Town Nuisance Law Merely A Nuisance To Town of Hempstead
Why Won't Supervisor Kate Murray Padlock The Courtesy?
You really have to wonder.
First Kate Murray is against condemnation. Then she's for it. But the Town STILL has not commenced a Condemnation Proceeding to close the Courtesy Hotel.
Then Kate Murray is against invoking the padlock provision of the Town's Nuisance Law. Now she's looking at the "option" of renewing a failed civil suit brought under the Nuisance Law.
The Town's Communications office tells West Hempstead civic leaders -- time and time again -- that a Condemnation Proceeding is underway, and that the reason the Supervisor cannot padlock the Courtesy is the pendency of the Town's civil action brought under the Nuisance Law, the civil suit precluding resort to the padlock provision.
There is no pending Condemnation Proceeding, and never was, and even assuming, for argument sake, that the Supervisor's hands were tied (and mouth gagged, apparently, given her utter failure to personally go on the record here), with respect to preclusion of padlocking during the pendency of the civil suit, we learn now, through Newsday's report, that the civil suit was dismissed on appeal, years ago.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING STANDING BETWEEN THE SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD AND THE PADLOCKING OF THE COURTESY BUT FOR THE WILL OF THE SUPERVISOR TO ACT!
Ask the Town why they have not closed the Courtesy -- as West Hempsteaders have been doing for a dozen years -- and you'll get the old song and dance.
"Well. Ah. Ya know." "We're working on it." "These things take time!"
Now, the Town wants our community to wait until July, when the Town "hopes" to adopt an Urban renewal plan -- itself only a prelude to a long, drawn-out condemnation process.
We say, "time has run out," both on the Courtesy and on the patience of the good people of this community.
We're tired of the excuses, the runaround, the smokescreen, and, yes, the out-and-out lies that flow from the Town's press office.
At this point, Supervisor Kate Murray has but two options as far as the residents of West Hempstead are concerned: PADLOCK THE COURTESY OR RESIGN FROM OFFICE!
E-MAIL SUPERVISOR KATE MURRAY -- KateMurray@tohmail.org -- AND TELL HER TO PADLOCK THE COURTESY HOTEL NOW!
- - -
Effort to shutter Courtesy renews
By Eden Laikin
eden.laikin@newsday.com
The 12-year campaign by West Hempstead residents to shut the Courtesy Hotel has moved into the electronic age: Residents have sent more than 130 e-mails to Hempstead town officials, asking that it be padlocked immediately.
The West Hempstead Civic Association began its crusade in 1995, and is now urging Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Edward Ambrosino to speed up redevelopment plans for the area and close the Hempstead Avenue hotel.
"It's very simple: there's a law on the books, known as the nuisance law, which contains a padlock provision permitting the town to close the hotel after two predicate felony arrests," said Seth Bykofsky, former president of the association. "All we are asking is for the supervisor to apply the letter of the law ... "
The group has pointed to drug activity and police arrests at the hotel as having an impact on their quality of life. Last month, town officials spoke to 200 residents who gathered at the West Hempstead Middle School to voice their anger about the hotel, where police said they have responded 28 times this year. Most recently, a Level 3 sex offender, paroled after being convicted of raping a 9-year-old girl, moved into the Courtesy.
Hotel owner Bruce Zwelsky could not be reached for comment, but he has said the business has increased security.
Assemb. Tom Alfano (R-North Valley Stream) said he also sent a letter to Murray, asking her to condemn the hotel. "It is a source of violence, danger and embarrassment to the residents," the letter read. "Instances of rape, assault and drug violations cannot continue; it is unacceptable. "
Town officials say they are working to redevelop the area. Hempstead is pursuing several initiatives, including preparing an urban renewal plan, which they hope will be adopted by the town board by July, town spokesman Mike Deery said.
"That will give us the authority to acquire any properties affected by the plan and/or to commence condemnation hearings," he said.
The town tried to close the hotel in 2004 under the nuisance law, but its order was overturned by an appellate court. Deery said the town is exploring the option of renewing the nuisance case.
In 2005, the town initiated a "blight study," as the first step toward condemning the property. That process, they said, would take about 18 months. In December, the town issued a request for qualifications from interested developers. And last month, the list of potential developers was narrowed to four.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
Why Won't Supervisor Kate Murray Padlock The Courtesy?
You really have to wonder.First Kate Murray is against condemnation. Then she's for it. But the Town STILL has not commenced a Condemnation Proceeding to close the Courtesy Hotel.
Then Kate Murray is against invoking the padlock provision of the Town's Nuisance Law. Now she's looking at the "option" of renewing a failed civil suit brought under the Nuisance Law.
The Town's Communications office tells West Hempstead civic leaders -- time and time again -- that a Condemnation Proceeding is underway, and that the reason the Supervisor cannot padlock the Courtesy is the pendency of the Town's civil action brought under the Nuisance Law, the civil suit precluding resort to the padlock provision.
There is no pending Condemnation Proceeding, and never was, and even assuming, for argument sake, that the Supervisor's hands were tied (and mouth gagged, apparently, given her utter failure to personally go on the record here), with respect to preclusion of padlocking during the pendency of the civil suit, we learn now, through Newsday's report, that the civil suit was dismissed on appeal, years ago.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING STANDING BETWEEN THE SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD AND THE PADLOCKING OF THE COURTESY BUT FOR THE WILL OF THE SUPERVISOR TO ACT!
Ask the Town why they have not closed the Courtesy -- as West Hempsteaders have been doing for a dozen years -- and you'll get the old song and dance.
"Well. Ah. Ya know." "We're working on it." "These things take time!"
Now, the Town wants our community to wait until July, when the Town "hopes" to adopt an Urban renewal plan -- itself only a prelude to a long, drawn-out condemnation process.
We say, "time has run out," both on the Courtesy and on the patience of the good people of this community.
We're tired of the excuses, the runaround, the smokescreen, and, yes, the out-and-out lies that flow from the Town's press office.
At this point, Supervisor Kate Murray has but two options as far as the residents of West Hempstead are concerned: PADLOCK THE COURTESY OR RESIGN FROM OFFICE!
E-MAIL SUPERVISOR KATE MURRAY -- KateMurray@tohmail.org -- AND TELL HER TO PADLOCK THE COURTESY HOTEL NOW!
- - -
Effort to shutter Courtesy renews
By Eden Laikin
eden.laikin@newsday.com
The 12-year campaign by West Hempstead residents to shut the Courtesy Hotel has moved into the electronic age: Residents have sent more than 130 e-mails to Hempstead town officials, asking that it be padlocked immediately.
The West Hempstead Civic Association began its crusade in 1995, and is now urging Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilman Edward Ambrosino to speed up redevelopment plans for the area and close the Hempstead Avenue hotel.
"It's very simple: there's a law on the books, known as the nuisance law, which contains a padlock provision permitting the town to close the hotel after two predicate felony arrests," said Seth Bykofsky, former president of the association. "All we are asking is for the supervisor to apply the letter of the law ... "
The group has pointed to drug activity and police arrests at the hotel as having an impact on their quality of life. Last month, town officials spoke to 200 residents who gathered at the West Hempstead Middle School to voice their anger about the hotel, where police said they have responded 28 times this year. Most recently, a Level 3 sex offender, paroled after being convicted of raping a 9-year-old girl, moved into the Courtesy.
Hotel owner Bruce Zwelsky could not be reached for comment, but he has said the business has increased security.
Assemb. Tom Alfano (R-North Valley Stream) said he also sent a letter to Murray, asking her to condemn the hotel. "It is a source of violence, danger and embarrassment to the residents," the letter read. "Instances of rape, assault and drug violations cannot continue; it is unacceptable. "
Town officials say they are working to redevelop the area. Hempstead is pursuing several initiatives, including preparing an urban renewal plan, which they hope will be adopted by the town board by July, town spokesman Mike Deery said.
"That will give us the authority to acquire any properties affected by the plan and/or to commence condemnation hearings," he said.
The town tried to close the hotel in 2004 under the nuisance law, but its order was overturned by an appellate court. Deery said the town is exploring the option of renewing the nuisance case.
In 2005, the town initiated a "blight study," as the first step toward condemning the property. That process, they said, would take about 18 months. In December, the town issued a request for qualifications from interested developers. And last month, the list of potential developers was narrowed to four.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
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