SAN CLEMENTE : Rundown Areas to Be Cleaned Up

Residents and landlords of several rundown neighborhoods are being asked to help city crews pull weeds, mend broken fences and repair damaged buildings.

As part of the “Neighborhood Pride” program, city officials ask that residents of the 100 and 200 blocks of West Escalones and West Canada and the 200 block of Avenida Del Poniente join city workers in revitalizing the neighborhoods on Jan. 26.

A team of city inspectors went through the area recently to check for violations of local building codes. Property owners are expected to receive infraction notices in early January.

The council has approved spending $15,000 for a gang-prevention program for the area, where a 4-year-old girl was wounded last year in the city’s first drive-by shooting.