After reading this statement by Susan Savage about the state sending sex offenders to live in Schenectady I have to wonder if in fact the state gives money to the area in which these sex offenders were sent. I know that the state pays a municipality to house inmates while waiting to be placed in state prison and I think that we should see the rest of the story b4 we make up our minds.
I must say as I work and live in Schenectady,,,,NYC is sending their problems to us.....why?...we say yes?....we lack the ability to police properly?....lax laws?....lax judges?.....we want cheap labor?....etc etc......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Don’t house sex offenders in welfare motels with families CHRISTINE M. BENEDICT Albany The writer is minority leader for the Albany County Legislature.
Assemblyman George Amedore is correct when he states that the housing of sex offenders is a state issue and should be addressed by the state Legislature [July 28 Gazette]. Until the state Legislature addresses this problem, localities are forced to pass local laws to protect their citizenry. I have discovered another deplorable situation while addressing the housing of sex offenders in my Albany County legislative district [town of Colonie]. Sex offenders and families with children were housed in the same motel, and in motels within short walking distance of each other. This being shocking enough, the living conditions in these establishments are deplorable and in violation of state building and fi re codes. Information received from FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests indicated exposed wiring, human feces, animal and insect waste, nonworking smoke detectors, and the list goes on and on in many of these motels along Route 5. New York state must not only look at where it allows localities to house sexual predators, it must look at the conditions of the buildings where all welfare recipients are housed. It is time for the state to make a major overhaul of its Medicaid system and practices.
Well thank you Ms Benedict for sharing this bit of information with us! She just goes to prove the point that the STATE needs to pass Jessica's law for EVERYONE! We just can't randomly propose these little 'pocket' legislations in every little pocket town, village, hamlet or city. Come on Mr. Spitzer, you are the 'KING OF CONSOLIDATION'....show us how it's done with Jessica's law. CONSOLIDATE all sex offender laws with just one 'statewide... jessica's law'!
We'll be watching and waiting Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Sheldon!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
They will probably hold it over all the municipalities heads until all the union contracts are signed with designated $$ trails, and consolidation is started moving ahead full steam.
Let's see how 'straight up' they will make this......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
On, Tuesday, August 14th at 7:00 pm, Duanesburg Town Supervisor Rene Merrihew will present petitions signed by 600+ town residents calling for the rescission of Kosiur's Laws (Local Laws 03-2007 and 04-2007) that were sponsored by Ed Kosiur and passed by the Schenectady County Legislature in June 2007.
The meeting is being held on the 6th floor of the County Building. There is a parking lot across the street from the building.
There are several Legislators who have recently expressed regret for supporting the law and who have stated that they will call for the legislation to be repealed. If you wish to express your opinions on the legislation you must sign in.
It is important for all of those who oppose the laws, as written, to clear your schedules and attend this meeting. Communicate the details of the meeting to friends, family and neighbors. Together, we can pressure the County Legislators to rescind the laws as written and to work to define and pass comprehensive, enforceable and constitutional legislation that will address the needs and concerns of ALL of the residents of Schenectady County.
County will revise sex offender law Updated: 8/13/2007 8:36 PM By: Web Staff
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Democrat Ed Kosiur campaigned on what he called the toughest sex offender law in the state. Placing a 2,000 foot radius around areas children play and learn-- and prohibiting sex offenders from living there.Now Schenectady county legislators say they plan to repeal part of that bill.
County chairwoman Susan Savage said in a statement: "the laws adopted in June were intended to protect children throughout Schenectady County and to place our community on a level playing field. Some concerns were raised. We listened to those concerns and think this proposal addresses many of them while providing a level of protection to our community."
According to Savage's statement and county legislator Kosiur, the proposal will grandfather in sex offenders already living in the county. Level 1 sex offenders--those designated least likely to re-offend--will also be removed from the restrictions.
Although sex offenders won't have to move from where they are currently living, Kosiur says the 2,000 foot radius around parks and schools will stay.
Changes to sex offender law
Changes are on the way, according to Schenectady County Legislator Ed Kosiur. He said the county will be revising the much talked about sex offender law passed earlier this year.
In fact towns and villages will have the authority to extend that boundary if they feel it's necessary to protect children.
With tighter restrictions in Saratoga, Albany and now Schenectady counties...many think sex offenders will have to move west. That has some in neighboring Montgomery County worried.
“I think the exodus out of Schenectady County will be into Montgomery County. Right now I think it should be one law for the whole state covering all counties,” said Anthony Pollatta, (R) Amsterdam Alderman.
Montgomery County chairman Tom DiMezza also supports a state wide plan. He says he's in favor of tighter monitoring and longer sentences. And his best bet may be his newest colleague.
On the campaign trail, newly elected Assemblyman George Amedore said he has a proposal in the works.
I think that Duanesburg Town Supervisor Rene Merrihew will be the driving force. She has done an excellent job for her town. Ya know, I don't even know if she is a dem or rep, but she truly is a great example of listening to her constituants and doing the right thing. That town really came together and they should all be commended!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I can see by the article posted a couple above this one, that Suzie Savage and Eddy Kosiur are still up to their old tricks! All they did in their revision is grandfather in the existing sex offenders so they don't have to move Oct. 1st. THAT my friends was just to avoid a law suit by the NYCLU. The remaining part of this rediculous law, is still sticking it to the counties for future offenders.
Why the hell didn't they just rescind this law and leave it up to the state. Amedore made it clear that he was working on a statewide sex offender law. Let's hold his feet to the fire and see that he follows through? Why aren't these pathetic, county legislatures pressuring Sheldon Silver?
This is nonsense!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Savage's proposal to rescind Local Law 04-2007 thereby grandfathering those convicted sex offenders who currently reside within the newly defined exclusion zones will not end the debate. As bumble points out, this was done, not in response to concerns by county residents, but rather to avoid a promised legal challenge by the New York Civili Liberties Union (NYCLU). As a resident in one of the already highest taxed counties in the United States, we cannot afford a tax increase to pay for the legal defense of this ill-conceived legislation or for the awards for damages that will result from the mandatory relocation of those offenders who currently reside in the city.
The Town Supervisors are working on their own plan that will begin with the formation of a panel of subject matter experts in the fields of sexual offenses and the law. They will propose their own legislation that will be comprehensive and enforceable and that will address the needs and concerns of ALL residents of Schenectady County.
The recent actions by the Democrat controlled Legislature are once again based on political posturing rather than what is in the best interests of their constituency. Both Local Laws 03-2007 and 04-2007 should be rescinded in full. Pressure should be brought against Sheldon Silver to allow Jessica's Law to receive a vote in the NYS Assembly. And, the reelection of those Legislators who supported the calculated ploy to rush through the passage of this flawed legislation (Kosiur's Law) should be soundly rejected by the voters.
The gentlemanly headline in the Aug. 9 Gazette, “Dems to alter offender laws,” should have read “Dems flip-flop!” Why did they do it? Surely damage control was on their mind and the humiliating defeat of [county legislator] Ed Kosiur and the threatened lawsuit by the ACLU may have been part of their flip-flop, but it would never have happened without the Gazette’s own Carl Strock. His crusade against the hysteria, silliness and impracticability of the sex offender laws was relentless. His well-researched facts and reasoned arguments for scrapping or changing the laws were irrefutable. Whether one agrees with him, which I frequently — but not always — do, is besides the point. Even the few times he is off the mark, he is always entertaining. Carl Strock is an asset to the Gazette — I presume an underpaid asset. HANS H. WULF Niskayuna
Excuse me, Hans, but I belive it was the residents and the Supervisors of the local towns who turned this. Just because Mr. Strock is the only one that has a column in the newspaper doesn't mean that he was the one doing anything. He's just another talking head.
I agree whole heartedly with you bk. It was a 'grassroots' effort' by every town supervisor, with Duanesburg's own being the most active, and the residents I believe. Carl Strock was just a positive vocal added to the mix. I think that Hans was just trying to toot Mr. Strocks own horn here.
On a similar note....BK emailed his concerns regarding the gas tax to George Amedore with a gracious reply. I think that since we know that Mr. Amedore is listening, we should, collectively be emailing or snail mailing him in support of Jessica's law being enforced. The more support he has from us, the more push he'll have in the assembly. I will send him an email today. That is where the change needs to be made. Clearly NOT with the dimwits on the county legislature.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
On a similar note....BK emailed his concerns regarding the gas tax to George Amedore with a gracious reply. I think that since we know that Mr. Amedore is listening, we should, collectively be emailing or snail mailing him in support of Jessica's law being enforced. The more support he has from us, the more push he'll have in the assembly. I will send him an email today
bumble,
An excellent thought. I emailed Mr. Amedore last week urging him to reintroduce legislation implementing Jessica's Law in New York State. I cited the current public interest in and media coverage of sex offender residency laws, the most recent being proposed and/or enacted in Schenectady and Columbia counties. With the increased visibility of this important issue, perhaps Jessica's Law can be passed by the New York State Assembly despite Sheldon Silver's refusal to address the issue.
I would again remind all of the petition that is available at the Conservative Party of New York State web site (www.cpnys.org) under the Grassroots Activism link. The petition calls on the state government to address the issue of sex offenders and to keep the predators in civil confinement for longer periods of incarceration. I have mailed my petition and have made copies of the petitions that I am providing to friends, family, and neighbors.
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