Stores along Atlantic Avenue in Lynbrook dealing with rat issue

Owners say problem has improved, some accuse village of harassment

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A rat problem has broken out along the back of stores on Atlantic Avenue, which some of the owners believe was caused by the old movie theater being demolished.

“When I walked out of my building at night, they were scurrying around all over the place,” said Bruce Levitt, co-owner of Mur-Lee’s Men’s and Boy’s Shop. “It’s been a little better now since the storeowners are getting better at covering up their garbage.”

Levitt said village officials have been steadfast in their approach to eliminating the issue. He added that metal cans are now placed outside for garbage, rather than piles of loose bags, and exterminators are surveying the situation regularly. He noted that it has improved vastly in the last few weeks.

Not every owner is happy with how the problem is being handled, however. One owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said the village officials were not responsive when the issue was first brought to them, and that now the village is harassing them about it. They added that no matter what they do, they cannot please officials. “It’s a fight,” they said.

Another owner, who also declined to give their name, said that the traps are not being checked as often as they should, and that open garbage cans throughout the village are not helping the situation.

Levitt said the village has been on top of the owners, but it is what needs to be done to curtail the issue. “They want to solve this problem like everybody else,” he said. “They’ve been a little stricter on enforcing regulations. I wouldn’t call it harassing — that’s a harsh word. I don’t feel I’m getting harassed.”

Polly Talbott, of A La Carte Cooking School, said pointing fingers will not help the situation, and she believes village officials are being proactive. She noted that she got rid of her herb garden outside of her store to help with the problem.

“Blaming each other isn’t productive at all,” she said. “We just want to get rid of them. That’s all. When I saw them, it freaked me out. It was really scary. I was ready to do anything to get rid of them.”

Mayor Bill Hendrick said he was worried about the problem negatively impacting businesses downtown, but added he is confident it is under control. He called the issue “overblown” and said the village has conquered most of it. He has not been able to confirm the demolition of the movie theater caused it.

The theater was razed last May, and a new movie house is under construction. It will be operated by the Regal Entertainment Group and is on pace to open by Christmas.

Hendrick said the village is doing all it can to curtail the rodent problem and insisted it is not being too strict.

“There’s never harassment in Lynbrook,” he said. “If one or two of those stores started complaining about us, they are mistaken. We jumped on this as fast as we could. We had exterminators jump on this. If we tell the people they have to clean up the back of their store, that’s not harassment. They have to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”