing two structures within 660 feet of each other, both must be tested for asbestos; asbestos abatement prior to demolition; dump trucks; 40 yard truck; and landfill costs. The Laredo City Council approved for the City of Laredo to participate in Operation Crackdown, authorizing the City Manager to approve any hard costs associated with participating in the program, including haul-off fees, permits and landfill costs.

“This program is too important to NOT participate in,” said Council Member Juan Narvaez, District IV, in whose district a majority of the structures demolished were located in. “These costs are minimal compared to the impact this program had on our neighborhoods, on our city in the long run. I encourage everyone to please help the City of Laredo by sharing whatever information they have.”

According to a Texas National Guard presentation on Operation Crackdown, 83% of abandoned or open buildings show signs of drug abuse, prostitution or criminal activity; crime rates are twice as high on blocks with abandoned or open buildings than on controlled buildings blocks; and millions of dollars are spent each year to mitigate and abate the problem.  A recent University of Michigan study found that investing $3.5 million over a three year period resulted in an increase in surrounding property value of more than $112.5 million.

During the next two months, the City of Laredo will be working to finalize the paperwork, and other necessary requirements to prepare for Operation Crackdown, tentatively scheduled for early April of this year. The National Guard provides all of the large equipment needed to complete the mission, as well as trained Army personnel to manage the project.  Seized drug money is used to cover the costs of this program to the Texas National Guard.

Additionally, the Texas National Guard will make a visit to a local school near one of the targeted homes that will be demolished to talk about the dangers of drug use.  One class from that school will then be invited to participate in the demolition of the home.

“This combined initiative by the City of Laredo, the National Guard, the Border Patrol and the Laredo Police Department; will deny a place for drugs and criminals to make a ‘home’ in our neighborhoods… this program protects one of our most vulnerable population in our city: our children,” said Deputy Police Chief Gilberto Navarro.

The Texas National Guard Counterdrug Program began Operation Crackdown in 1993. Its first mission was in San Antonio where Texas Army National Guard Engineers supported local law enforcement agencies in San Antonio to tear down “drug houses.”  Since then, approximately 1,347 houses have been demolished in cities across Texas including Corpus Christi, Dallas, Harlingen, Kingsville and San Antonio.