Pastor: Empty Newburgh lot being used as a public bathroom

A pastor in Orange County says the city of Newburgh isn’t helping her against constant public urination in the lot outside her ministry.

News 12 Staff

Sep 13, 2019, 9:42 PM

Updated 1,831 days ago

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A pastor in Orange County says the city of Newburgh isn’t helping her against constant public urination in the lot outside her ministry.
Pastor Rosie Lawal, who runs the Northeast Gateway to Freedom Ministry on Broadway, says she has pictures of people using the empty lot as a bathroom.
She says they are “urinating on our walls and our garbage cans” and returning to use the lot for “sexual acts."
Lawal has complained to police and city officials, but nothing seems to get done. The city has a law against public urination that Lawal says is not being enforced.
"I'm pleading for their help,” she says. “I can't tell you how many times I've called the police station."
Mayor Torrance Harvey says he's aware of the problem and is working with police.
City officials say the lot has several open violations and that the owners have until the end of the month to clean it up before facing a fine.
News 12 reached out to the owners of the lot, but calls were not returned.