News

Mayor Bucci Announces City Of Peekskill, NY Adopts Binghamton's Expanded Lockdown Law
7/18/2005

(BINGHAMTON, NY) Mayor Richard A. Bucci today announced the City of Peekskill, New York recently adopted Binghamton’s expanded Public Nuisance and Abatement Law, commonly referred to as the “Lockdown Law”. Peekskill’s new Property and Building Nuisance Reform Law was adopted by the Peekskill Common Council on Monday, July 11, 2005, and is based on Binghamton’s expanded Lockdown Law. According to the 2000 Census, the population of the City of Peekskill is 22,441. Peekskill Mayor John Testa, Sgt. Ray Henderlong from the Police Department and a representative from the City Attorney’s Office traveled to Binghamton in May 2005 to learn more about Binghamton’s Lockdown Law and met with Mayor Bucci and Police Chief John Butler to discuss implementation. “Peekskill, like so many communities across the nation, was facing a variety of issues pertaining to problem properties,” said Mayor Bucci. “Peekskill officials recognized the success Binghamton was having with its lockdown law and expressed significant interest in crafting similar legislation. After a very productive meeting Mayor Testa and Common Council members were extremely enthusiastic about Binghamton’s lockdown law and they moved aggressively to put legislation in place in their community.” Peekskill Deputy Mayor Catherine Pisani was quoted in a July 12, 2005 article in the Journal News as saying the lockdown law is a common sense measure for protecting residents’ quality of life. “Our neighborhoods are improving,” Pisani said. “But the number of people who disregard these everyday quality of life issues are increasing, and we need to find a way to deal with that.” The City of Binghamton’s Lockdown Law has been highlighted by both the United States Conference of Mayors and New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. “Binghamton’s lockdown law has been extremely successful in eliminating crime from problem properties,” said Mayor Bucci. “Binghamton’s law has served as a model for a number of communities across the nation and Peekskill, NY is the most recent City to enact this very successful initiative.” Cities that have contacted Binghamton for the City’s Lockdown Law include Rome, NY, Ogden, UT, Springfield, MA, Stockton, CA, Oklahoma City, OK, Tulsa, OK and East Point, GA to name a few.  On Friday, July 8, 2005 Binghamton secured a preliminary lockdown order for 14 & 16 Crandall Street in the City’s Second District. The property will be locked down at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 21, 2005. City Attorney’s are in the process of petitioning for a permanent lockdown, which would allow the property to be locked down for another 12 months at the conclusion of the current 6-month lockdown. The Crandall Street properties have been the site of illicit activities that include loitering with the purpose of purchasing a controlled substance, loitering with the purpose of prostitution, as well as various drug related offenses. The lockdown’s will mark the 19th and 20th lockdown since the law was enacted in 1995.

Print Article · Back