Gloria Guzman fights urban blight, improves life in Westbury South

Story and Photos by John Perry

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were someone who monitored your neighborhood, reducing eyesores and substandard living conditions.

There is. Meet Gloria Guzman.

She’s a community service field inspector in HPD’s Neighborhood Protection Corps. Guzman roves the urban landscape in her jurisdiction. She enforces city code violations related to dilapidated buildings, overgrown lots, junked motor vehicles, heavy-trash placement, graffiti, and other nuisances.

“Oh gosh, I do a lot of things out in the field,” said Guzman who is assigned to cover the 77025, 77035 and 77054 zip codes. “Seems like improperly placed heavy trash and inoperable vehicle violations are the most common complaints I respond to.”

Citizens appreciate her responsiveness.

Patricia Simon, a homeowner in the Westbury South subdivision, wrote to then-NPC Assistant Chief Brain Lumpkin. “I appreciate the efforts of Gloria Guzman. She has been invaluable in our efforts to clean up heavy trash.

“Her courtesy and professionalism are greatly valued and reflect very positively on your organization.”

Heavy trash and garbage may be placed curbside only during certain hours of designated days. Fines can range from $50 for first offenses to $2,000 for repeat violators.

Another resident, Pat Morrison, wrote Lumpkin praising Guzman for helping rid Westbury South of inoperable vehicles.

Motor vehicles are considered inoperable if abandoned for more than 30 continuous days. After 10 days of noncompliance following notification, the vehicle can be removed and crushed by a private city contractor.

Graffiti gets Guzman’s goat

“We’ve had a major problem with gang-related graffiti on wooden fences behind Westbury High School,” Guzman said. “A gang calling themselves the Black Knights use graffiti to mark their territory.”

Guzman has been using juvenile probationers to clean the fences as part of their court-ordered community service.

“But as soon as we get it cleaned, the gang puts it right back on,” Guzman said. “It’s very frustrating because graffiti is one of my pet peeves. So we’re going to stay after them and keep things cleaned up.”

Graffiti is unauthorized painting, writing, slogans, or drawings on public or private property. Fines range up to $500.

Heartfelt housing codes

The NPC also enforces housing code ordinances. Typically, violations are for abandoned or open structures, weeded lots, or rat infestation. However, Guzman remembers an unusual complaint that came in via the 311 helpline.

“A caller complained that a neighbor with a baby had been living in her apartment complex without electricity for some time,” Guzman said. “And the baby had respiratory problems and needed a breathing machine.”

Guzman quickly investigated and found the complaint to be true. An undocumented woman with her asthmatic 6-month-old were living in the sweltering heat without electricity. Guzman, bilingual in English and Spanish, gained the woman’s trust and found out the apartment manger had cut off the electricity to the woman’s apartment. The woman didn’t complain because she feared deportation.

Guzman confronted the apartments’ manager. Within 24 hours the woman and her baby were moved to another apartment with electricity.

“I really appreciate inspector Guzman’s hard work and dedication,” said Dorothy Edwards, assistant police chief in charge of NPC. “As public servants, we are in the business of customer service, and I am delighted with Gloria’s service.”

Guzman, a married mother of three, began her career with in the Health & Human Services Department 22 years ago. She plans to stay with the city.

“I love helping people,” she said. “I think God placed me in this job to help them.”

Mayor Bill White formed the NPC and recognizes Guzman for her dedication.

“Improving the quality of life in our communities requires a real responsiveness by our field inspectors to the concerns of the residents,” White said. “Mrs. Guzman has done just that.”