Debris strewn across the front of some businesses along Hempstead Turnpike; vehicles parked on the sidewalk; abandoned shopping carts and litter along streets, graffiti tagged at bus stops; litter being collected in the bushes and shrubs. These are some of the images captured with a camera to illustrate the point that parts of West Hempstead are in need of enforcement when it comes to laws designed to keep the community clean.

West Hempstead Civic Association Zoning Committee Chairman Seth Bykofsky was critical of the Town of Hempstead for allowing the litter to go neglected and called the town's approach to enforcement a band-aid approach.

"What's very frustrating about this is that it is a continuing problem. This isn't something that developed overnight," said Bykofsky. "The only way we seem to get anywhere in terms of cleanup, maintenance and code enforcement is to complain like the dickens. Then we get a cleanup and a few months later, we are back again complaining about the same things."

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray sent a letter addressed, "Dear Neighbor," concerning the town's efforts to keep commercial areas clean. In the letter, dated April 6, Murray states, "Despite the fact that Hempstead Turnpike is a state roadway under the purview of the New York State Department of Transportation, Hempstead Town Sanitation Department personnel have been manually picking up litter on this roadway. Similarly, Hempstead Avenue and Woodfield Road, which are county roadways, have also benefitted from Town of Hempstead litter patrols. For over two years, the town has deployed sanitation workers to West Hempstead roadways once a week."

According to the town's code, "Persons owning or occupying places of business within the town shall keep the sidewalk in front of their business premises free of litter."

Murray stated the town has dispatched building department personnel to the area to inspect conditions that were complained of and to issue summonses where appropriate. Murray stated Hempstead Tire Service received summonses for outside storage of tires, among other violations; National Wholesale Liquidators was served with five appearance tickets for locating storage trailers in the store's parking lot and two notices of violation were issued to Rice Automotive Supply for unauthorized car sales and storing vehicles in front of its building. "This action is in addition to numerous previous efforts directed toward bringing local businesses into compliance with our zoning ordinances."

However, Bykofsky said photos taken that illustrate litter and refuse represent an ongoing problem and the issue is a matter of code enforcement.

Another problem has been litter at the West Hempstead railroad station and its right of way along Hempstead Avenue. Concerning that problem, Murray stated the town has written to county officials who remit annual train station maintenance payments to the MTA. These payments are for the cleaning and maintenance of local stations. "Specifically, we have requested that the county withhold payments to the MTA until the abject filth at local LIRR facilities is remediated. We also suggested that a lower fee be negotiated based on non-performance by the MTA and LIRR," the supervisor stated in her letter.

Bykofsky said the MTA promised to put West Hempstead on a regular maintenance schedule. "Unfortunately to them, the word regular means once every ten years," he said. "We get no place until we start calling state senator Dean Skelos and state assemblyman Tom Alfano. Then we get some action, but again it's the band aid approach."

While the West Hempstead Civic Association thinks of itself as the eyes and ears for the community and the zoning committee files complaints with the town on behalf of residents, Bykofsky wonders if all is being done by the town and the MTA to preserve the quality of life of the community. "The town has to be more proactive. They're not. The results are in the pudding," he said.

West Hempstead Association President Rosalie Norton said she is not condoning the litter but offered an explanation, saying that at the end of the winter, garbage that was buried under the snow is surfacing now.

She said the town has swept the county and state roads and that the county indicated it has started its spring cleanup. "It's a matter of keeping after them. How can you say you condone or accept or like what you see? Nobody could," Norton said.

Norton said that the town has been responsive when it receives complaints. "Are they as responsive as we would like them? Do you realize what the taxes would be if they had enough people to go around for all the different code enforcements? Once we bring it to their attention, they do pursue it. You really have to keep on top of it."