I read with great interest [Walton] Mayor Eilertsen’s comments on surveillance in the village of Walton. One year ago a person moved into the house next door to me. He immediately installed motion detectors and bright lights. His lights are programmed to encompass the whole of my back yard, including my carriage house, where stray cats can eat and find shelter in bad weather. It has served that purpose for over 20 years. I have had no privacy on my property since that time. This is referred to as light trespassing. His light extends to the property of the neighboring house as well. I have called different offices in Albany during this past year and every person has told me to same thing - that the town and village reps get together and set down punishments for different aspects of dealing with the trespass, then present it at the trustee’s meeting and pass a resolution that protects the property and privacy of a property.
To quote: “The village must first establish legal framework that satisfies strict privacy guidelines” and that cameras can’t be placed in a fashion where you’re looking at somebody’s yard.” I have been forced, by the inaction of the town and village to agree on penalties - present them to the board and pass a resolution to stop the invasion of privacy that I’ve been forced to live with. The town already has an old law passed regarding bright lights shining into peoples homes, but that was regarding bright car headlights - a light is a light when it’s used to harass someone. The mayor stopped communicating with me on any level, including the fact that the cats run across the street to hide - even throughout winter - when his lights cover my property. That is animal cruelty. When Adrienne [McMillan] was here to spay and neuter strays I could not get help from her because the cats had scattered across the street. It was suggested to me that I call the Code Enforcement Officer - I did - no answer, left a message - still nothing. After a full year of this, I think that the question becomes which bears more protection: someone committing light trespass or the Civil Rights Violations against the person being trespassed upon? I intend to find out. If anyone else in the town or village has been abused by light trespassing I hope this letter will be a help to them. There has been none for me.
Tina Kole
Walton
