New Case Of Homeless Hoarding Discovered Above Amtrak Tracks At 125th Street
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Another case of homeless hoarding has been discovered, but this time it's not on a city street -- it's on a dangerous ledge above some railroad tracks.
As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, homeless people have been seen clogging sidewalks with stuff in SoHo, the Upper West Side, and Midtown West.
Now, a new location has emerged, just east of the Amtrak line next to the Henry Hudson Parkway.
A concrete ledge on the ramp to 125th Street, holds shopping carts filled with stuff belonging to the homeless.
There are a total of nine carts being held in place with a yellow rope.
The collection includes a folding char, frying pan, and several foldable shopping carts.
Trains on Amtrak's Empire Line travel just below the unauthorized storage site. CBS2's Aiello showed riders pictures of the collection.
"A dangerous situation for both Amtrak and this gentleman or whoever is storing stuff here," Matt Zabinski said.
"Not the best space for anyone involved whether it's citizens riding the Amtrak or the person who's homeless," Chase Sbicca added.
City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg couldn't say why the stuff was allowed to accumulate, but she immediately sent a truck to checkout the scene.
The stuff can't just be hauled away. The DOT has to work with the NYPD and homeless services since the carts are filled with things of possible value to the person who put them here.
"The city is making tremendous efforts here. Efforts to reach out, to find both temporary and permanent housing to help people tackle their mental health and social service needs," Trottenberg said.
Soon, the carts will be carted away.
The Department of Transportation said homeless people storing belongings on DOT property is a persistent problem.