PROPOSED LAW TARGETS SEX-OFFENDER RESIDENCES (Walsh would limit registered offenders living in same home)
Times of Middle Country/Jennifer Choi
Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh (R-Centereach) has proposed a local law to prohibit more than two registered sex offenders from residing in the same one-family dwelling. The intent is to "limit the saturation" of registered sex offenders, Walsh said, adding that the approval of this law would amend Chapter 55 of the code of the Town of Brookhaven's Child Protection Act. According to Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan's Law, town officials recently amended their local code to be consistent with Suffolk County law, which states that "registered sex offenders cannot live within a quarter mile of public and private schools, licensed day care centers or playgrounds with playground apparatus." Ahearn said this week there are 854 registered sex offenders in Suffolk County. Based on that relatively small number, Walsh said, "Limiting it to two per household in Brookhaven doesn't seem to be an unreasonable law." Ahearn said, currently, there is no town code that regulates the number of registered sex offenders residing in the same on-family dwelling. She has been approached by residents from Gordon Heights "deeply concerned about multiple sex offenders in one home," she noted, adding that there were five to six per house, specifically mentioning Homestead Drive in that Coram neighborhood. "This community has had a tremendous burden...for over a decade" of so many offenders located in the area, said Ahearn. "This is a problem not only locally but all over the country." Walsh and Ahearn, who began working together in January, agreed the proposed law would alleviate the problem by holding landlords accountable. Ahearn, who founded PFML 12 years ago, agreed Walsh's amendment to the Child Protection Act would alleviate the saturation problem by penalizing "landlords...who are just trying to make a buck." "We're very pleased that Councilwoman Walsh stepped up to the plate," she said. "Brookhaven can now rest assured that certain landlords who are looking to exploit the community are not going to be able to anymore."
(New York)
Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh (R-Centereach) has proposed a local law to prohibit more than two registered sex offenders from residing in the same one-family dwelling. The intent is to "limit the saturation" of registered sex offenders, Walsh said, adding that the approval of this law would amend Chapter 55 of the code of the Town of Brookhaven's Child Protection Act. According to Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan's Law, town officials recently amended their local code to be consistent with Suffolk County law, which states that "registered sex offenders cannot live within a quarter mile of public and private schools, licensed day care centers or playgrounds with playground apparatus." Ahearn said this week there are 854 registered sex offenders in Suffolk County. Based on that relatively small number, Walsh said, "Limiting it to two per household in Brookhaven doesn't seem to be an unreasonable law." Ahearn said, currently, there is no town code that regulates the number of registered sex offenders residing in the same on-family dwelling. She has been approached by residents from Gordon Heights "deeply concerned about multiple sex offenders in one home," she noted, adding that there were five to six per house, specifically mentioning Homestead Drive in that Coram neighborhood. "This community has had a tremendous burden...for over a decade" of so many offenders located in the area, said Ahearn. "This is a problem not only locally but all over the country." Walsh and Ahearn, who began working together in January, agreed the proposed law would alleviate the problem by holding landlords accountable. Ahearn, who founded PFML 12 years ago, agreed Walsh's amendment to the Child Protection Act would alleviate the saturation problem by penalizing "landlords...who are just trying to make a buck." "We're very pleased that Councilwoman Walsh stepped up to the plate," she said. "Brookhaven can now rest assured that certain landlords who are looking to exploit the community are not going to be able to anymore."
(New York)
Submitted on: 7/10/08