Shopping Cart Law Problems

" I know that it is important to you that this "Shopping Cart" law is followed, but I need to say I can not see how it is. The e-mail I received last Thursday, to be exact, tells me that a sweep will be done this week, and as far as I see it has not been. Unless the areas that I will mention next have for some reason been missed. I'm quoting the law. "Shopping Cart Law" 420-2. Abandon - The leaving, discarding, dumping or placing of private property, which shall include shopping carts, in a public place or private property other than the place of the person who makes the shopping cart available to the public. I would hope that this means that the store that leaves these carts abandoned is also included in breaking this law? There have been at least a dozen that I could count (and maybe more) green Christmas Tree Shoppe shopping carts splattered around Central Ave. in the same place for more than a week as of 7P.M tonight. Also a Michael's shopping cart on the sidewalk in front of 111 North Central Park Ave. for at least two weeks, not to say dozens of Pathmark carts all over the place not in there own shopping center. Can you tell me why the this so called sweep has not been done or why these same carts that have been in the same place have not been picked up. If the town really cares how we look then why hasn't anything been done? "


-An e-mail from Mark Tenzer to Paul Feiner, John Kapica, Al Regula, and the Town Board.

In regards to the shopping cart problem

"From January 1, 2006 through January 8, 2007, 55 summonses have been issued for Shopping Cart violations. As you know, over the past several years the department has suffered some serious personnel deficiencies that have caused us to cut back on vital services. Enforcement of ordinances, such as that dealing with Shopping Carts, has suffered because of this. However, now that the Board has seen fit to increase the department's strength by a meaningful number, we expect that more resources will be put towards enforcement of quality of life ordinances, such as Shopping Carts. Although we expect that this will begin immediately, it will become more meaningful as the officers we recently hired complete their training and become available for street duty."

This is promising news, the future for the shopping cart problem is looking positive.

Before and After

By the end of this weekend, or early next week, I plan to drive around and take pictures of the same trouble areas. Hopefully we will see some improvement. I am bringing the addresses of the worst places to the DPW office to see if they can send over a crew to clean up the messes. I have confidence that this time around it will be much better.

Overflowing Garbage...

Most likely due to the long weekend, I noticed that garbage bins throughout the town were heavily overflowing. This overflow obviously lead to more trash being thrown on the ground, but it also indicates that the bins are being used. With heavier fines and more bins available, it is fairly evident that the garbage problem will diminish, at least a little.

Progress!

The Greenburgh Police Department is currently working on a special Enforcement Team to deal with Quality of Life issues, such as the shopping carts, illegal housing etc. This team will hopefully serve to bring an end to the shopping cart issue among others.

Shopping carts near the Dalewood Shopping center

Jackson Ave. leading to Stew Leonard's

"No Littering" sign without fine listed

Bus Stop on 119 near Exxon

As I walked around Greenburgh...

For the most part I found that even if there were garbage cans at bus stops, there was still trash on the ground. That being said, the majority of the litter was cigarette ends. This presents a different problem because cigarettes cannot be disposed in trash receptacles, but rather need a fire safe method. Also, I found that through my entire journey on 119 I saw only one sign to deter littering, and it read. "Don't Litter--P.D." no fine listed. Just by simply creating more signs with steep fines listed, people will be more likely to walk the extra ten feet to toss their empty bag in the garbage.

State Responsible Roads

9A, 100, 119 are all State controlled. But this does not mean we are powerless. If the state sees that the town is making a great effort to maintain itself, the state will look bad, and will most likely act accordingly.

Suggestions/Ideas So Far..

- New 55 gallon garbage cans at bus stops and other hot spots for trash.
- Increased penalties and fines for littering.
- Expose the businesses responsible for immense amounts of litter. This is possible through taking pictures and reporting those at fault.
- Hire local kids for $50 for a half day or $100 for a full day to work an organized sweep of appropriate streets. This would be a summer job.
- Create more community service opportunities and increase options in schools and other organizations to aid in the clean up. With the creation of a volunteer committee dedicated to cleaning streets and hot spots once every so often, we can start the process of making Greenburgh Greener.

Route 9A

Anadale Road

Highland Road

Route 9A

Fulton St. in Greenburgh

Expose the Problem

Please submit any pictures of debris or other relevant material. You can email the pictures to me at Rhevern@gmail.com.

Meeting to be held tonight at 8:15PM

There is a meeting to be held tonight at the Greenburgh Town Hall on the matter of keeping Greenburgh clean at 8:15PM. Please attend. Both Paul Feiner and I greatly appreciate any input on the subject as well as support and ideas to initiate an organized process to begin the program.