‘We’re barely getting by’

City’s code enforcement officers have an arduous task

By KATELYN CORDERO
Posted 3/20/19

It is no secret that the City of Newburgh codes department is overworked and understaffed, unfortunately like any department in the city, but the amount of work done by a small crew of people should …

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‘We’re barely getting by’

City’s code enforcement officers have an arduous task

Posted

It is no secret that the City of Newburgh codes department is overworked and understaffed, unfortunately like any department in the city, but the amount of work done by a small crew of people should not be overlooked. At full capacity a group of four codes officers covers the 6500 buildings and 11,000 rental units, right now they are at three.

The department is trying its best to keep up with the buildings in the City of Newburgh, but with a small staff they are constantly responding to issues rather than preventing them.

“We have to do more with less,” said Assistant Fire Chief William Horton, the City of Newburgh building inspector. “Everyday we discover buildings that are in violation and we can barely handle the amount of work we have coming in. We are barely getting by with four to five hundred inspections a month.”

The codes department goes above their job description when helping people in the city who have been forced out of their home from a condemnation. They on average, will complete 150 permits a month, 7 permits a day and handle 235 complaints a month that result in violations. They also complete 50 rental inspections a month, a number Horton looks to increase.

The job of the codes department doesn’t stop with a condemnation or inspection of a building. Each officer has a specialty to ensure continuity and allow for the community to get to know the officers.

Tamie Hollins is the Distressed Occupied Specialist and the Vacant Property Specialist for the Codes Department. Hollins works with landlords to get their buildings up to code and makes sure that all vacant buildings in the city are registered. She also works with tenants to make sure they are getting the services they need when they have to leave their homes due to violations or a condemnation.

Hollins recently condemned a building on 230 City Terrace, a building owned by John Jay Lease. Standing outside on the curb Hollins rattled off violations that lead to the condemnation, a front door that doesn’t close or lock, and a deteriorating entrance were just two of the many violations that could be seen from the outside.

Walking into the building the list just kept growing. Trisha Crumpler, a tenant took the apartment because she had no place to go. She paid $1000 extra a month for a room with a boiler she had to bleed everyday and a large hole in the middle of the floor.

Hollins looked around in awe of the conditions Crumpler was living in. When she walked into a building, that was supposed to be uninhabited she was shocked to see a family of four living in the space.

“I came from being homeless, so I needed to take this place,” said Crumpler. “My son is four months old and in and out of the hospital. Everything has mold on it in the kitchen, I try to keep it as clean as possible. I try not to let the kids come down here to the kitchen.”

When Hollins came to condemn the property, Crumpler was ready to fight, she was devastated she would have to go back to living in a hotel room with her four kids all under the age of 10 again. She was brought to 280 Broadway, the Housing Resource Center, where she was set up with a hotel room. She was able to find a place to live with the help of the codes department. They found a landlord that was willing to fast track the process to get the apartment so she and her kids could move out of a hotel in Montgomery.

“I never would have thought the people that condemned my building and made me leave would be the ones to find me a new place to live,” said Crumpler.

Hollins is determined to make sure people like Crumpler end up with a place to go. She works tirelessly sometimes even working on her own time to make sure people are getting the help they need.

“I have to do this work so that I can speak for those that can’t speak, don’t know how to speak, or don’t know that the situation they are in is wrong,” said Hollins. “In a place like America we can’t have people living without heat or electricity. I will do everything in my power to serve this community and to serve these people. That’s in me as an advocate.”

The codes department works to help tenants but their job isn’t easy, especially when many tenants are afraid to speak up for their rights. People like Crumpler are living in unimaginable conditions, yet when her place was inspected by the Housing Resource Center she was told to hold on tight, because she is lucky to find a place so nice.

Walking through her apartment, you could see the watermarks running down the stairs, from where water would run across the stairs and down the side of the wall every time it rains.

“The stairs would cry every time it rained,” said Crumpler. “When we came here the refrigerator was black and covered in mold, I had to scrub it clean but there’s still mold inside the door I can’t get rid of. You can hear animals running through the panels in the walls all night. I was homeless and living in a hotel, I went through all the loops, we were kept out on 9W with my children, I was pregnant at the time and supporting my three children.”

As the vacant property specialist Hollins is also in charge of dealing with getting all vacant properties in the city registered. The registration is for the owner to take responsibility for his or her property. This will often lead to a game where landlords do what they can to get out of paying for a bond or a registration fee.

Hollins is fair but stern giving each landlord the same treatment, she does everything she can to work with the landlord before sending them to court.

“The goal is to get the properties up and running, they are a deterrent to the community,” said Hollins. “If we don’t get the registration to cover our own backs and something happens on the property that’s my job on the line. We have some property owners that are doing the best they can, while there are others that just want to play a game.”


Hollins position is funded through the Cities Rise Grant awarded to the City two years ago. She was part of the Cities Rise Phase One Grant. The city council recently authorized the City Manager, Joe Donat to apply for funding through the State Attorney General Office’s Local Initiatives Support Corporation. This would award the city $200,000 to extend the Neighborhood Stabilization Position for another two years.

Horton is looking to get funding through phase three of the Cities Rise Grant, this would provide the city between $500,000 and $1 million for code enforcement jobs and training. Horton asked the city for 10 code officers in the next five years.

“Once we get the 10 officers that we need it would take us about two to three years to catch up to all the issues that were here and we have been dealing with,” said Horton. “Overall codes and the building department wants to be an advocate for the city. The key is a safe community. Nobody is going to move here unless it’s safe and secure. We are the basic foundation to make that happen. All the people in this office go above and beyond., we feel we are an integral part of the solution and we work hard to be part of the solution.”

The condition of housing in Newburgh has moved beyond the borders of the city into a statewide and county wide discussion. Senator James Skoufis is launching an investigation into housing conditions and code enforcement in New York State. He announced the investigation at 197 First Street, a building known for code violations, a fire history and police activity.

Skoufis is looking to update state laws and the building code to better deal with repeat offenders.

“Every New Yorker deserves the right to rest easy knowing their home is structurally sound and that every first responder can safely and efficiently serve their community. This investigation looks to advance those goals,” said Skoufis. “Our committee will expose slumlords in the four communities we’re examining and, just as importantly, identify best practices, determine areas where enforcement can be improved as well as recommend legislative and regulatory changes to create a safer New York State for our residents.”

Skoufis is looking to get public testimony and get an answer from slumlords in four municipalities to answer for their housing conditions.

Representative Maloney is also working on new legislation on the federal level to assist Habitat for Humanity and other housing organizations to clean up environmental hazards in homes which threaten residents’ health.

“Cities like Newburgh have a significant number of older homes which can be renovated, but often contain lead-based paint, pipes, asbestos or mold,” wrote Maloney in a press release.

Councilwoman Karen Mejia is also leading the charge on housing by introducing a resolution in support of rent stabilization in New York State. The resolution passed in the city council unanimously. Mayor Harvey warned slumlords, the city is coming down on violations and repeat offenders.