by Brian Donahue
After Emeryville’s vice mayor was cited for health code violations at his Doyle Street property due to excessive trash and other debris, and failed to clean it up, the city ordered crews to haul away the garbage – at taxpayers’ expense.
An abatement order was issued in May, requiring immediate remediation of health and fire code violations at Vice Mayor Ken Bukowski’s property at 5876 and 5878-1/2 Doyle Street, just south of 59th Street. The order was issued in response to neighbors’ complaints of garbage spilling over the property line and onto the sidewalk. There are two structures on the property, Bukowski’s home, and a six-unit apartment house that the vice mayor rents out.
After Bukowski failed to comply with the clean-up order, despite several extensions, the city was forced to take matters into its own hands, according to Assistant City Attorney Michael Guina. “The City of Emeryville had to clean it up,” Guina said. He did not say what it cost, but did say that “Mr. Bukowski has been made aware that he must pay back the City.” As of last week, Bukowski had not done so.
The abatement order was sent via certified mail to Bukowski, citing five code violations, including fire hazard, maintaining a rodent harborage, garbage accumulation, unlawful property nuisance, and unlawful open storage of materials. Before the clean-up, liquid that appeared to be antifreeze was seen flowing from the property into a nearby storm drain (see above photo). Local storm drains empty directly into San Francisco Bay without treatment.
A woman employed by a neighboring business, who asked not to be identified, said it appeared that some of the tenants of the property were conducting an automobile salvage operation. “They drop off truckloads of oily, greasy parts on to the sidewalk and proceed to take them apart right there, blocking the sidewalk,” the neighbor said. She also complained of noise at the site.
Bukowski blames the problem on irresponsible tenants, and believes that the tenants, not he, should have received the abatement order.
He blames his tenents? Sorry guy, property owners are the responsible party. What if he doesn’t pay? Can his proporty be leined? Can the city charge interest? Sounds like he owes money all over town from what I’ve read. This doesn’t look good for either the city or the vice mayor.
I’m a fairly new resident to Emeryville. Bukowski seems like the last person who should have ever been elected. Why is he mayor?
I’m surprised to see the antifreeze draining into the public sewer system – this is possibly a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency, owing to the quantity of dumped antifreeze.
Perhaps the mayor should take on clients to dump their toxic waste into his city drain. Anyone for the Bay Area Love Canal?
There seems to be a recklessness with Ken Bukowski. What’s scary is that I understand he sometimes travels to other cities on official business as OUR representitive. What did we do that was so bad to deserve him as our vice mayor?
Keep up the good work Secret News!
This property is the biggest dump on Doyle St, the cops are always there dealing with some problem or another.
Also take note that:
A) The city is paying Ken Bukowski’s personal legal bills for when he killed a pedestrian driving home from a meeting
B) The council unanimously elected him ‘Vice Mayor’ at the last meeting following his stint as mayor
Whatever happened with this? Did he pay us back? Was there a fine or something?