Letter to the Editor: A call for trespasser responsibility legislation
We applaud Senator Squadron, Assemblyman Lentol, and Borough President Adams on their call for steeper penalties for trespassing at New York’s landmarks and infrastructure projects (NYC pols seek increased penalties for bridge, infrastructure trespassing, 11.18.14). However, the greater problem is that those criminals can sue the city if they are injured while trespassing. Only in New York and California can a trespasser sue a property owner for injuries incurred while trespassing.
This is not only a burden for New York City and municipalities statewide, but also a burden to every property owner in the state of New York who pays higher insurance costs due to potential lawsuits by criminal trespassers.
We urge the Senator and Assemblyman to support common sense Trespasser Responsibility legislation to indemnify New York property owners against lawsuits from flagrant trespassers.
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.