The Town of Herndon stepped up enforcement against overcrowded homes in the first part of 2006, setting a pace that puts this year on track to be busiest yet for such cases.
Town building inspectors closed 250 cases of excessive occupancy in 2005. In the first three months of 2006, the town has already completed 67 cases, putting it on track to top more than 260 cases this year.
Henry Bibber, the town’s director of community development, issued a written statement saying Herndon is simply showing its commitment to enforcing its housing regulations.
But in the statement, posted on the town’s Web site, he also asked for citizens to report instances in which they believe occupancy rates are being violated. The majority of cases so far this year were initiated by the town’s own inspectors.
Bibber couldn’t be reached Friday for comment.
Several residents, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic, said that they believed the inspections were targeting homes where day laborers stay. Some didn’t want their names to appear in print because they were fearful of becoming a focus of attention, while others didn’t want it to seem they were taking sides on town issues.
Mayor Michael O’Reilly said he had heard some residents believe the enforcement effort may be targeting the Hispanic community, but said inspectors react to complaints and that no one is targeted on any basis other than the number of occupants. No ethnic or racial group is a focus of the effort, he said.
Cases investigated
» 2006: 67 case during the first three months
» 2005: 250 cases
» 2004: 147 cases
» 2003: 96 cases
