Clarkstown: Crackdown on Unkempt Homes

Support our police and firefighters June 27, 2012 at 05:27 pm

Why all the hate toward police officers?! You think being a police officer or a firefighter is a 'cushy' job that one just sails through in their 20 years of service? I can't believe how disrespectful people are being. They are out there protecting us, responding to our emergency needs at a moment's notice. They are giving up their time and time that would be spent with their own families to protect yours. Yes they sign up for it but don't you think they deserve the pension that they eventually retire with. Its disgusting seeing people whine about this. Life is full of choices and everyone makes their own way in life. Support our police and firefighters!

Smitty Chesterfield June 27, 2012 at 05:57 pm

If you are in foreclosure, you should still keep the outside of your home in a respectable manner. I don't want to sit on my porch, enjoying lemonade, while looking at an eyesore. There's still something called integrity.

francis mcsharar June 27, 2012 at 06:00 pm

People make me sick always harping on a civil servant who works hard for there money many of whom worked 2 jobs when they first started because the pay was so damn low but none of you will say a word about the state mandates (hand outs). Go to shop-rite and look at cashier lines a overflowing cart with high end products no coupons = food stamps . A half full cart and a fist full of coupons = working stiff

Donna Held June 27, 2012 at 06:30 pm

Of course you are correct the houses should be kept. I have not passed by the addresses listed. And, I have not walked in the shoes of the homeowner. I also do not know why we needed to hire a Jersey attorney who is the Attorney for New Square. Will he be used for the new apartments for those seniors that have resided here and need some supplemental income. Will those senoirs be targeted to sell there houses after converting them. I hope not. Beware of things that look to good to be true. Sometimes there is a downside.

Mike Hirsch June 27, 2012 at 06:49 pm

People don't hate the police. They simply don't want to pay for their outrageous salaries and benefit packages. The firefighters are volunteers and perform a service to our community. The police do their job. It is not a service.

J H June 27, 2012 at 06:53 pm

Please drive down London Terrace in New City and see the eyesore/health concern there as well.

Tony T June 27, 2012 at 08:17 pm

Now, how do we stop and clean up the weekend garage sale signs...they make the streets in Clarkstown look like a Turkish Bazaar!!!!!!

jane Barch June 27, 2012 at 09:17 pm

Can the officials in Orangetown take note? We have the other side of the
Palisades Mall on Rt. 59 to deal with. Businesses that appear shut down and neglected that are actually in business - a beverage store, an auto mechanic, and then the lovely Christmas tree lot! Ironically, It takes a Walgreen's to show what some green space and exterior upkeep can mean.

A taxpayer who feels Dis-emboweled by elected Miscreants June 27, 2012 at 09:44 pm

clowntowns problems are..they allow all their buddies to do whatever they want...if you drive in scarsdale or alpine..or westwood or ridgewood...you dont see the overkill and disgraceful intrusion on the people with signs..can anyone answer on maple ave you are allowed Joel..why you let a building across from the mall have 4 signs? guess what when the malls lawyers go for their tax reduction I am sure they too will use the disgusting properties all around their mall to ask for a reduction..it aint pretty!!!!I was told that you cant post more than 2 signs on a property.so why blinders on many in clarkstown with over signage? as I stated before'How about you make the real estate peole pay for any sign over"one" we do need any income we can recieve correct?this placelooks more like"DA BRONX" then the bronx itself

Randy June 28, 2012 at 02:06 am

Please don't take it personally, but we support the police. The firefighters work for free... It is just that the police salaries and benefits have risen to an unsustainable level which damages many residents ability to stay in their homes because of the enormous tax bills. The police should really take a step back and try and put themselves in the shoes of those who pay their salaries. They are making far more than is paid in almost every other town in the US. They make more than high ranking Army Officers. They make more than FBI Agents and any other agent of the Federal Government, DEA, ATF CIA etc. And yet, they want even more raises. Federal Agents have had no raises for two years and President Obama proposed a 0.5% raise for this year which won't make it out of the Congress. Please try and understand.

Craig Sherman June 28, 2012 at 02:26 am

what eyesore/ health concern would you have found on London Terrace>

Rob June 28, 2012 at 05:26 am

Mr. Joel Epstein...Have you ever driven along West Clarkstown Road from the overpass of the Palisades Parkway and heading south toward Eckerson Ave...If you do, please turn your head to the left and right and you will see a bunch old beat up homes. This is still part of Clarkstown. Some of these places look like a 3rd world country....

Bob June 28, 2012 at 09:33 am

Does Ramapo have this? I wish they would.

Tony T June 28, 2012 at 10:46 am

Is there a telphone #, e mail address or address that citizens can report un-kept homes in Clarkstown.

Beth Smith June 28, 2012 at 11:50 am

There was a house in our Orangetown neighborhood that the yard was overgrown and needed raking. But fortunately before we all started filing complaints with the town - one of the neighbors actually went to the door. Discovered an elderly lady, son died a couple of years before, no family left. Her home was all she had. We now take turns mowing her lawn and shoveling her walk in the winter. So easy to complain, so much better to lend a helping hand.

A taxpayer who feels Dis-emboweled by elected Miscreants June 28, 2012 at 12:04 pm

a question...the clerk of the works just got a raise correct???we all read about it...but arent raises based on people doing their jobs???so my question is as follows..last year a son of a head honcho of clarkstown was caught using I beleive clarkstown equipment..IE..the trucks etc... and if I read correctly got arrested..for something he did regarding removal of things while he was working under whos department????was anyone reprimanded? or was it all swept under the carpet so to speak..again..if i read correctly the employee was under someones direction in clarkstown..ahh too busy!!!!and folks we talk about overgrown propertys..BUT seriously LOOK WHAT THIS LEADERSHIP ALLOWED TO MAIN STREET TREES ALL TORN DOWN ITS NO WONDER BUSINESSES ARENT BUSY IN THIS TOWN..IR DOESNT LOOK NICE ANYMORE...who allowed magnificent trets to be demolished? yet putting little lights on a little street in valley cottage was a big deal.soo important?

A taxpayer who feels Dis-emboweled by elected Miscreants June 28, 2012 at 12:07 pm

and people you will never see the parking lot on maple ave with a speck of dirt..because thats what is importmant by the way this town must be great I see a nice new porche parked in the lot cost what 50,000 to 75,000!!!see now thats important..I cant beleive we dont have anyone driving a maserati or rolls royce!!wow we must demand that!!!

Anthony Marino June 28, 2012 at 12:22 pm

99% of the civil servants work very hard for their pay and deserve it. But there is the 1% that need to look in the mirror and say to them selves that I don't deserve this pay because I do not do a full days work all I do is moan and groan about my fellow workers,have partys on the job, bad mouth there bosses etc. That is why people always harping on a civil servant. The good have to suffer for the bad

Stewie June 28, 2012 at 08:58 pm

What other job pays a high SALARY and OVERTIME. Most people who are on salary don't get paid overtime, we just do what needs to be done to get the job done. On top of that they get a ridiculous benefits and a PENSION. That is all fine and dandy if it was a job that nobody wants, but there is no shortage of qualified individuals willing to do it. Supply and demand is not at play here, yet labor union strong arming is.

Brenda M June 28, 2012 at 09:56 pm

I think when homeowners let their property deteriorate there is economic stress or an elderly couple who can not afford to have their lawn cut.  Businesses do what is cheapest for them. I have a friend who was out of a job for years and nearly lost his home.  To persecute him about his lawn is ridiculous when he can't even buy health insurance.  Mr Epstein should concentrate on businesses and leave the homeowners alone. What I find interesting about this discussion is that the public is becoming aware of who the town board is allowing to escape from economic reality.   The police contract was rushed past a town board meeting with no discussion. This is something I expected in the Soviet Union not in the USA.   Homeowners who are elderly and who have supported Clarkstown all of their lives are subjected to horrendous taxation and told they can rent out part of their homes to pay taxes.    I saw promise in the youth of Hausner but that is now gone.  Mr. Gromack builds a re-election fund of approximately one million dollars to run for the job of supervisor.   Town board members evade questions from the public such as why they retained the Bronx GOP chairman to do tax work.   Where is the Shirley Lasker of the old Palisades Mall days whom I voted for?   The smile and warmth I used to admire in her is now gone!  Where is the George Hoehmann that I voted for expecting he would bring openness into government?   Have they all become ghosts and lost their souls?

A taxpayer who feels Dis-emboweled by elected Miscreants June 28, 2012 at 10:21 pm

the reality is all those clowns on maple ave..laugh while they stuff their mouths..they hope that we the taxpayers will go away after a few weeks..they are all protected..their attitude speaks volumes..they take our displeasure as part of their jobs..I got a email from someone who stated what we get for our money simply. and the comparison of the rest of the world and state and truthfully it is a big embarrassment to every taxpayer..we pay the chief 252,000 for managing 162 cops..ray kelly in NYC who has to manage 40,000 officers gets 190,000 so we pay 40% more to a person to manage .04% of what Kelly does!!!!and NYC has some of the most expensive buildings in the world...residents who are famous....buildings that are historic..a lot more to police...yet what happened here????and no one cares..let the old people starve...charge them 4% more on their electric bills..who cares..everyone in this county knows how to sidestep reality!!!the school board issues are a travesty!! BUT WAIT!!READ ABOUT STOCKTON CALIFORNIA.. lets hope that what happened to them finds its way here...because 80 million in the RED is just a part of each town...didnt clarkstown have to borrow 90 plus million?we need to go Bankrupt!!!to save the taxpayers..this county is not desirable..anymore.

A taxpayer who feels Dis-emboweled by elected Miscreants June 28, 2012 at 10:23 pm

about getting what we pay for....the fire department is totally volunteer and they save lives and are incredible people....

Clarkstown life June 28, 2012 at 11:54 pm

you must have been awesome in your stream of consciousness writing class in high school

A taxpayer who feels Dis-emboweled by elected Miscreants June 29, 2012 at 11:47 am

I have to apologize.the amounts i wrote in a previos post are wrong!!!here are the exact amounts sent to me by other disgruntled taxpayers in an email
Clarkstowns chief makes 260,000 or abouts...Kelly who manages the largest police force in the World makes 212,947..so we give ours approx 22% for the 162 cops he manages..40,000 cops to 162 cops..no comment.. and our chief makes 45% more than our GOV. Cuomo who is the 2nd highest paid GOV in THE US at 179,000..and this is how they have treated the taxpayers here in clarkclownville.one almost has to think we have a"Bernie Madoff type of employee guarantee!!!!except here in clarksclownville they are "making off"with the hard earned taxpayers money!!!

J H June 29, 2012 at 01:08 pm

I won't give the number in case I have it wrong, but it's on the even side of the street, a few up from Yale. Grass must be 4 feet long, driveway is overgrown with moss and weeds. Can't possibly be anyone living in that place...

Rob June 30, 2012 at 12:54 am

I had such a great day today...Stress free work day ...everything going just right...Now after reading the above post, Now I'm fired up again....Once my kids are grown up, I would have no more use to live in this "Bernie Madoff" town as the prior guy posted above. I refuse to pay the pensions of these overpaid town employees. However, for now, I have to....At least my kids are getting a great education. I'm sure Gov Cuomo and Ray Kelly and for that matter all the NYPD works twice as hard as our 260 K police chief and his staff.....It's just a matter of time before this town goes bankrupt just like Nassau County and that town in California which I read about this past week..

Tony T June 30, 2012 at 01:50 pm

No many arebroken into illegal apartments and rented to illegal immigrants and really don't care as long as the cash keeps coming in!!!

Kathleen Brennan August 22, 2012 at 09:10 pm

Gary, I have started taking pictures of commercial and residential eyesores - if everyone can take pictures and email address and date to Enforcement that would be a start. Possibly Mr Epstein can advise us where to send the information. I appreciate that he took the time to respond.

tom kelty August 23, 2012 at 01:46 am

I dont usually blog, but what about all the advertising signs people put all over town at curbside?

tom kelty August 23, 2012 at 01:54 am

Too bad there aren't more out there like these neighbors.... Sometimes you need to realize it isn't easy for everyone and if you lend a hand ...YOU will feel better as well as solve the problem.