PEP, June 2010: Raccoons invade Parks building in Queens

Once raccoons move in, they want to stay. They gnaw through walls and ceilings, urinate all over, foul the air and carry disease in their feces. Five years ago, raccoons moved into the ramshackle Flushing Parks Dept. building that houses the Queens Forestry Office. Constant filth and stench remind the employees daily that their office has been invaded.

“This is no way to work,” said Climbers and Pruners Local 1506 President John Huber, who has lost patience with management’s half-hearted attempts to evict the raccoons. Plastering holes, nailing up plywood and chicken wire haven’t worked, nor have flashing strobe lights and loud music.

Supervisor Vincent Perry, a Local 1508 member, remembers when a raccoon crashed through the ceiling and landed right in front of him. “Their urine leaks down the walls and even gets on the copy machine. The stench is especially bad on damp days,” he said.

Huber was preparing to file an official complaint with the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau of the state Labor Dept. as PEP visited the site on May 14.

Many of the employees work at computers, handling citizen complaints and emergencies, especially when wind or ice storms fell trees.

“It’s unfair that union members have to work under these conditions,” Huber said. “It’s especially bad in the morning when people come in, and it’s even worse when they turn on the heat or the fan in the women’s room. When the air circulates, you can really smell the urine.”

“Raccoons are susceptible to rabies, distemper and roundworm, which pose health risks for the members,” said Principal
Program Coordinator Lillian Goodwine of DC 37’s Safety and Health Dept.

After Huber files the complaint, PESH is supposed to inspect and recommend action. He believes that only a complete renovation, with the employees temporarily moved out, will remedy the problem. “It’s time to evict the raccoons the right way. Remove the ceiling and rebuild in a way that prevents access,” he said.

DC 37 expects agency officials to keep their verbal agreement to move the workers to a safer place, said Goodwine.

“We’re all sick of dealing with the contaminants we’re exposed to,” said Huber. “I guarantee you that if this was the commissioner’s office, the problem would be cleaned up.”