Neighbors in Whitestone clash over hanging dried meat

WHITESTONE, Queens (WABC) -- Chicken and pork, dried and seasoned, have been left hanging from a line in a backyard in Whitestone, Queens.

The home cured meat is causing a clash between neighbors on 7th Avenue, who say the tenants moved in a month ago and the meat went up about a week ago.

"All of a sudden, we had chicken and bacon hanging from the fence and awning next door to my house," said Eugene DiFolco, a Whitestone resident.

Residents say it's attracting flies and rats. They say thankfully the stench simmered down when the temperatures dropped.

"It's to eat. It's to eat for Chinese food," the homeowner said.

A woman at the home told me her family cures to meat to make traditional Chinese food.

The Health Department says in general this is legal if it's for personal consumption and if it does not become a nuisance to other residents.

"I don't feel comfortable going outside. I used to hang out on my balcony. I feel like it's unsanitary. Rats are coming now," said Bianca Kramer, a Whitestone resident.

"I don't need rats coming here and raccoons. I tried to talk to them to no avail. Now the whole neighborhood has gotten involved," DiFolco said. "If this is how it's going to be people want to move."

Neighbors say it's an eyesore and a nuisance and they want it gone. They first tried to reason with their new neighbors, and when that didn't work they called 311 and their elected officials.

They've even made their case on social media by posting photos on their local civic association's social media page.

They're hoping something eventually works.