Crime & Safety

Public Drinking, Urination Pose a Problem For Nyack Business Owners

Nyack business owner and landlord William Kiesel says criminal activity has his tenants unhappy—a problem other business owners have taken into their own hands.

Residents' public drunkenness and urination have become a sizeable thorn in one Nyack business owner's side.

William Kiesel, who owns the building at 40 South Franklin that houses the Corner Frame Shop and several residential apartments, has been calling for the Orangetown Police to better police the area and prevent the widespread public drinking and urination that occurs there, he said.

Kiesel spoke with village trustees at a board meeting last week, asking them to spur the Orangetown Police into action.

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"I have been calling on the police to take a more active approach since 2003," Kiesel said. "But people are still drinking [outside my building]. I haven't seen any results."

"We need help," he added. "We're not getting help. We need you to go the police department and make sure they're enforcing the law."

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Kiesel noted the criminal activity has become more than a nuisance for his residents.

"My tenants don't want to live there because people are drinking and peeing in the bushes," he said.

Kiesel noted—in his experience—the police are aware of the situation but not quick to act. He often calls the authorities when people are drinking or distributing alcohol, but the police rarely exit their vehicles to intervene, he said.

Village trustees sympathized with Kiesel, and agreed that actions will be taken.

Orangetown Police noted combating public drinking and urination is a constant battle for the department—it is pervasive, especially on weekends.

"We do get calls about it," he said. "We send out extra patrols on weekends." When alcohol is being consumed, he added, issues like this are frequent.

Sullivan added that issuing summons to the revelers can act as a deterrent.

"We hope that it will prevent that person from doing it again in the future," he said.

But some Nyack property owners have taken matters into their own hands and acted proactively.

"You have to take some of the onus on yourself," said John Fisk, a Nyack electrician and building owner who lives on New Street. "I can understand [Kiesel] being upset about it. But the best thing he can do is put in video surveillance so he can go to a town meeting—or the police—with pictures, and say 'this is what is happening.'"

Fisk installed lighting and cameras around his property about two years ago—an action that has curbed the lewd behavior and resulted in arrests, he said.

"The cameras have had half-a-dozen people arrested for vandalism and theft," Fisk said. Fisk recounted an instance when cameras captured a man punching the side-view mirror off his car; the footage included the man's license plate, and he was arrested shortly after.

"If someone comes and pees on your property, there's not much the police can do without their identity," he explained.

Fisk, who has been a Nyack resident for approximately 30 years, also noted the problem is a fairly new one.

"Five years ago things began getting out of hand," he said. "It wasn't until [several downtown bars] open that the town got really out of control."

Editor's note: John Fisk's name was incorrectly spelled "Fish." The corrections have been made.


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