Nyack residents express concerns about homelessness, panhandling
The village hosted a meeting to share their efforts and get feedback from the community.
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It was a packed house at the Nyack Village Hall on Monday night as residents and business owners expressed concerns about homelessness and panhandling downtown.
"This is a serious problem and it's affecting businesses all over town," says Marianne Olive, Owner of Olive's.
The village hosted a meeting to share their efforts and get feedback from the community.
"We want a downtown that people feel safe," says Nyack Mayor Joseph Rand. "We put a curfew in place. We've been working with the police and social services to try to bring services to these people, to give them better options than sleeping out in the cold."
Rand says the uptick in panhandling started two years ago and the increase of people sleeping in public spaces started last year. He says some progress has been made.
The village is also working to hire a code enforcement officer to walk the streets and have also removed some benches in the downtown area.
Residents and business owners say while these efforts are good steps, more needs to be done.
"Maybe they're not in the park in the center square but now they're going to the parking lot because people that are parking there are targeted now. It's dangerous," says Olive.
Some suggested a bigger police presence and resources available to help.
"It'll bring more families down, it'll bring Nyack to where I think that we all want it to be," says Nick Loconsole, owner of Turiello's Pizza.
Village officials say they will continue to work with businesses owners.
