By Dan Murphy
Yonkers City Council President Mike Khader recently responded to complaints made to his office from residents concerns about quality of life issues across the city but specifically in the downtown-getty square areas. Khader, who is in the middle of his third year as Council President, responded by walking through the neighborhoods, and then commented about his findings on Social Media.
“After receiving numerous calls and emails I met with some residents today, they wanted me to walk through their neighborhood. Litter is a huge problem in our city, it is important residents take pride, and do their part by properly disposing their trash. It is evident we need more effective trash Receptacles throughout the city,” said Khader.
Most garbage cans in Yonkers were removed in October 2018. The decision was designed to stop illegal dumping in trash bins by businesses and others. “The city has several-hundred litter baskets, which are emptied daily and are intended for pedestrian litter only. Instead, our crews regularly respond to overflowing litter baskets, which are filed with commercial and household refuge. For these reasons, the city will be implementing the removal of public litter baskets,”said Meier two years ago.
Council President Khader has questioned the decision to remove the garbage cans in 2018, and renewed his request, along with many other residents, to bring back the public garbage bins. But Khader’s concerns were more about the quality of life issues that affect many Yonkers residents in the downtown.
“Just drove through Getty Square and Downtown Yonkers. We still have a garbage/dumping problem, rat problem, homeless problem, drug dealing/use problem. This amazing city will never succeed so long has these issues are not addressed properly. I had enough, we need real action and accountability to keep this city safe and clean. If left ignored it will effect our entire City’s quality of life.”
Khader’s comments, which most of the residents viewed as an honest conversation about the realities of what is happening in some pars of Yonkers, drew a number of responses and comments on social media. The overwhelming majority of comments were in support of Khader bringing the issues to light, and having a public discussion about them.
Longtime downtown Yonkers resident and artist Haifa Bint-Kadi wrote, “Mike, thank you so much. Getty Square looks like a landfill. Broken lights, garbage everywhere, etc. I pay very high rent and the quality of life in the square is at the lowest point ever. The rats abound and the building owners just don’t care because they don’t live here. The broken street lights have been that way for months. There is dogfighting, outdoor concerts until 4:00 am in the empty lot and all the garbage is in the landfill. The empty lot at 14 N. Broadway is overgrown with heaps of garbage…it’s getting worse.”
Tara James wrote, “I’m on the waterfront, it’s here too. I walk with my son and am horrified by the open drug dealing, drug taking and the garbage left behind that we wade through. It’s been here for a long time but seems to be worse now. Since the shelter was closed people who are homeless are on the streets because they have nowhere to go. I know it’s not easy but there are solutions.”
DPW Commissioner Tom Meier, also engaged Khader on Facebook, writing, “More litter baskets will not give us a cleaner downtown or a cleaner city. Rodents come from the homeowners garbage stored in the basement of these apartment buildings and then put out for curbside pickup in plastic bags that the rats just eat through, – pass legislation that requires these building to properly manage garbage within the building and instal compactors that contains the food waste and odor and has private carting companies take the garbage straight from the basement of these luxury apartments to the dump. The homeless problem as you well know is a county issue. Stop walking and start doing something. You have a vote in the budget but rarely vote on it- can’t provide services if you don’t even vote on a budget. Get your colleagues in county government to walk with you and ask them to do something about the homeless, where are social services, where are the mental health services from Westchester County Government! We have DPW, Parks and the downtown BID – all picking up litter, picking up dog waste, picking up dumped items and yet the people who live there continue to litter, dump and leave their dog waste!”
Two residents responded to Meier. Maeve Scott wrote, “Your experiment with garbage bins elimination is a complete failure. Where’s the proof? Put the garbage bins back, we need more than sanitation with a growing city, not less! And we need DPW crews working on street for clean ups every day! Instead of excuses. I want results for my tax dollars!
Carolyn Elizabeth Marie wrote, “If we have areas that have increased human activity where there are more condensed residential units then we should have more frequent pick up! Clearly, there will be more garbage created by the sheer volume of individuals in that area.”
Council President Khader, acknowledged that the homeless issue was the responsibility of county government, but added “quality of life issues affects everyone, regardless of political party. There have been no cuts to DPW services under my leadership of the City Council. We need to take pride in our neighborhoods but there should be trash cans in our neighborhoods. Credibility is important, and I’m talking about what other people are saying. I can’t legislate garbage cans, its an operational decision.”
