Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Cemeteries fined for flower vases


From Eyewitness News:

There is outrage over a little known New York City ordinance that some families claim is not allowing them to properly mourn their loved ones buried at cemetery in Queens.

The ordinance forbids cemetery visitors to place flowers in water. It's all part of a citywide effort to prevent West Nile Virus, but many people say it's ridiculous. "This is a place that's supposed to be after life peaceful not people giving out tickets," says Andy Pilizota. Daniel Austin runs the cemetery, and he says two days before Mother's Day, their busiest week, an inspector from the Health Department walked the grounds. He had no idea, until Monday, he got a notice in the mail, saying the inspector found, "conditions conducive to the breeding of mosquitoes. Water in vases and flower pots throughout the property, some that contained larvae." It's a violations, something officials take very seriously in order to prevent cases of West Nile Virus. Daniel was fined $1,200. "I've done everything physically to curtail water or standing water with the grounds of this 225 acre sprawling cemetery," he says. That's the irony, there is a zero tolerance for standing water there. Signs clearly warn visitors not to bring it in from mid-April to the end of October. Staff looks for empties containers, even going as far as completely closing down facets but with only 15 full time workers and roughly 250,000 grave sites, Daniel says it's impossible to be everywhere at every time. He feels the health department is unfairly targeting him and other cemeteries.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

the VA cemeteries permit small floral sprays that can be stuck in the ground near the grave.

the local shops sell them starting at about $6.00. i think they feel it is easier to remove when the flowers dry up.

Anonymous said...

It's all about creating an income stream for the city through fines.

Anonymous said...

no, stupid, its about being consistent in the treatment of the conditions that breed mosquitoes. Sorry, but your silly jab at the city failed this time.

Anonymous said...

No, I think you may be the stupid one. If it's about being consistent in treating conditions that breed mosquitoes, then why did the DEP ignore the gigantic puddle in Rockaway that Crapper posted yesterday.

Smart jab at the city. They are hypocritical.

Anonymous said...

This is the best Bloomberg can do ?
What about all of the water pooling in the streets after rain. Poor paving and drainage should be corrected first mr. mayor.

Anonymous said...

the D.O.T. recently constructed new curbs around the center medians on 46th Avenue @193 st. to Utopia Pkwy. the Bayside Times -Ledger , last year wrote an expose article picturing the disintegration of the curbing.

the avenue area is now attractive and increases the local home values.

the homeowners living on, 42 nd avenue from 205 st, to 201 st, @ F.L.Blvd ,Bayside, are now very envious.
after many years of photos on Q.C., letters from Cm.Halloran , Sen.Padavan and C.P.B.11 Mgr. ,Susan Seinfield , to the D.O.T. the median curbs are still disintegrating and resulting in ponding for long periods ,after a rain.
the avenue compares with the recent scene on Q.C. @ Rockaway.

maybe we need Sen. "YOU KNOW WHO" to come to our rescue ? doesn't any one in the city agencies care that this space @204 and 205 st. is now a" SWAMP" ?

btw, D.O.T. did paint a YELLOW CAUTION LINE around each median, to keep vehicles from parking there.

DO YOU THINK THAT STOPPED THE MOTORISTS ?

8" to 10 " curbs will prevent the vehicles from jumping the curb and parking.and will prevent "SWAMPING FOR THE MOSQUITO WEST NILE DISEASE"