What: On March 1, 2001 New York State enacted the Neighbor Notification Law to ensure advance notification of the use of pesticides to neighboring properties. Westchester County opted into the state program in 2009 which applies to commercial pesticide applicators, property owners, retailers and homeowners. Recent vegetation management at Willow Park, located on the corner of Curry Street and Tulip Drive, have raised questions over Yorktown’s own notification policies when addressing vegetation issues on town owned property.
Why: Residents and employees should know when and where organic, or potentially hazardous chemicals, are being used to combat vegetation overgrowth. The chemicals in herbicides and pesticides are known to cause cancer, birth defects, reproductive effects, neurotoxicity, kidney/liver damage and are toxic to wildlife.
How: The town should be doing more to provide information to residents that could clam concerns before they rise. Yorktown should enhance its notification capabilities to allow concerned residents to receive notices when vegetation management is underway at town parks and public buildings. In addition, the town will provide an online account of vegetation management practices cataloged by property so residents can see, before arriving to their destination, if any pest management controls were applied.
