Residents evicted from Syosset trailer park, belongings hauled away

SYOSSET, N.Y. (WABC) -- Several families living in a mobile home park were kicked out their homes right before the holidays.

Some have lived there for nearly 20 years and now have no place to go.

A developer who owns the land of the trailer park in Syosset now has other plans for the property and wants the tenants out.

"Yep, yep, that's where they broke in the place," said Roger Dupre, a mobile home owner.

Roger Dupre is the third person at Syosset Mobile Home Park to face eviction.

His plumbing, cable and electricity were cut off, his belongs carried out, and his mobile home of 18 years was nearly hauled away.

"The closets were all filled with clothes. Some were mine, some were my daughters, that's all gone," Dupre said.

Residents have been fighting the new owner, STP Associates, for seven years.

They want to redevelop the land.

But the owners of the mobile homes that sit on that land want to stay.

"It's not like I have a lot of money. I paid like $60,000 and raised my daughter here and they just want me to walk out and get nothing," Dupre said.

"They're ruthless people, ruthless people," said Barbara Pedote, President of the Homeowners Association.

Barbara Pedote was evicted last week. Her home and everything in it was carted away.

She's now staying with her daughter and grandkids.

"They just took everything. They worked so fast to get the house out of here, they just didn't care. They just didn't care," Pedote said.

STP Associates says the evictions "are taking place in full compliance with the law."

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office adds they "were pursuant to the lawful court order."

Residents say they just want to be fairly compensated if they have to leave, and get enough time to find a new place to live.

"It's unbelievable what people with money can do. The rich get richer and the poor get homeless," said Randi Portnoy, a neighbor. "I just wish that by some act of God we get to keep this park. We deserve it."

Both sides will continue to fight this out in court. The next appearance is on the 18th in Hempstead.