Locals rally against Steve Levy's sex offender trailers
Meanwhile, sex offenders are spilling into motels
3 comments below
Sisters Tammy (left) and Susan Tocci of Flanders at the Flanders Road traffic circle Friday afternoon during a rally against the county housing homeless sex offenders in Riverside and Westhampton.
"It's not fair to be packing such a high percentage of the county's sex offenders in one area," said Kim Yazic of Riverhead, a mother of two, as she spoke over a steady stream of honking horns. "Sure, it's a difficult problem of what to do with these people, but the problem should be shared."
It was also learned Friday that the sex offender shelters -- trailers operated by the county's Department of Social Services -- reached capacity at points last week, forcing some sex offenders into motels in Suffolk.
County officials said otherwise.
While they confirmed the trailer in Riverside reached its capacity of 18, and that the Westhampton trailer reached its capacity of eight, they said the other offenders were placed in motels in western Suffolk. They would not say exactly where.
"No Level 3s are placed in motels," he said.
Level 3 offenders are deemed the most likely to re-offend.
When asked by e-mail how it was determined which motels are used to house offenders, Mr. Hampson replied, "We use motels that comply with the laws that restrict where sex offenders may live."
He said no offenders were staying at motels as of Monday night, though according to the New York State Sex Offender Registry, 27 Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders called the trailers home, putting the trailers one person over.
"It is incumbent upon the sex offender to accurately report where they are staying," Mr. Hampson said.
County officials wouldn't comment directly on the protest.
Riverhead area residents have been angry with County Executive Steve Levy ever since a trailer for homeless sex offenders was unhitched in a parking lot outside the county jail in Riverside in mid-2007. At the time, Mr. Levy said that the trailer would be rotated throughout the county. He later reneged on that promise, citing the unavailability of land to house sex offenders due to state and local laws restricting where they may live.
Then, last September, as first reported in the Riverhead News-Review, the county quietly replaced the eight-person trailer in Riverside with one that could house as many as 18 sex offenders.
The larger trailer, though guarded at night by private security teams, sparked a renewed outrage.
Friday's protest at the Riverside traffic circle came about four months after a forum at Riverhead High School, which drew about 250 members of the public. At the forum, county officials and elected leaders fielded questions or expressed concern, but the policy has remained in place.
Thus, the need for Friday's protest, organizers said.
"We're here because we're wanting the sex offenders who do not live here to go where they live," said Laura Brewer of Flanders, whose husband, Mike, helped organize both January's forum and the protest. "We'll take the burden of the Flanders residents, but not upstate or up the island or anywhere else. We're not saying get rid of all of them, just the ones that don't live here."
Ms. Brewer was also joined at Friday's protest by her daughters, Ashley, 17, and Megan, 12.
Ashley said sex offenders from the trailer could be often found loitering at Riverhead Free Library.
"They hang out there," she said. "They stare at you. This one guy was like bald and stuff and he looked really creepy. The entire time he followed me around, even after I went downstairs. And you can look them up on the Internet and their pictures will pop up and stuff. So you know that they are [in the trailers]."
"God forbid something happens to one of my kids," Ms. Brewer interjected. "Then the county will do something."
Carl Iacone of Flanders, 76, doesn't have young children. Still, he said, he felt it was important to join the protesters Friday to fight for what is right.
"We're trying to make Steve Levy understand that what he did isn't fair," he said. "The trailers are just escalating more and more. What are they going to do next, put double-deckers? It's got to stop.
"This is something where something bad could happen," Mr. Iacone continued. "Why should we as a community have to suffer? Let's see if justice can prevail."
mwhite@timesreview.com
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3 comments found
Turn the RSO in if he is stalking you : 6/28/2009
I am rather perturbed by this article. It does not address the very significant reason behind this farce in the first place: stringent residency restrictions that force former offenders into these pockets (sometimes called "havens") of residence areas. Note to Ashley Brewer: If any of these men actively follow you like that, REPORT IT. They are most probably breaking their probation if, indeed, they ARE following you as you said. If they are breaking probation or otherwise stalking you in a suggestive manner, they (or anyone, for that matter) can be charged. Otherwise, consider your next school project: Where are registered sex offenders supposed to live, along with their families (of which 40% have children), when they are free and clear of the correctional system? If you answer that question, you will be light years ahead of this ignorant slob of a reporter.
Blame your legislators : 5/22/2009
When we continue to impose more punishment on those who have paid their debt to society then this is what you get. We have always had sex offenders with us, well before these laws came about, and the statistics haven't changed. Most offenses are from family, friends, and trusted people.
Consequences : 5/21/2009
This is NIMBY-ism at its worst. Welcome to the consequences of legislation made in haste without a single thought or clue as to the consequences of these laws. If you want other communities to "share the burden," then abolish residency laws and stop denying housing and employment to people who have finished their sentences. The state doesn't always accurately determine risk, based on the panic here its safe to say we OVERESTIMATE risk. The truth about sex offenders -- www.oncefallen.com
