Western pols stall removal of trailers
Homeless sex offenders stay put on East End
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A plan to shut down the county's homeless sex offender trailer in Riverhead hit a speed bump Tuesday when Suffolk legislators delayed a vote that would have provided the cash to close the facility, along with another one in Westhampton, by Feb. 11.
The Legislature voted 15-3 to table the measure, which would have allowed Social Services to increase its petty cash fund from $8,500 to $25,000, most of which is needed to hammer out a $90-per-night voucher system so offenders can find their own shelter.
The bill was tabled despite heavy resistance from East End legislators Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk), who want to see the trailers closed.
"The west end just doesn't want to have their problem back on their plates again," Mr. Romaine said Wednesday. "They want this problem to be on the backs of the East End."
Mr. Romaine said he believes only three of the men living in the trailers are actually from eastern Suffolk County.
Under the proposed plan, homeless sex offenders would use the vouchers to find shelter in motels and rooming houses. That money also includes the cost of a meal.
He also said the cost of both programs is comparable, noting that the county would save money on transportation under the voucher system because it would no longer have to pay to taxi homeless sex offenders to and from the East End.
Mr. Blass said at the meeting that to continue the trailer program in 2010 would have cost the county $1.4 million, according to Mr. Romaine.
Mason Haas, a Riverhead tax assessor and outspoken critic of the trailer program, agreed with Mr. Romaine's assessment that western Suffolk legislators are trying to push their problem on the East End.
"The failure of the west end legislators to come up with a realistic solution to a growing problem is typical of this body of government," Mr. Haas said. "Just move it all east."
Legislator Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip) was the only non-East End representative to oppose the tabling Tuesday.
Mr. Romaine said he hoped the county could still find other means to provide the cash to shut the trailers down by next week.
gparpan@northshoresun.com
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