Ball targets DWI, illegal immigration
By Michael Risinit • mrisinit@lohud.com • July 24, 2009

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SOUTHEAST - Assemblyman Greg Ball last night outlined plans to deal with what he says are some of the region's most pressing problems and ones also highlighted in recent weeks: drunken driving, and the housing and hiring of illegal immigrants.





"We cannot allow these issues to fall by the wayside," he told about 100 people attending his forum inside the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall on Starr Ridge Road in Southeast.



The meeting was Ball's first public event touching on illegal immigration since the June 8 crash in which a mother and daughter were killed by a man accused of drunken driving and who police said was unlicensed and in the country illegally. Since then, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, state police and Brewster police have made several drunken-driving arrests of men who they said are in the country illegally.



Ball presented a list of measures meant to cut down on drinking and driving in Putnam County and make it harder and costlier for contractors and landlords to hire and house those in the country illegally. In doing so, he said he welcomed ideas and comments from the audience on the "distinct issues." Most speakers, though, seemed to focus on the illegal immigration aspects.



Cracking down on illegal immigration has been one of Ball's main campaign points when running for Assembly - a discussion he is continuing as he makes a bid for Congress. He plans to run against Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, in 2010.



Ball, R-Patterson, had met earlier in the summer with some elected officials about the issues of drunken driving and illegal immigrants' employment and housing. Earlier yesterday, he organized a gathering between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.



"If there's anything good that can come out of this horrible tragedy, it's that everybody work together to accomplish something," Ball said before last night's forum.



Most in the audience seemed to agree with his efforts.

Nancy Hack of Southeast, who runs an insurance agency in Mount Kisco, advised him to make sure his programs were lawsuit-proof.



"I feel very optimistic with all the details I see here," she said of the proposals.



Ball's ideas include setting up a countywide taxi program and requiring first-time DWI offenders to install an ignition lock on their vehicles. The latter would prevent operation of the vehicle if the driver has alcohol or a controlled substance in his or her system.



As for the hiring and housing of illegal immigrants, Ball wants to see a county law making it illegal to solicit work from Putnam's roads and highways. Many men waiting to be hired by contractors stand on Brewster's Main Street. He also proposed that Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy coordinate with the state Labor Department on anti-employment fraud efforts by making sure contractors maintain proper payroll records.



Employers, Ball said, should be required to certify that none of their employees is in the country illegally. Other proposals included limiting a home's occupancy to no more than two adults per bedroom as an antidote to overcrowded, illegal apartments. He suggested most of "these issues wouldn't exist" if Brewster tore down its "dilapidated housing stock."



His suggestion receiving the most applause appeared to be making English the official language of Putnam County. While most speakers seemed to favor his ideas, some of the proposals rankled at least one audience member.



"Several things are being said here that upset me. Remember, we're not Nazis," said Susan Berman of Southeast, who took issue with the government investigating what goes on in her home.



David Kulo of Brewster said the matter is one of fairness, both in enforcing existing immigration laws and setting up new means to curb illegal immigration.



"For me, I would just like to see people respect the law. We need to show ... we can make these plans work in a constitutional way," Kulo said.



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