June 7, 2007 - Senator Flanagan Calls On Commissioner Ash To Examine Safety At State Park

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June 7,2007

Ms. CarolAsh Office of the Commissioner NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Agency Building I Ernpire State Plaza Albany, New York 12238 Dear Commissioner Ash:

Kings Park School District recently held a school board meeting at which Superintendent Dr. Mary DeRose raised several concerns about the safety and security of the newly designated portion of Nissequogue River State Park. At the meeting, Dr. DeRose displayed several amateur video clips found on the popular website YouTube.com showing trespassers entering vacant buildings, repelling off roof tops and loitering around this property at different times throughout the year.

We have received conflicting information as to which state agency has jurisdiction over the security of this property, as well as other reports that there is overlapping jurisdiction between state agencies. Given the fact that the vast majority of this property was transferred from the Office of Mental Health to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHp) in December, one would assurne that the sole jurisdiction for securing the portion of properly designated as parkland rests with your department. However, we would appreciate if you woutd clarifl this point in order for us to properly respond to constituent inquiries and address any incidents that may occur on this property in the future.

Specifically, we would like to know the number (if any) of state park police cars and/or foot officers currently assigned to patrol these premises, including the frequency of patrols that occur 0n a weekly basis (including rveekends) and the extent to which all vacant property, existing butldings and their surrounding grounds are regularly inspected for trespassers. In additicn, please provide us with any knowledge you may have of other patrols being conducted on this property by other law enforcement or security forces at either the state level by the Office of Mental Health and/or the local level by the Suffolk County Police Departrnent.

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Commissioner Ash

June7,2007

The images in the video clips provided by Dr. DeRose are extremely disturbing and expose the real human risk and civil liability that continues to exist on this new parkland property. It is essential that the State maintain an adequate security system during the due diligence period now being conducted by your agency in order to ensure the health and safety all Kings Park residents. Your immediate attention in responding to this matter is greatly appreciated and i look forward to hearing from your office,

As always, please feel free to call me if you would like to discuss this important issue.

Enclosures

cc:

Hon. Eliot Spitzer, NYS Commissioner Richard Dormer, Suffolk County Police Department

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