SANTINO AND MURRAY MOVE TO PROTECT BALDWIN APARTMENT DWELLERS AND NEIGHBORS

July 28, 2009

Hempstead Town Senior Councilman Anthony J. Santino and Supervisor Kate Murray instructed the Town's building department to board-up Tan apartment building in Baldwin that was "unfit for human occupancy."

"Families were living in a 12-unit apartment building that was a danger to their well-being," said Murray. "The landlord repeatedly failed to address safety concerns, and we will not tolerate landlords who put the safety of residents at risk."

Hempstead Town has ensured that the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Social Services have placed the families formerly residing in the building at 21 Edna Court into more appropriate housing.

"The conditions at this apartment building were not conducive to family life," Councilman Santino said. "With the assistance of the Department of Social Services' Housing and Homeless Prevention Division, these families will find accomodations that will help them to live in a safe and clean environment."

In addition to structural deficiencies, the apartment building was condemned for life-safety issues. The problems with the propety included a cracked foundation, a lack of emergency lighting and proper hallway lighting, roach infestation, no working smoke alarms or fire extinguishers, basement windows that had been knocked out, and a front door that was not properly secured to ensure the safety of the building's occupants. The landlord was presented with several summonses and is scheduled to appear in court on August 18.

In addition to the danger that the building posed to occupants, neighbors have complained about disturbances at this site. The local police precinct noted that there have been numerous responses and arrests at this location related to illegal drug sales and other issues.

"The landlord has allowed this site to endanger building residents," noted Santino. "What's more, the neighbors of this apartment building have had to tolerate police activity that has adversely impacted the neighborhood's quality of life."

"A safe and secure residence is a basic necessity for a person's well being," Murray concluded. "Councilman Santino and I will continue to aggressively pursue landlords who do not look out for the welfare of their tenants. We will also work with other agencies to ensure that tenants who are confronted with unsafe and unhealthy apartments are properly relocated."

Murray and Santino Urge IDA to Just Say "No" to Rockville Centre Avalon Bay

March 25, 2009

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Senior Councilman Anthony J. Santino today announced that they are opposed to the application that has been filed by Avalon Bay Communities seeking financial assistance from the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) for the planned construction of a 349-unit market rate rental apartments in Rockville Centre.

The Industrial Development Agency is an independent entity, created pursuant to state law, which is separate and distinct from the government of the Town of Hempstead where Murray serves as chief executive and Santino is the senior member of its legislative body.

While Murray and Santino do not sit on the IDA board and have no jurisdiction whatsoever over the decisions of the IDA, the supervisor and the councilman want to make it clear that they "unequivocally oppose the granting of this application."

"The reasons for denying this application have been set out in compelling fashion by Rockville Centre Mayor Mary Bossart, members of the village board of trustees, and many residents of Rockville Centre," said Santino. "Granting the financial assistance sought from the IDA by Avalon Bay Communities would strain already overburdened village services while denying the village the tax revenue necessary for it to provide this large residential complex with such basic needs as sanitation, fire, police and EMS services." Murray added, "When weighed against the severe strain that the application's approval would place on village finances, the resulting six permanent jobs that Avalon Bay representatives admit would be created are woefully inadequate to warrant positive action by the IDA."

In closing, Murray and Santino noted that were they members of the IDA board they would hold to the highest standards of public necessity any proposed project that did not enjoy the support of the municipality in which it was located.

"Since the Rockville Centre Board of Trustees has formally voted its opposition to this project, and since the applicant has freely admitted that the proposed project will create only six permanent jobs, Councilman Santino and I see no compelling reason to grant the application," concluded Murray.

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