“I’ve definitely got some properties that I know are my troubled areas that I need to check on regularly,” says Cory Jordan, a property maintenance inspector for the City, while making his daily tour at the wheel of a City-provided sedan. As one of two full-time inspectors (a third is part-time), Jordan is responsible for the neighborhoods surrounding the University as well as the Fifeville neighborhood. While excess garbage and unlawful growth of weeds are both frequent offenders, cars are the main item of the day.
 Jay-Z says the streets is watching, but so is City property inspector Cory Jordan—so clean up that trash and get that car inspected. |
Jordan spots a minivan parked in a yard with a “For Sale” sign in its windshield. “I cited this one about 10 days ago,” he says and gets out of his car to check. Under City Code a vehicle must have an up-to-date inspection along with current tags on its license plates, though a property owner may avoid this rule if the car is completely covered from view—the green minivan has neither the required tags nor a cover.
“I’m trying to get in touch with him,” Jordan says as he drives away. He has a history with the owner. “If I can’t over the next couple days, I’ll have it towed.
“As long as people call us and talk to us and let us know what’s going on, we’ll just about bend over backwards to try to help them out.”
His next stop is a perfect illustration of this principle: As Jordan looks over another offending minivan with expired tags, the owner approaches. After Jordan apprises him of the situation, the owner begs for leniency: “How long can you give me?”
“I’ll work with you,” Jordan replies. “I don’t mind extending you some time as long as you work on it.”
When Jordan spots a black car with no tags, he takes special note. Jordan has sent the owner repeated notices and, except for an irate phone call, the owner has refused to even respond. The car was blocked in when a tow truck was previously sent.
Today, however, the car sits with unfettered access, so Jordan grabs his cell phone and dials the police, letting them know that the car is finally accessible. “I will no doubt hear from that guy,” Jordan says. “Probably by the end of the week.”
