Never take Main St so I can't comment on that but I travel Pearl all the time for years and never seen this person on the Green St intersection...

He lives at 31 Green St.. It would take cops about 2 hours of survailance to see what we're talking about and bust this guy.

I live right at the corner of Green and Main St - and I have not seen such activity.

While there has occasionally been dealers who temporarily move in to one of the multiple low income housing places and there are often low income individuals wandering the streets - most of them are harmless. They might make you think they are dealing, but that is not usually the case.

If you have pictures, addresses or names - and more solid evidence - please provide it! Most landlords are very diligent about immediately putting a stop to any and all dealing from their places (especially the landlord who owns 81-83 Green St right next to me).

Take pictures, and we can request the cops keep an eye on it.

Kenneth - your input is valuable. Do call the cops and report any licence plates. Take pictures! They are quite good about keeping up on this. It takes substantial evidence to get a conviction (a lot more than 2 hours survailance) - and they are more interested in getting convictions then just temporarily moving it some where else.

I can tell you that i have personally seen alot of activity there.

I'm working on a house very close to that set of Apts.

Just this morning alone I have seen 2 cars pull up, let one person out, goes inside for 2 mins while others wait in the cars, then comes back out quickly and drives away. I'll get photos of plates and send them in.

I suggest that if you live close to there, watch what happens around it and collect as much info as you can.

Here is a link to a form that will help you take on this problem without putting yourself in harms way.

http://www.kingston-ny-neighborhood-watch.com/p/literature.html

Use the drug complant form.

Thanks to everyone for your attention to this matter. These particular people r not harmless. From time to time a "customer" comes to our door because he gets the wrong house. That is troubling to me. Thanks again to KNWatch.

Is it about the drug dealing or the lousy creeps that seem to be involved? Violent, threatening, unskilled...
Is there a big difference between men and boys who dress and act like drug dealers and the men and boys who sell the stuff? And what about a drug dealer who isn't working... hasn't sold drugs, what, for a week? more? Maybe just out of work? Not working? Mean?
And people that market that look and sell stuff and think that look is cool? Does that kind of dressup make it to KHS, to the campus?
I look at that stuff and I see ugly, I see a place I don't want to be...
Some of it has to be just kids playing dress up... but it's like carrying around a fake gun...
This is the stuff males do... mama don't let your boys grow up to be violent. daddies, you shouldn't either, but likely you're already pretty violent yourself, so, like all males, you got your hands full... work on that.

pants on the ground, pants on the ground, looking like a fool with your pants on the ground. They think they look cool . I guess it could be defined as the thug look. Look like a thug and they at like a thug until they get shot.

mrniceguy is obviously on drugs

The whole uptown area of Kingston could be so awesome. I really wish some of these "landlords" would take a little pride in ownership and fix some of these homes up and kick the cretins out. Once these old houses are gone, they are gone forever. It's a big part of our history. 300 years of history will be gone in 20 years. Makes me sick when I see this crap going on. There is no reason for this area to be so ghetto like in areas.

@ Kenneth Noisewater - I did not mean to say that there are not issues down on 31 Green St - nor did I intend to say there are no problems at my part of the street (between Main and Pearl), but I did respond to a comment that there is a consistent dealer on the corner of Main and Green (right next to my house), because I don't see that.

THANK YOU for taking the time and gathering info.

@J, the uptown area of Kingston is awesome. Some - in fact MOST of the landlords in the area DO take pride of ownership and kick cretins out. Numerous homes (including three former drug houses on my block) have been fixed up in the last few years. HOWEVER, you are also correct that there are still a handful of landlords that really bring the neighborhood down - including the owner of two properties on my block (although recently she has some better tenents - but that changes too quickly). We need to keep a close eye on them and report any suspicious activity. help the police!

@Kingston NW - THANK YOU for being consistently on top of this and providing those resources.

It takes more than one bust to stop these people - DON'T LOSE HOPE. We have an amazing community of people who care. We all need to keep caring and do our part to keep this city clean and attract more people who care.

Landlord has been informed and it seems to be having an effect.

@Kenneth -- I hope you are not referring to me as one of the "questionable" tenants in the house owned by a woman on the street with two properties, and I certainly hope I am not one you are keeping your eye on. I find that offensive. I do rent from a woman who owns two properties between Main and Pearl, and to give her credit, she is doing the best she can with the resources she has. Personally, I think she should sell the houses, and I, and several other people, have attempted offers but she does not want to sell as she relies on the rents as her income. Time will tell. Personally, I'd love to buy the house I am in and fix it up. It needs a lot of work, and she is somewhat misguided on the worth of the property. We are talking foundation issues, needing a new roof, new windows, paint stripping etc. And that is just on the outside. Currently, there is nasty vinyl siding on the house that NEEDS to go. It's disgusting. That said, one house down from me is a nasty Section 8 house with junky crap on the patio, and questionable people going in and out all of the time, and the other direction is a beat up flop house. Yet across the street and directly next door are two beautiful owner occuped homes. Ideally, it would be great if the entire block was owner-occupied.

For the record, I am "J".

And also, I should have addressed my post to Vadhopper... Sorry.

Vad -- Rereading this, I am pretty sure I know who you are. I am very offended by the comment,

" including the owner of two properties on my block (although recently she has some better tenents - but that changes too quickly). We need to keep a close eye on them and report any suspicious activity. help the police!"

Really??? You think you need to keep a close eye on ME? I have been a great neighbor to you. I work like a freaking dog in the city in a professional capacity, am active in the community, keep the house and areas clean, do not make noise, pay my rent on time, and choose to live in Kingston because I love the city -- yet you are keeping your eye on ME for suspicious activity? I have done nothing but be a supporter and positive influence in Kingston, and you are keeping an eye on ME??? Puhleeze.

I am very upset about that comment. I hope you can clarify and make it clear that you were not referring to me.

GEEZ.

This issue seems to have generated a lot of dialogue, both positive and negative. However, we should focus the conversation on fixing this issue instead of using the comments as means of targeting individuals. I want to thanks the Kingston Neighborhood Watch for informing the landlord. What other steps can we take to reach some constructive solutions? Any ideas?

@Uptown Resident - If you read my comment you will note that I said recently the tenents have improved - and I guess that refers directly to you. So thank you for helping to improve one of this neighborhood's troubled properties. I encourage you to register and use a consistent handle so we could communicate directly - and feel free to introduce yourself on the street. Multiple times I've gone over and introduced myself to tenants there, only to see them move out shortly later.

I've lived here for over 5 years now and there have been some seriously problematic tenents in the house you live in over those years - including sex offenders, drug dealers, and theives who trashed the property and resulted in its being condemned (stole all the copper piping). Not every tenent is a problem - in fact most (as is true with most property owners in Uptown) are excellent. It only takes a few problems to really pull a neighborhood down.

I was not criticising you (again, I directly complemented the current tenents) - but your landlord - as you agree - is a problem. There have been numerous people who have approached her to buy the properties and she refuses. The only way to keep her in line is vigilence.

And the comments about keeping an eye out refers to the problematic properties with high turnover - not you in particular. If the tenants in the "flop house" next to you are a problem - let's work on that. I and others are troubled by the knife and ax throwing that occurs over there. I know the owners well, and they do want to maintain that house, but also have problems keeping it up. Also, the owners of the section 8 housing units (on corner of Main and Green and Pearl and Green) are both VERY responsive to problematic tenents. But those places have a lot of turnover. One of the supers - who was a great neighbor and even yard work for me - ended up back in Jail. But we all need to keep them aware of problematic tenents. Your landlord, on the other hand, has a history of not being as responsive - on properties all over the city.

@Uptown Resident
If you read my comment - I specifically made a note of the current residents who have improved the situation at that property. I note in other comments you have made that you have lived there for about a year. The issues to which I refer have to do with the last six years and before I moved to the neighborhood - when both properties were condemned numerous times and repeatedly came up in neighborhood discussions. The issue is your landlord - which you yourself admitted is part of the problem.

Few landlords are evil and trying to bring this city down. The major problem is landlords who don't care much - or don't have the ability to properly care of their properties. Your landlord is clearly one of them.

No, I don't think we need to keep an eye on YOU. I DO think we need to keep an eye on your property until you (or someone else) manage(s) to purchase it. By the way, there are neighbors (including myself) who will help you do so. We would love to see a resident own it - that is always the best solution to troublesome landlords.

Thank you for caring about the community. I encourage you to 1) Introduce yourself - I am often out keeping up my front property or walking my dog, and 2) register and use a consistent handle. My picture is on my profile - I'm not trying to hide who I am. I am not ashamed about anything I have posted - although I regret the misinterpretation by you.

As mdalton says - we need to focus on solutions and not take affront at individuals. The ultimate solution in this neighborhood is to keep an eye on each others properties and a watchful eye on the properties where the landlords are not caring for them properly. I'm glad you are part of the watchful eyes - we need you. Thank you.

@vadhopper: exceptionally well done. a nice example to follow. thankyou.

I apologize if I misinterpreted your post.

The knife and ax throwers are actually living on the other side of the shared house I live in. I have called the police on them when I noted that there were a bunch of small children under the age of 12 throwing axes and knives without supervision. The police came out, talked to them and they stopped for one day. Unfortunately, I had to deal with being called an "f*ing b*tch" and having the walls kicked in retaliation. I frequently ask myself why I stay. They are very difficult neighbors. According to NY law, a knife is a weapon and should not be carried, much less thrown. I am sure there are places where people can go to practice this "craft" similar to shooting ranges; but the backyard in city limits is not one of those places. It's no different than archery or pistol shooting. They throw these knives and axes at the house -- I hear them hitting the walls all summer long. It is distressing for me when they are throwing them because I never know if the knives will coming flying through the windows or walls. They are not in the Section 8 housing. They are in the house I am in. Other people on the street have had problems with this family. The brown house (section 8) is just filthy and run down. And some of the people are a bit skeevy who come in and out. You are perfectly aware of this.

Like I said, I would not be adverse to purchasing the home. I just don't have the resources currently. Not to mention all of the work the house needs. And you are not the only person in the neighborhood who has asked me to please see about trying to purchase it.

I have been a homeowner, so I probably look at the house a bit differently than most other tenants. I see a lot of potential in this old house, and there is a lot of "soul" and personality in this house. I have contemplated taking on some projects to try and fix it up a bit inside, but then I have to realistically look at the situation and ask myself why I would spend money on something I do not own. And I seem unable to make any headway with the landlord. Like I said, the foundation is iffy, pretty much all of the windows need to be replaced, I am pretty certain the roof needs replacing, and it needs to be stripped and repainted. The two balcolnies are dangerous and need to be fixed. That's just for starters. There are also some serious plumbing issues. Those are "have to" needs. The rest of the issues are primarily cosmetic.

Anyway, you know who I am. Like I said, I moved to Kingston because I was fascinated by its history and the whole Hudson Valley culture. I love it here. I currently work in the city, but am very close to landing a job at one of the law firms in Uptown (walking distance from the house) which will simplify my life considerable. Ideally, I would love to make uptown my long-term home. And if I am ever able to get enough down payment together, I'd love to buy the old girl, fix her up and have a place for me to grow old in and also have a place for one of my daughters to live in (both are college educated) if they so chose.

Also, I have done some googling on the house and am very aware of bits and pieces of its "criminal" history. It may sound crazy to say this, but this house does not deserve the treatment it has received. It's too old, and has too much history to just let it fall apart.

Again, I apologize for misinterpreting your post. If you read it again, though, you can see how that could have been misconstrued. I apologize for not giving you the benefit of the doubt.

OK, now I know who you are - and you do know me already. I wasn't refering to your property at all, but the two properties down toward Pearl from yours. I live right next door and think your dogs are cute (as does my spouse). Your property - despite its run down aspects, the troublesome tenants before you and the current troublesome tenants next to you - is NOT really a major problem location. Your landlord DOES care, but, as you say, lacks resources to fix the property up correctly. She is not a problem in the way I was talking about, and is actually a good neighbor trying her best. I've found her responsive to issues I brought up. We can work on the knife throwing together.

Anyway, this conversation can move off line. We're way off topic. Thanks all for letting us hijack the topic. Back to working on the properties of landlords that are a problem.

As the original complaint seems to be under control and there has been no further discussion, I'm closing this issue. If there are further problems a new issue would be in order.