Finger-Pointing Begins After Dozens Killed In Oakland Warehouse Fire
OAKLAND (KCBS) -- An Oakland community group is accusing city administrators of not being proactive in addressing buildings known to be fire hazards.
The warehouse known as the Ghost Ship - where an inferno Friday night killed 36 people - may be one of several buildings flagged as unsafe in the city.
The East Oakland Beautification Council says the code enforcement division of the city's Planning and Building Department has looked at every complaint it's brought forward, but follow up has been lacking.
Continuing Coverage: Deadly Oakland Warehouse Fire
"Code compliance has done every complaint that we've submitted as a community-based organization, but they only can do so much," council chairman Ken Houston told KCBS.
The council says administrators missed an opportunity to be proactive about the safety issues surrounding the Ghost Ship building.
"There's some things there that should have been addressed a year ago," Houston said.
In a letter, the East Oakland beautification council calls graffiti vandalism and illegal dumping public safety hazards that can identify deteriorated buildings.
"We've come to the city administrator's office, sat down with the city administrator's office and told them about these visual cues, specific items, and gave them a direction on how to present this in a strategic way," Houston said.
