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Rick Brand
Different stances on same issue

July 4, 2005

Suffolk's Democratic County Executive Steve Levy says his hard-line stand on immigrant housing was forged over 16 years of knocking on doors in his South Shore legislative district.

"There's an incredible undercurrent of frustration," he said. "And when you hear someone who has 20 people living next to them urinating on their front lawn, it makes you want to help them."

His Nassau counterpart, Thomas Suozzi, has heard similar stories, but as Democratic mayor of racially mixed Glen Cove, he was always juggling competing interests amid an influx of contractors and day laborers. From his first mayoral inaugural, Suozzi said his position has always been "If you play by the rules we'll help you. If you break the rules we prosecute you."

The similarities - and differences - between Long Island's two Democratic county executives and their approaches toward addressing the problems of illegal housing and immigration came into sharp focus the past two weeks as both took part in highly publicized efforts to shut down overcrowded houses. Brookhaven officials' June 19 raid in Farmingville and Levy's move to arrest the landlord led to the shutdown of the house, evicting up to 64 tenants and upsetting Latino officials. Levy later inflamed the controversy by attacking immigrant protesters as a "lunatic fringe."

Suozzi and North Hempstead officials, in a kinder gentler approach, last week gave the 30 tenants in a Westbury ranch a week's notice, the county set up a temporary shelter as well as offered help to tenants to find other housing. However, they were careful not to compare themselves to Suffolk.

Levy makes no apologies for his tough stand, noting circumstances in Farmingville were far different - all the occupants were undocumented immigrants so the county could not legally provide housing help. He also said the house was a "fire trap" that could not remain open.

However, the Rev. Allan Ramirez, a day laborers' advocate, said Levy just traded problems. "Levy ... just created a problem of homelessness," Ramirez said. "If people were unhappy with crowded houses, imagine how they will feel with people sleeping in the street and living in the woods."

Levy called such talk nonsense: "Despite the incendiary rhetoric from the advocates of anarchy, 99 percent of the public supports this crackdown."

While Levy's move upset many Hispanic leaders, even critics acknowledge it may increase his popularity in the conservative county. "He may get an immediate bounce," said Legis. Ricardo Montano (D-Central Islip). "But in the long run it's not the way to go ... People want a county executive who is moderate, deals with issues and does not get involved in name-calling."

For Suozzi, who is seeking re-election this fall and aspires to statewide office, the issue is more delicate. On one hand, he backs strong enforcement at least in part because he and Harvey Levinson are trying to capitalize on housing as an issue to batter Hempstead Republicans. Levinson, the Nassau assessor, is seeking to unseat Republican Kate Murray as Hempstead supervisor.

"They are the ones creating a sixth borough by their failure to do code enforcement," said Suozzi of the Republicans. "They are taking away the suburban quality of life." Michael Deery, a Hempstead spokesman, countered that the town has toughened its code and expanded inspectors' hours to nights and weekends to improve enforcement.

However, Suozzi must also be careful not to alienate minorities who will be important in next year's gubernatorial primary.

Benny Torres, Southampton Democratic chairman, said neither county executive should trifle with the growing Hispanic vote. "Latinos are up and coming in politics," he said. "And to discount them would be a huge mistake."

Who they are First elected to office at the age of 26.

Steve Levy



DOB: 8/25/59 (45)

Suffolk County executive, 2003- present.

New York State Assembly 5th District on South Shore of Suffolk, 2000-2003.

Elected Suffolk County legislator representing the Sayville, Holbrook and Bayport areas, 1985-2000.

Education: Sachem High School, Stony Brook University, and St. John's University School of Law.