They also park all over the place, sticking out into the roadway and speed. This is becoming a bigger issue w/ Q Ave being closed, and more of us neighborhood people having to take Lenox.

If they are drinking and driving, the police should take notice.

TO A Worker, I actually work in a factory now, hot as hell with no AC. The difference between you and I is that my coworkers and myself respect the neighborhood we work in, since we don't live there. My employer would not have it any other way. There is such a thing call setting an example, Heck there are at least 3 parks in the area where they could move this activity.

To NH Resident, leave me your address and I will buy the keg so they can move this activity to your neighborhood. I will even buy the pizza and wings to make it a real happy hour since you don't mind.

And to R thanks for your support. we really appreciate it. You are right the police should start taking notice. A more peaceful solution would have the owners of the factory to discuss the community image it would like to showcase with the employees who work for them.

I live nearby and would have no problem with their drinking if they just picked up their PILES of garbage afterward. This has been going on for too long, New Haven (and Uretek) needs to educate the public that this is not a third world country and we actually use garbage cans here.

Uretek has been warned before apparently to no avail.

LCI?
Alderman Alex?
Mayor John?

I am not against anyone having a drink after work, I just prefer you do it in a neighborhood where you live at. When my 15 yr old daughter and her girlfriend are walking up Lenox St, I don't want to listen to them tell me how annoying the old pervs are.
There are 3 local parks n the area where this type of behavior would be OK. I was at the east shore park last week and saw several people enjoying the weather and having a cold one and I for one would support this behavior in this environment.

The excessive street parking and trucks loading/unloading does often block the road, and the litter is a problem. Of course there is also a big concern with the air quality and Uretek. The factory produces really foul chemical smells - especially at night. As it is surrounded by residential homes (and schools) the potential "danger" of these emissions is a concern. Billowing black smoke has also been seen coming from the factory.

In December 1986, The New York Times covered a controversial employee strike at Uretek Inc. Uretek workers walked off the job due to health and safety concerns, specifically regarding the solvent dimethylformamide, or DMF, which is used at the plant. They claimed that fumes sickened half of the 66 workers at the plant. Later, testing by Yale confirmed the damage: 36 of the tested employees had ''significant liver-function abnormalities,'' and ten were diagnosed with toxic hepatitis, findings that, according to the doctor, were ''overwhelmingly'' linked to DMF*

The workers’ health problems in 1986 were “not the first time that Uretek has been accused of wrongdoing,” according to the Times article. In 1984, the Uretek vice president John Andrews was convicted on felony charges of illegally storing and disposing of hazardous waste – making it “the first time a corporation in Connecticut had been convicted of such a criminal offense in a trial.”

The article also noted that Uretek has been cited by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on air pollution.

Although this was many years ago, Uretek's emissions and its potential impact on the environment and people remain a very significant concern.

The DEP was notified a few years back (when the odors seemed particularly strong and noxious even blocks away). Despite Uretek’s pollution history, DEP’s response seemed disinterested. As far as we know, no air quality testing was conducted, nor any follow-up. When was the last time their emissions were tested? What were the results? When will they be monitored again?

Factories in residential areas have a responsibility (as do all neighbors) to be good stewards in their communities - to be mindful and considerate of their neighbors both through public image/interaction (such as the drinking/littering/parking concerns), as well as health, safety and environmental concerns.

Maybe its the chemicals in their brains that prevent them from realizing that leaving huge piles of cerveza cans and bottles right on the street is a bad thing.

Do you think they teach their own children to litter as well?

I did not realize these workers were leaving their trash behind. I agree that is unacceptable. But the reason this sort of thing goes on is that too many people do not actively engage their neighborhoods. Why not walk over to these guys and ask them nicely to clean up their mess when they leave. It costs the taxpayers money everytime the cops have to respond to something minor like this.
This site is called seeclickfix, right. How about a little less whining and some more fixing?

In would cost nothing for the cops to add Lenox st to their patrols. As a resident on Lenox st my problem is that this careless treatment to the neighborhood leads to the current drug transactions that take place some afternoons/evenings just outside of the factory.

I can say that this URETEK really must be a nightmare. I find it funny i found this because a few weeks back there was a dumpster filled over the top with rolls of material that they produce. And im not talking about a few rolls that are the size of toilet paper. Im talking about rolls bigger than the barrel of a steam roller and about as heavy. They throw away supplies they dont use in other peoples dumpsters. the dumpster clearly wasnt theirs it was not even in the vacinity of lennox st

Your neighborhood is treated carelessly when residents don't take initiative to resolve small issues themselves.

Paul, do you know the residents here? This is one of the most active communities I have ever been a part of. This community is absolutely engaged in resolving issues - both big and small. When the Ferry Street bridge closed, the residents spearheaded the quest to secure the funding to fix it. The community has been working tirelessly for years to see the Quinnipiac Avenue re-do become a reality. People in this community organize clean-up days, tree plantings, community events...and engage their neighbors! People in this community confront drug dealers and prostitutes. I know people who have had trash thrown in their face when they politely pointed out/returned the litter that was thrown from someone's car, etc.

See Click Fix is a venue for people to express their concerns and many people who do express these concerns are also the ones who are actively engaging their neighbors and communities.

As for the Uretek littering, when there are groups of men hanging out it can be dangerous for say a young woman to approach them, no matter how polite the tactic is. And often, with a group mentality, any approach is met with an ego/anger response - cursing/threats/name calling and often additional littering just to prove some power point. I've seen it happen too often.

Paul, people don't treat this neighborhood carelessly because the residents don't take initiative - that couldn't be further from the truth. Do you live here? have you attended the community meetings and clean-ups? have you approached the litterers yourself? I think it is important that you know the community before you make such assumptions.

By the way, the Quinnipiac River Community Group meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Waucoma Yacht Club (fall - spring). You are welcome to come and help us continue to respond to both the big and small quality of life concerns in this community.

Sounds like there is more than just a complaint of people drinking in a factory parking lot after work as initially reported..... Your Q River Community Group should invite Uretek management to discuss the issues. The community should step up and make this happen...you don't need the police to start a conversation.

NH resident- I'm sorry if I'm wrong but arent the police supposed to enforce common laws like drinking on the street in a residential area and littering? I'm from out of town so bear with me here because every other town I have lived in does this.

and to whomever thinks people complaining about laws being broken on this website must not have passed 6th grade.

To NHResident & Jon, here is the problem with your comments. If they were drinking in the Uretek parking lot everyone on the street would never know. But they park and drink on a public street. As you said Jon this is a common law the police are suppose to enforce. Lenox st is a public st were kids walk through from school or the store on a regular day. Uretek just built a private parking area on its property and if its employees use that area then no one would complain on this site. Drive down the street one Saturday before you guys comment on an issue you know little about.

To Jon, Ronald is correct, drinking and littering on a public st in a residential area is exactly what they are doing. Uretek should tell it's employees to park in it's new parking lot if they wish to loiter for several hours after work. Instead of creating a public nuisance on a city st.

The police have better things to do. Jon, man up and cofront the guys. Do men confront other men to resolve differences wherever it is you are from? Cuz Men do here in New Haven.

The police have better things to do. Jon, man up and cofront the guys. Do men confront other men to resolve differences wherever it is you are from? Cuz Men do here in New Haven.

To Blahnard, I thought about confronting these men myself, but like another person commented:
And often, with a group mentality, any approach is met with an ego/anger response - cursing/threats/name calling and often additional littering just to prove some power point.
My ego/anger response would be with the use of a 45, a 9 or the 38 I carry at all times. But this would make me a violent person when this could be handled if the cops would drive down Lenox st on occasion. That's called a patrol and it stops guys like myself from propelling little metal objects.

I read all these comments a week back, and decided that I'd go and go up to Uretek to meet them and raise the concerns that we're pointing out.

I was invited to speak with Rock Martel, and we had a good dialog. He was concerned that the issues related to fumes, specifically the 1986 NYTimes article, were very out of date. The company changed ownership 5 years ago, and they are regulated by the DEP and EPA. Their monitoring is done in partnership with Yale University, but Rock didn't get into the specifics.

We discussed two solutions for the issues related to Lenox St. Rock was open to the idea that more employees could bike to work, and I think they're looking at incentives that they can offer to make that happen. The fact that there are so many cars stems from positive growth in the companies business. They're running 3 shifts a day, and employing 220+ people. Conditions in the plant seemed to be in excellent shape; I went into the factory floor, and I saw a clean and well-lit facility.

Rock explained that they want to address parking, whether they can reduce the number of cars on Lenox or not. Clearer markouts and a slightly wider roadway would make the intersection of Quinnipiac and Lenox safer for everyone, so they're working with the City Parking Dept to address that.

The company wasn't really aware of the amount of trash on the street. I had the pleasure of walking from my house, and I was surprised by how much has accumulated near the factory. I hadn't noticed all of it before, even though I drive by almost every day. Uretek management parks very close to the building, and they didn't seem to be aware of how bad the situation was. I think they're looking into it now, and I would wait a few weeks to see how they respond. They realize that cleaning it up is only part of it. Educating the workforce about responsible and neighborly behavior is another component. They don't support the drinking after work, and they're probably going to address that too.

I encouraged them to do a bit more community outreach. I know there is a commercial neighborhood association that meets separately from the river resident group, but I think Uretek should be invited to come to speak with residents. They need to hear our concerns, and they should have the chance to correct any misconceptions about what they do and how they do it. From the perspective of a Heights resident, I want to know that they're taking every precaution possible to prevent environmental/health problems. I also want to verify that they are being regulated closely by an impartial and effective agency.

While Uretek's presence in the Heights is causing problems right now, they don't strike me as villainous people. I think we can help them be better neighbors without putting them on the defensive.

Dan, wow, great work! I wish my people skills were as good as yours.

Great work Dan, where I am happy that Uretek is doing well. As a resident I have always accepted the parking situation as a minor issue. However when mix with their employees loitering in the area after work hours the minor issue of parking grows into a major concern. Hopefully Uretek and the Parking Authority will come to a solution that keeps the neighbours happy.

The issue continues, they will stop on occ occasion but there is one group that persistently return during working hours after 3 pm.

He winter months have arrived an it is now too cold to be outside drinking so the employees of Uritek are now elsewhere. If they only did this in the summer.

This issue has only been temporarily resolved due to inclement weather. Once it warms up again, the employees will continue with their neighborhood assault and disruption.

Winter months has slowed the drinking on the streets. Only the spring thaw will tell if the public drinking will stop.

I have to agree with Ronald and John, it's now too cold to be outside drinking. Some of them sit in their cars but others have found other places. Again if only they did this in the summer.

The weather is starting to break, once it gets warmer we may start to see these workers outside drinking instead of just sitting in their cars as they were spotted last week.

Sadly it has pick up again in full swing. As it is now they can be seen sitting on the old steps that lead to my apartment building. I understand that Uratek has expanded and needs the support of their workers. But I feel that this area is not the area for this type of behavior. It may be time for Uretek to move operations to another area of the city. East st perhaps or the old UI building on Grand ave. Since there is a park very close to these buildings that is better suited for afternoon drinking over a residential area like Lenox st.

The company has outgrown this area. They do not have adequate parking spaces for their employees (especially after they converted their parking lot into a tented storage facility, initially WITHOUT a permit)! Everyday employees violate traffic laws by parking in areas clearly marked as No Parking Zones, creating serious traffic hazards. Likewise, Uretek vehicles park in the road in front of the factory driveways itself, dangerously narrow corridor for passing traffic.

Additionally, the condition of the streetscape is deplorable. LCI, where are you?? Uretek employees have been seen drinking and leaving their empty cans and boxes behind. Even if Uretek employees are not the litterers, as property owners in the neighborhood, we are all responsible to clean and care for our sidewalks/curb strips/parking area. Also Uretek's fence is dilapidated, unkept and broken/falling over. Fencing can have a big impact, positive or negative. Chain link, especially in poor condition, communicates blight and neglect.

In general, the property is a mess. Just like the "broken window theory" Uretek's blight attracts other illegal activity. Illegal dumping is common in the area and community members have witnessed and reported drug deals directly in front of the Uretek factory. Likewise, there are two pairs of shoes hanging over the telephone wires, a notorious "signal" for drug activity.

These issues have been going on for too long. The neighborhood requests that the City look into their zoning - in regards to parking, and that the police regularly patrol and ticket illegally parked cars. Community members have called the police again and again, and yet the problems persist.

The biggest concern still remains their emissions and the harm it may be causing the community. The 1986 article may be old and the leadership new, but the fact is, by nature of their operations, Uretek produces harmful emissions. If they are adequately regulated at all times of day (the smell is much worst in the evenings and weekends) has yet to be seen.

It seems like there is a lot of concern over this. LCI or the NHPD? Any help that can be provided?

It only stops when it gets to cold to be outside. This is a warm weather problem.

Has stopped but only due to the weather. This is an ongoing problem.

Still happens

Still happens on Saturdays between 1pm - 4pm.

Still happens on Saturdays between 1pm - 4pm.

Still happens on Saturdays between 1pm - 4pm.

Cold weather has not deterred this a bit. And it's not just drinking. This is a school zone, no?

Yep, I saw them drinking on the side of the road in front of the factory just last week.

Exactly Mike & Dave, they still sit right outside the gates drinking on Saturdays.

Let it be known I have no problem with people having a few beers after work with coworkers, I do it myself sometimes. What I dont do is leave all of my empties on the side of the road in the neighborhood where I do that, this is my major problem here. If I could turn onto Lenox from Quinnipiac and not see a large trail of garbage up and down the street all around the factory I would not be here complaining. I know the manager has stepped up before and helped turn things around temporarily but it seems he/she has forgotten about the neighborhood we all share again.

Help resolve this with a comment, image or video...

My concern over this issue is that it attracts other illegal activity such as illegal dumping. This was dump just yards away from the factory on a Thursday.

The deplorable condition of their fence (visible behind sofa) also contributes to the blight and attracts other illegal activity. Also, has anyone noticed that there are sneakers over the wires in front of the factory - isn't that related to drug activity. Either way, drug activity has been reported here in the past. LCI, what can be done about the condition of the fence and the constant litter? Police, what can be done about the constant illegal parking?

when it looks like a dump why not eh? the city dumps a ton of money on Quinnipiac and the very intersection that their employees use multiple times daily is a trash pit 30' away... I think the mud, broken fence and random garbage all over the mud says more than the couch in a sad way. Its almost an invitation to "dump here".................................of course right to the east of this you have the dirtbike "cut through" that is eroding the entire hill that the apts. sit on. I pay some of the highest property taxes in the country for what??? can someone explain this to me?

This issue was recategorized from Uncategorized to Policing Issue.

Action correct by the factory.