The Los Angeles Times reports today about the clash of cultures between Latinos and one of their white neighbors named Tim Rush in a Santa Ana, California neighborhood where, The Times reports, "many people aren't even U.S. citizens." By insisting that building codes and other local ordinances be enforced to maintain neighborhood quality of life, Rush has been acting very, well, white, it seems. Maybe even racist.

...most of Rush's neighbors are less than understanding about his campaign. Jorge Mendez, a gardener who lives three doors away, sums up the feelings of many of his neighbors. Rush is "watching us all the time. Before he came, no one here had any problems," Mendez said. "I don't understand why he is like this. Is it because we are Latinos or what?

I think this definitely falls under "or what", Jorge. You see, not only does our country's rule of law require an end to illegal immigration, but our idea of community also includes legally-supported standards of conduct relating to residential property use. Among other things. "Anything goes" may go at the border or even with respect to phony IDs for illegal workers and lax workplace enforcement of immigration law. But in the 'hood, the sensibilities of "the man" can be harder to slough off.

...Within a week (of moving in), Rush began reporting code violations around him....Rush called about four inoperable vehicles in a backyard abutting his yard. The city contacted an out-of-town homeowner, who arrived from Texas and removed them. Rush objected to graffiti on the walls of a garage that he could see from his back porch, and the owners were forced to paint it over. He called animal control officials about a barking dog. After more than a dozen calls, the barking stopped....More than two dozen times, he reported to police loud music playing at 8 a.m. on Sundays at a house three doors away. The music has stopped. And time and time again, he complained about (Pedro) Reyes, who could be seen from Rush's living room showing cars parked on the streets to buyers. Earlier this year, responding to a criminal citation issued by the city, Reyes pleaded guilty to selling used cars and repairing them in and around his property, said City Atty. Joseph Fletcher.

Neighbors said they hadn't known about Reyes' pleading, but they had noticed with pleasure fewer cars on the street. When they learned that Rush's complaints had stopped the car sales, several gave him kudos. Latinos "have a tendency not to complain. We don't think anything comes of it, we're too busy working, and we don't want to meddle," said Nelson Rodriguez, 30. "We had tried to ask [Reyes] to move those cars, and nothing happened." Still, for many in the neighborhood, Rush is a curiosity. They can't figure out why he lives alone in a house or why he flies a U.S. flag on a street where many people aren't even U.S. citizens....For Rush, the recent victory over the used-car lot was a signal to continue his mission. He wants to report cases of graffiti, overcrowded apartments and illegal parking...."Even though they're cursing me now, they will thank me in the end. I just want them to live normally, not in garages, with their cars on their lawns. I don't think it's a lot to ask. Property values will go up. They will see."

For some, that U.S. flag must be the last straw. The nerve. It's good to see some of the Latino neighbors welcome the changes Rush has prompted. Multiple families packed into homes built for single families is the beginning of the slide down a slippery slope in any neighborhood. Aren't there supposed to be ordinances against that? Showing common courtesy for your neighbors includes not using your home as a base for an unlicensed auto sales and repair business, and not blasting music at 8 a.m. on any day of the week, especially Sundays.

Decent neighbors don't need to be approached by authorities because they shape up when you make a reasonable request. If Rush's behavior is to be written off as that of an uptight, flag-displaying white guy, we're all in trouble.

TECHNORATI TAGS: SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, CODE ENFORCEMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE, TIM RUSH, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, PHONY ID, SOCIAL SECURITY, WORKPLACE ENFORCEMENT