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  1. #1
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    NY:Suburban pol accused state lawmakers of blackmail

    LI Pol Won't Yield on Immigration Row

    By FRANK ELTMAN Associated Press Writer
    © 2007 The Associated Press

    HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — A suburban politician accused state lawmakers of "blackmail" on Monday after they held up approval of a $320 million sales tax package because he won't support a hiring hall for immigrants in his county.

    The state Legislature adjourned Friday without taking action on the tax measure, although Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and others have said the issue could be revisited before a Nov. 30 deadline.

    Nevertheless, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy decried the delay as "legislative blackmail" at a news conference. "This is about a dysfunctional process in Albany that is attempting to make the men, women and children of Suffolk County suffer because there is a difference of opinion over a single issue that is based in local politics."

    Levy said the failure of state lawmakers to renew a 1 percent portion of an overall 8.625 sales tax levy because he opposes a hiring hall for undocumented workers was "unconscionable." Without the money, which requires state approval, Levy says the county could be forced to layoff 4,700 county employees, close county health centers and parks, and slash other programs.

    Also, he said major hikes in property taxes were possible without the $320 million the sales tax was expected to generate. He noted that although the current legislation permitting the sales tax doesn't expire until Nov. 30, budgeting for the upcoming fiscal year starts this summer.

    Levy, co-founder of Mayors and Executives for Immigration Reform, said he was fighting on behalf of all local officials.

    "If a handful of state legislators are able to do this to this county on this issue, what is to stop them from doing this to any other county in New York state on any other issue?" he asked. "What if there is a county executive or a legislature that holds a different position on another controversial issue, such as abortion or stem cell research?"

    Suffolk County, on the eastern half of Long Island, has drawn day laborers from Mexico and Central America over the past decade. Levy estimated the number has grown to 40,000. There are about 1.5 million people living in the county.

    The popular Democrat who is running with Republican backing for re-election this fall, has been a lightning rod for criticism from the Latino community and others over the immigration issue. Last year, he signed a law requiring companies with government contracts to verify their employees are in the United States legally.

    "This is what happens when you have a county executive who demonizes an entire community and race-baits," said the Rev. Alan Ramirez, a longtime advocate for undocumented aliens in Suffolk.

    Assemblyman Phil Ramos of Brentwood was a specific target of Levy's criticism, since his district is in the county.

    "These actions by Mr. Ramos and some of his colleagues are both unconscionable and unprecedented," Levy said.

    Ramos said the action was taken by the leaders of the Assembly's Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus, of which he is a member, because they have tired of Levy's positions on the day laborer issue.

    "The caucus has taken the position that they want a dialogue aimed at resolving the day laborer issue," Ramos said. "We're hoping the rhetoric gets toned down and Steve Levy sits down like the statesman he was elected to be and comes to a consensus on this. Everybody's views should be considered and real solutions agreed upon."

    Levy said he's always willing to meet with people but "I'm not going to say I will acquiesce to a hiring hall so that you will please give us the money that's rightfully ours?"

    LI Pol Won't Yield on Immigration Row

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    Last year, he signed a law requiring companies with government contracts to verify their employees are in the United States legally.

    "This is what happens when you have a county executive who demonizes an entire community and race-baits," said the Rev. Alan Ramirez, a longtime advocate for undocumented aliens in Suffolk.
    Try to find the logic in the rev's statement........enforcing the law=demonizing and race-baiting. That's some first-class twisted thinking!

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