(ELMONT, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D – Lawrence) is demanding action from the Town of Hempstead to address major, longstanding safety and quality of life issues at the Town of Hempstead Housing Authority’s Westover Gardens community.
In a Monday, July 31 letter to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Legislator Solages said that the daughter of a constituent first reached out to his office to express concerns about a foul smell emanating through the building. The inquiry led to the discovery of a deceased person in one of the apartments.
“On Sunday [July 30], the constituent called the police department regarding the smell. The police department went to the housing facility which resulted in the dead person’s body being found,” Legislator Solages wrote to Supervisor Clavin. “This letter is not solely about this issue but rather about issues in general regarding maintenance at this housing facility. We ask for a full review of the building maintenance in order to protect the health and safety of the residents.”
Following this incident and multiple constituent complaints about conditions in the complex, Legislator Solages is calling for investigation into the Housing Authority’s performance to ensure that tenants are receiving the resources and attention that they deserve.
“We have a responsibility to address the glaring inequities that currently exist in Nassau County housing, and there is absolutely no reason why people should be living like this when communities have an abundance of good and decent housing,” Legislator Solages said. “As a society, we need to recognize that as our population ages and people navigate health challenges, there must be checks and balances in place to protect their welfare and connect them with the resources they need. What is the Housing Authority doing – is the money even going back into its buildings? Residents deserve answers and immediate improvements, and if the Hempstead Housing Authority is unable to provide them, the management of these properties must be entrusted to someone who can do better.”