PICO-UNION : Convicted Slumlord ‘Donates’ to Charity

A convicted slumlord has been sentenced to contribute $5,000 to School on Wheels Inc., a nonprofit program that provides mobile educational services to children of homeless familes.

The contribution is part of more than $9,000 in fines and costs that Raymond Garcen, 48, will have to pay after being convicted on eight violations of housing, building and safety codes at the two-story, 16-unit apartment building he owns at 1674 W. 12th St. in Pico-Union.

Garcen, a first-time offender who lives in the San Fernando Valley, was allowed to choose from a number of charities to contribute to in lieu of additional fines.

“It’s an option we give them sometimes, depending on the situation,” said Deputy City Atty. Del San Juan. “We give them the charities to choose from.”

Retired teacher Agnes Stevens, who founded School on Wheels about 1 1/2 years ago, was surprised to hear of the “donation.”

“We had requested to be on their list, but this will be our first time,” she said. “I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s come at a very needed time.”

School on Wheels consists of about 50 volunteer tutors who work with homeless children in shelters, motels, parks and on the street. Based in Malibu, they concentrate on kids in Venice, Santa Monica and West Los Angeles, and hope to expand services to the central city by next year.

Stevens finds it ironic that help will be coming from a convicted slumlord: Her tutors work with families that often end up in slum buildings once they get off the street.

The money will help School on Wheels purchase books and educational materials, and publish a basic skills handbook that students can refer to in case their families leave the program’s outreach area.

As a condition of his probation, Garcen must make his charitable contribution by Sept. 25. He must also fix several code violations found in his buildings, including damaged and missing doors and windows, damaged walls and ceilings, defective plumbing, inadequate power, missing electrical switch and outlet covers, and cockroach and rodent infestation.

San Juan said repairs have already begun on the building. If they are not completed by June 15, Garcen could face additional punishment, including more fines and imprisonment.