SALAMANCA, N.Y. — Homeless encampments have begun popping up across Western New York this summer, and another municipality began efforts Thursday to eliminate them.
Starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, the Seneca Nation announced it partnered with the City of Salamanca to begin the removal of “multiple illegal vagrant encampments” across Allegany Territory.
In a post to their social media, the Seneca Nation said its leaders and Salamanca city officials have formed a task force and identified over 14 sites across the city and territory where these encampments have been established.
The post said that their presence is a risk to community health, safety and the environment as well as a violation of Seneca Nation Laws and Ordinances.
Removal began along the Pennsy Trail system and will continue throughout the territory.
A representative for the Seneca Nation told 2 On Your Side that these encampments have been an issue for the past few summers. While they have been working diligently to provide care to those in need, the Seneca Nation’s president Rickey Armstron Sr. said in a statement that the clear-out efforts are now necessary.
"Today, the Seneca Nation enacted a thorough plan, in cooperation with Salamanca Police, to remove several encampments along the Pennsy Trail system and other areas on our Allegany Territory,” the statement read. “Evidence of drug use, aggressive behavior toward residents and those using the trail, and other unsafe conditions at the encampments threatened the safety and quality of life of our community. Seneca Territory will not become a welcome haven for bad actors and destructive behavior. We will always do everything within our power to protect our community."
Thursday’s news comes just two weeks after Jamestown declared a state of emergency due to over 300 unauthorized campers and just a week after an encampment had to be cleared out in Buffalo.
2 On Your Side attempted to reach Salamanca officials for more information but did not hear back.