Staten Island Residents Say Superstorm Sandy Aid Tent Has Overstayed Its Welcome
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- People are divided on a Superstorm Sandy aid tent that has been stationed outdoors for over three years.
Some say it's hazardous, others want it to stay.
As CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported, the military grade relief tent was once a neighborhood staple situated at the corner of Mill Road and Aviston Street in the Oakwood section of Staten Island. It stored and supplied necessities to people displaced by Superstorm Sandy.
Now, for some it serves as a nasty reminder.
The tent is owned by relief aid non-profit Guyon Rescue, and has been stationed in the same spot since Sandy. In that time, many residents have left the mostly government bought-out Mill Road, but over 150 remaining neighbors have petitioned to have the tent removed.
"It's ugly. It reminds us of the terrible thing we had here. Every day we look at that," one neighbor said.
CBS2 went to the owner for answers.
"(Are you still helping people out of that tent?) Well yesterday, not as of today," Derek Tabacco, Guyon Rescue said.
The founder of Guyon Rescue said all activity out of the tent has been halted.
"We help people shovel snow, when there's flooding, when there's fires," he said.
Christopher Camuso lives around the corner and said it's a loss.
"They forgot about us. I call 311, no help. Every time I call Derek he is here in a blink of an eye, Derek's truck is here," Camuso said.
After months of coordination the non-profit will be packing up. Fed up neighbors want to know why it's taking so long to clear out.
"We had to find a location, we had to get volunteers, we had to rent trucks. It's a very big process. What I say to those people is please help us," Tobacco said.
Guyon Rescue said it's working with Catholic Charities of Staten Island to get the tent removed within the next two weeks. It will be stored in Mount Loretto until the next time neighbors may be in need.
Guyon Rescue said they have not received any offers from city agencies to help in the removal of the complicated military style tent.
CBS2 reached out to the city for a response and are waiting to hear back.
