Posted: Tuesday, 12 January 2010 2:11PM

Dozens Of Day Laborers Forced from Huntington Station Tent City


NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A controversial tent city on Long Island has been torn down leaving dozens of Latino day laborers that had lived there for years homeless.


Mona Rivera reports


Last week, officials in the Town of Huntington tacked notices on their makeshift tents in nearby Huntington Station, threatening fines or imprisonment if the men didn't leave. The laborers say they have nowhere else to turn.

On Monday, a workers with shovels and chain saws arrived and ordered the laborers out of the Huntington Station woods where they have been living.

Authorities have said the men can't stay in Suffolk County's long-term emergency housing because they're undocumented.

The action ended a week-long standoff between the laborers and authorities, however it left unresolved the question of where the men will live during the day.

During the evening, they usually sleep at local churches.

Latino Advocate, the Rev. Allan Ramirez, is urging authorities and people to help the men. Ramirez said the men need shelter, food, sleeping bags and clothing. He has brought them hats, scarves, coats and blankets as they try to cope with the cold.

Ramirez says some people have donated money.

As reported by Newsday, the 26.6-acre site is the location of a proposed housing development by Avalon Bays, a developer in Melville that hopes to buy the property from Starlight Building Corp, Town of Huntington spokesman A.J. Carter said.