TUESDAY, October 9, 2018: (New York) Today the Mount Vernon Homes Task Force, comprised of the City’s Building, Planning, Assessor, Fire, Police, Water, Recreation and Law Departments, met to report that Mount Vernon received the prestigious Zombie Grant to continue its work on Phase II of the Mount Vernon Zombie Initiative. The group is assembling data and invites the community to crowd source information on abandoned Zombie Properties so it can target them for enhanced enforcement. Residents can share information by email or telephone. The group has already tackled the bank-owned property at 19 South Terrace and is using Building Blocks software with internet resources to obtain data on LLC-owned properties. This software is also being used to locate possible seniors who need help. The next step is for the group to complete a survey on how to deal with squatters, chase down delinquent owners, and to empower neighbors to protect their quality of life.
If successful, the proposed 2019 City Budget will add more fire power behind the effort to beautify and transform our City for good. Today the group is leveraging the NYS “Zombie Properties” law https://www.dfs.ny.gov/banking/zombie_prop_legislation.htm which obligates zombie property owners to mitigate the negative impact that vacant properties have on local communities. Mount Vernon building inspectors are visiting these dilapidated properties and putting the owners on notice by issuing violations. From loose boarded up windows to overgrown weeds, we will address maintenance issues.
Do your part to help via email zombiehomecoordinator@mvzht.com or call 914-840-4037. To see the meeting agenda, click here http://cmvny.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ZombieAgenda2.pdf.
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To see the previous task force meeting held on September 11, click here https://www.facebook.com/MayorRichardThomas/videos/223429715193270
