Shirley Woman Says Stop Dumping on Me

By Shari Einhorn

Can you imagine walking out your front door and seeing this every morning? 

It's disgusting right?  There's garbage everywhere! 

Now while this certainly does look like a garbage dump -- it's the front of someone's home!  Margaret Vlahakis lives in Shirley behind what I describe as a fast food lovers . 

None of the garbage is hers -- but it's apparently her responsibility to clean up it...every time!  She got two notices from the Town of Brookhaven for litter.  The letter says she could face potential fines, cleanup costs and possible misdemeanor charges -- can you believe it?

From what I could see, all of the garbage was from a half dozen different fast food places.  I saw Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Nathans and KFC garbage along with empty coffee cups from Dunkin Donuts.  Now, the homeowner told me the problem isn't with the food establishments -- but with the customers who mindlessly toss bags out the window.

Margaret -- who told me she's 70 years old -- is forced to clean up after the slobs.  But no matter how hard she tries -- or how much she cleans -- the garbage always comes back.

A very nice woman stopped by and once she found out what we were doing...volunteered to have some cub scouts come back later today and clean up.  She kept her word. 

Cub scout pack 138 from the Shirley Mastic area showed up at Margaret's home this afternoon and cleaned up all of the garbage...bags and bags of it. 

Take a look at the picture they sent me.  Great job guys and thanks for pitching in when no one else seemed to want to help!

Now, we did speak with the town of Brookhaven, who told me that Margaret Vlahakis will not be fined, charged for any cleanup costs, or face any charges.  Apparently the town says it will be in contact with the restaurant chains and see what if anything can be done.

I spoke with a manager from one of the fast food places who told me they take their responsibility to the neighborhood very seriously and would look into the matter. 

I'm going to stay on top of this and find out what if anything actually gets done.  I think everyone who reads this should put yourself in this woman's shoes and think about what you would do if you were the one being dumped on!

PS...thanks to photojournalist Dave Abrams for taking pictures of the garbage.  And thanks to the scouts for sending me pictures of cleaning it up.

Shari

      

                   

Comments

[FallenAnjel]

It's simple. Put a security camera up (nothing wrong w/ that). Report the pigs who litter (via license plate) and have THEM fined.

[Bob]

Shari,

One thing you should look into is who is responbile for the property. In looking at the pictures above, she's cleaning the property that is right next to the road. Now I know in the town of Islip, the town itself is responsible for the first 5 feet from the road onto your property. If this is the case with Brookhaven, then it is actually the town who would be responsible for cleaning it up.

This is just a classic case of Crookhaven bullying townspeople.

Bob

[John]

Does it even matter whose fault it is? What business is it of the Town of Brookhaven how often a woman cleans her yard? They don't own the land. Will they also threaten her for not washing her hair, one day?