Update as of 4/30/12. Although the bags of trash have been removed, loose litter has accumulated on both sides of the street, as well as in the gulleys on both sides of Greta, west Spring and Coleman streets. The department of inland wetlands has been notified addditionally, as dead wildlife have been seen in these gulleys in pools of what appears to be chemicals, possibly oils, or antifreeze, due to the color. The meadowbrook apartment complex continues to appear blighted, by allowing its residents to leave bags of trash on their porches, in addition to having no regulations (as it would appear) whatsoever , concerning the amount of stuff they are allowed to keep on their porches. One cant help but wonder if this isn't where the majority of the trash is coming from. It looks like a blighted neighborhood, and its only a matter of time before the crime rises in the neighborhood ( as it does every summer) due to its appearance

I am still observing the area and waiting for some action to be taken. I have reported dead wildlife ( canadian geese) who have drowned in the toxic water, on both sides of the street, which flood, every time it rains. I reported this to the department of environmental protections. Again, both sides of the street, remain littered with trash, and although the large garbage bags have been removed, the loose trash remains visible and everywhere. It really is looking blighted, and I am dissapointed that with all of the complaints, even to the Dept of Environmental protection, only minimal action has beentaken

Just about at the year mark, and still the area is blighted. Trash literally lines both sides of the street. There is runoff and flooding which occurs in the apartment complex, visible from the street, as well as the other side of the road which has an area full of floodwater, and toxic chemicals. i can only imagine this will continue as the weather gets nicer. Inland wetlands has already been out there to retrieve dead animals .

Christa, you ask the right question, one that the city administration needs to be asking, and not giving up until they get some answers: where is this trash coming from? All the trash on the beaches this time of year are obviously not from beach-goers. All the trash lining the roadsides -- sure, maybe some is drive-by, but most of it is blowing around. And again, where is it coming from. The answer can be discerned by just walking or driving down streets the night -- or in some cases the weekend -- before trash pickup. you touched on it when you mentioned open containers of trash on porches. what about open containers of trash on the curbside? Bags of trash left for a day or more at a time, so critters get into them, wind blows the contents, and where does all that trash go? Well, you, unfortunately, are looking at it (and smelling it).
Eleanore Turkington should be commended for her efforts through the West Haven Voice Gripevine, but it is a mystery why she visits this site only to ask for personal information before she'll pass the information along. Actaully, she should not even need to do that, because several city departments are listed as recipients of these SeeClickFix postings. And they can view them without having to know the names and addresses of the people posting them. Ms Turkingon asks for the information, says she'll keep it confidential, but then doesn't say why she needs it in order to pursue the issue.

Thank you concerned, I wrote to elanore yet again and requested her follow up. I agree. not sure why she would need my contact information to keep things "confidential", as that is not usually the case. I have contacted, and actually spoken with Inland wetlands dept of the city and they removed the dead animals, as there were several.

You'll want to avoid the old channels of submitting concerns regarding West Haven. Everyone who has been operating, moving and shaking in West Haven over the past 50 years is actually part of the problem now. Unfortunately, this includes many contributors to the West Haven Voice, though not necessarily its editor.

It's time to use SCF wisely and share the issues on other social websites like Facebook, and get these issues widely circulated not only in West Haven, but in neighboring towns like New Haven and Milford.

West Haven has already been abandoned and forgotten by most. We have to begin anew.

Hi Ray & Christa,

Ray this is the first time I have heard about this issue. My name is Nancy Rossi, and I am currently the 7th District Councilwoman, City of West Haven. Part of West Spring Street & Coleman Street are in my district. I am not sure the places you are writing about are in my district, but I still would like to help. I don't need personal information to help. Now I know where Stevens Street meets West Spring, so trash is there, and also Coleman was mentioned. What apartment complex is it near, Meadow Brook is off of Meadowbrook Road, is this a second Meadowbrook? I will go by these areas within the next couple of days and see what I can do.

Please feel free to contact me at 203-932-3691, I have an answering machine because I work, but please feel free to leave a message. Also my email address is NROSSICOUNCIL@aol.com.

Nancy Rossi

Ray and Nancy- thank you both for your concern, I did reply to Nancy's request for information by emailing her some information. This is an area that has long been neglected by the city and something needs to be done to address it. Ray, you raise valid points about using social media to broadcast blighted areas. I never understood why it took Elanore Turkington over a year to follow up , and insisted that I give her my contact information so that she could "confidentially " report my concerns to the city, points made by another reader. DO you think I should make a seperate facebook page to open up this issue to the city -?

You might not want to make a separate facebook page for this particular issue. But maybe we need a West Haven SCF facebook page? Also SCF offers a blue "F SHARE" button above. People who want this fixed can share it by using that "button".

I think the more we use SCF the better. I mean, just look at how much activity happens in the East Rock section of New Haven because of SCF.... and city departments have realized it's time to participate here!

http://seeclickfix.com/east-rock

Ray & Christa,

Took a ride down West Spring & Coleman and did see the garbage etc. I have contacted Code Enforcement and they will be there on Monday, 4/8/13. I will keep you posted.

Nancy Rossi
7th District Councilwoman
City of West Haven

Nancy- I hope you were able to venture even further down Coleman street, over by Mallard Brook Crossing as well as Coleman Woods. People have used this area carelessly to dump old TV's , bags or garbage, its really a shame as it might otherwise have the chance to look halfway decent. Ill keep a close eye on it , as I know you said that someone was going out there today to take a look. It wont take too long to figure out what I am pointing out.

Another new note- I see that folks have taken the liberty to pull from the bulk trash, which is currently out, and they have made makeshift 'bus stop' seating, as well as creating fence chairs ( sitting directly on the chain link fence to create seating. ) it really speaks volumes about the neglect of this neighborhood.

This area is looking even worse lately, and as far as I am able to tell, nothing has been done. Opened bags of garbage line both sides of the street as well as what appears to be bulk items for pickup. The flooding in the meadowbrook apartment complex is loaded with trash , as well as the opposite side of the street , which has a waterway with garbage in the flooded areas. there are now more new "seats" in the fencing, along with shopping carts , abandoned by people who walk them there from the neighboring wall mart and shopping plazas. Neighboring coleman woods has a wooded area which unfortunately has become a dumping area for old TV's and other appliances . I am surprised with the volume of calls that I and other neighbors have made to the city , that nothing has been done. Perhaps a call to NEWS channel 8 would be more effective?

Here we are in July , and still the area is looking blighted. Trash continues to line both sides of the street. When the area floods, the trash collects in large quantities, and is an environmental hazard. on one side of the street , it appears as if someone routinely dumps oil into this flood water, which has created a pond. Im really surprised with two people responding, both Elanore, who requested my personal info, as well as nancy, that nothing has been done.

This is everywhere. It's the signature street-scape of West Haven. Here's one taken this morning, Tues, Jul 23, at the corner of Anderson and Noble. Multiple violations of city ordinance at more than half the properties: no recycling, trash piled higher than the rim of the trash can, trash out more than 24 hrs before pickup. Where else but West Haven will you find bags of garbage thrown onto the curb, only to have critters get into them at night, spilling their contents out into the street and gutter, and from there, into the storm drain and out to the Sound. The problem lies in the lack of enforcement; the ordinances are already there. I would love to see something like a program whereby the state takes over management of services in cities where the city administration seems unable to get its act together.

Here it is 511 days since this issue was opened, and no response back from either Elanore Turkington, who insisted upon collecting my personal information, and then never responded as well as nancy rossi, who just never responded. Its amazing to me how these elected officials fail to follow up on very simple issues, consistently. This area of West Haven is a blight, plain and simple, and these officials cannot claim ignorance on this issue, but should take some responsibility for once again, dropping the proverbial ball.

Christa,

I did respond, I asked you for a crossroad or location, I had Code Enforcement go out and they couldn't find anything, I then drove the streets and wrote to you aaking the location, a crossroad so we can pinpoint thie problem. To date I have received a reply. So please once again provide me with a location so we can get this taken care off.

Thanks,
Nancy Rossi
7th District Councilwoman
City of West Haven

Hello nancy. I've responded to you several times with the exact location. I cannot imagine anyone driving out to where Greta and west spring an Coleman streets intersect and not seeing what has clearly been there all along unless they had some type of vision impairment. So I would ask that you once again have folks go out, and inspect this whole area , as it is constantly full of trash as well as environmental hazards

This continues to be an ongoing issue. there are now several dead animals in the gulley , full of water . Not only an eyesore, but an environmental issue as well. Its sad this is not more of a priority for our the city council staff who have commented here, and promised to follow up, only to then continue to leave this open ended.

Typical West Haven....what would it take to send down a couple of guys to clean this area up and have the police run a few extra patrols in the neighborhood?

Just thought I would update the community on the LACK of attention that the city has given to this issue, despite numerous phone calls, emails, and follow up both to the City of West Haven, as well as to the Department of Inland and Wetlands, this issue remains open , with absolutely no progress. Although I saw a city vehicle out there several weeks ago, it was to investigate the repair of the adjacent sidewalk and the issue of environmental hazard and nearby dumping of toxic chemicals, and dead wildlife, goes neglected. Despite my numerous attempts to get help from Elenor Turkington, who has also posted on this issue, I have not heard back from her. If you notice, she is the one ho posted on this issue over a year ago, and asked for my PERSONAL email, which is odd, still nothing has been done. Considering the taxes we pay to live in "waste haven", this is ridiculous!

Another update on this increasingly blighted area of new haven , ironically located next to the VA, fire and police departments. There is still an abundance of trash, strewn on both sides of the street, as well as environmental hazards dumped into the neighboring stream . There has been no improvement to address the blight that continues to grow in this area . Although the odd shaped building across from the apartment complex has "somewhat" cleaned up the appearance of the outside of the building , there is still dumping going on of equipment and chemicals into the neighboring stream, killing off Canadian geese, and other wildlife that frequent it . We might have better luck at this point contacting OSHA.

Has anyone from the city been there to check on this situation?