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Mount Kisco residents urge board to act on rising public intoxication and panhandling
Summary
Residents used a lengthy public-comment period to press the Village Board for immediate action on repeated public intoxication, panhandling and threats to children’s safety; speakers asked for more foot patrols, liquor-license review with the State Liquor Authority and clearer enforcement protocols at public sites such as the library and trails.
Residents at Monday’s Mount Kisco Village Board meeting urged the board to take immediate steps to curb what they described as a growing public-intoxication and panhandling problem in the downtown area.
Robert Serrano, a West Street resident, told the board that public intoxication has become “so severely out of hand” that he regularly sees people passed out in the downtown area and on private property, and that public urination and litter are recurring problems. He asked the board: “What do we do next?” and urged coordinated action rather than only enforcement.
Bob Scoppelletti, a lifelong resident, stressed the impact on merchants and families and described the visible disruptions downtown. Jennifer Vallejos, who said she researched nearby towns, pointed to Mount Kisco’s high concentration of off-premise alcohol retailers and urged the board to coordinate with the State Liquor Authority to review licenses and with Westchester County Police to increase patrols.
Several residents described incidents involving children, confrontations, and repeated calls for help. Mariana Lopez Termina and Theresa Flora recounted episodes they said had been reported to police and said the frequency of events has left parents and other residents feeling less safe using downtown businesses, library facilities and trails.
Trustee Heather Bryant acknowledged the anxiety expressed and said the Village should convert anecdotal reports into a consolidated dataset. Trustee Bryant asked the staff to compile resident complaints so the municipality can quantify calls and patterns; Village Manager Edward Brancati said he and the attorneys will gather additional information, including court dispositions for summonses, to better define repeat-offender patterns.
Residents proposed a range of responses: more foot patrols and proactive policing, targeted enforcement of vendors selling alcohol to intoxicated people, expanded coordination with the Mobile Crisis Response Team for referrals and a “zero tolerance” approach at vulnerable public sites such as the library. The board did not adopt any new ordinance or immediate enforcement change during the meeting but agreed to pursue additional data collection and interagency follow-ups.
The public-comment session ran for more than an hour and a half, with multiple residents saying they want a clear, time-bound plan from the Village and its partner agencies. Several speakers urged the Village to prioritize child safety and business viability in any next steps.
The board noted the public comments will factor into ongoing coordination with Westchester County Police, the DA’s office and the MCRT; staff and trustees said they will report back to residents with compiled data and recommended next steps at a future meeting.
