Community organization in Spring Valley calls for action as trash piles up
Konbit Neg Lakay says their repeated cleanups aren’t enough and urge officials to address ongoing issues
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An organization in Rockland County is voicing frustration over trash and garbage piling up around its Spring Valley neighborhood. The leader of the Konbit Neg Lakay Community Center at 16 East Church Street, which helps the immigrant population, says they have repeatedly cleaned near their location on areas of Centre Street and East Church Street, even though those sidewalks are not part of their property. They say that they have paid people to clean, as well.
Renold Julien, the head of the community center, recorded a video on Wednesday showing garbage scattered along the sidewalks. He said the cleanup took about five hours. When he returned to the same spots on Thursday, he found new pieces of trash.
Julien said he is speaking out because the situation has become unacceptable.
He also pointed to a private lot next to the community center where even more trash has accumulated, but they cannot clean it because it's private property.
“We need help here in the village of Spring Valley... Go to Memorial Park,” he said, noting that parts of the park are also littered.
Julien said he wants elected officials to address the issue, particularly because that area of the village is where many people of color live.
“I am asking the people in office - the people who have the power here in Spring Valley, we need your help,” he said.
Spring Valley Mayor Schenley Vital said the village has begun issuing notices to landlords throughout the community. If property owners do not address violations within the grace period, the village will clean the areas and bill the owners.
The mayor also said the private lot on East Church Street is involved in outside legal matters, but the village will work to address the issue.
A spokesperson for Rockland County government provided a statement on Thursday.
“After your inquiry, we had the Office of Buildings & Codes and Rockland Codes Investigations go out to inspect. OBC conducted an inspection of the property along with the adjoining properties which is owned by the same owner & is issuing approximately 10 violations under the New York State Property Maintenance Code. RCI will also cite the owner for trash and rubbish violations and send out a violation letter today," the statement read.
