The recent fatal shooting of West Valley City code enforcement officer Jill Robinson forces us to acknowledge and examine the animosity that has grown in West Valley City between the residents and the Community Preservation Department.
With aggressive and predatory tactics being used by some code enforcement officers, and supervisors who use terms such as “problem child" when interacting with citizens, animosity is a likely result. Even state Sen. Karen Mayne has included “not in my backyard” attitudes in her campaign materials throughout the past 10 years over residents who may lack the resources to maintain pristine landscaping.