The concerns of one West Hempstead mother regarding registered sex offenders living just blocks away from her daughter's elementary school have not fallen on deaf ears.
Andrea Shinsato, a mother of two, recently sent to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), alerting him to the fact that the on Hempstead Turnpike, which is located near the , has become a haven for registered sex offenders.
Sen. Skelos responded this week, sending the attached letter to Shinsato.
In it, he told Shinsato that as both an elected official and a parent, "I share your concern about the safety of our children and appreciate your efforts as a dilligent and engaged mother."
Skelos said he has "spent much of [his] politicial career fighting for the protection of children, especially from the dangers posed by sexual predators." He sponsored and fought for improvements to Megan's Law, which requires convicted sex offenders to register. For instance, in 2006, he said the law was "further strengthened for sex offenders most likely to reoffend and pose the greatest dangers ... by preventing them from coming off the registry in their lifetimes."
The Senate also passed legislation to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the sex offenders registry and increase penalties for non-compliant offenders, Skelos explained.
Additionally, he said he has successfully advocated in the Senate for the passage of other bills that would reduce convicted sex offenders' access to "vulnerable populations" by limiting the places where they can live and work
"We also need to look beyond legislative action, as nothing can replace the vigilance of parents, children, law enforcement, teachers and others in being observant and reporting suspicious behavior shown by sex offenders -- or anyone potentially posing a risk to a child -- before something terrible occurs," he stated.
Skelos instructed his office to contact the Nassau County Police's Fifth Precinct and asked them to provide additional patrols around the Capri.
In closing he told Shinsato that "the George Washington Elementary School community is fortunate to have an advocate like you working to increase awareness and raising visibility about this important issue." He promised to continue to work to strengthen laws pertaining to this issue and "advocate for any action that will help protect those students and the community as a whole from sexual predators."
What do you think of this situation and Skelos's response? Tell us in the comments section below.
Senator Skelos has indeed been a stalwart for our children and a valiant fighter for our community. Now is the time to take the next crucial step: Marshal the support of State, County and Town (yes, I said Town, the ultimate arbiter of the Capri's fate), and take all necessary measures to close the Capri -- sooner rather than later. Our community deserves no less!
Gary Port is a fine example of how politicians (even wanna be's) like to spin information to boost their careers. Not all registered sex offenders are on the list because they abused children. Skelos is another fine example of how a politician will use fear to enhance laws to strengthen their careers while doing nothing to actually protect children.
Dean Skelos' platitudes are not helpful or comforting on this issue. This is pretty close to a form letter. Mr. Skelos is very helpful on many issues and it has been my pleasure to contact him on several occasions. The Capri must go! There is no reason to have a "motel" in our community as we have learned from our experience with The (lack of) Courtesy. It is time to work towards cleaning up Hempstead Turnpike and it blighted stores and institutions. If we are tosuccessfully market "luxury" rentals in WH, then we need to attract better quality businesses fast. Otherwise in a year or two Capri will look like Disneyland compared to what's to come. Finally, if the redevelopment of the Nassau Colliseum (sic) goes down our community is likely to suffer greatly. It is time to fight NIMBY! We need to face the changing picture of suburban life. I hope it is not too late.
For too long we have accepted "what is" instead of striving to achieve "what could be." Apathy, indifference and a tolerance for, not to mention acceptance of, mediocrity, has become the norm, and our hometown has the blight of the Turnpike and the disintegration of "downtown" to show for it. It is time for Long Islanders to stand up, speak out, and take action. To paraphrase Albert Einstein, doing the same thing, the same way, over and over again and hoping for a different result is the very definition of insanity.
It has only been through the efforts of responsible legislators like Senator Skelos and all New York State Legislators that we are now notified where these sex offenders live. Efforts are now under way, by Social Services to stop using Hotels and Motels, like the Capri, as temporary housing for individuals and families. This change in policy by Social Services coupled with increased police presence around these motels, and community vigilance, will cause the owners of the hotel to reconsider if they should remain in business. Unfortunately sex offenders have constitutional rights and there are restrictions on how far legislation can go to rid every community of these individuals.
It is ridiculous that the town ALLOWS these sex offenders to be placed here. They get away with it because "WE" as a group just sit back and let it happen. Put them in the red roof in out by Lowe's, no schools, no houses, nothing open at night. Seriously is it that hard to figure out ????? Too many "rights" for these people. What about my rights to live ???? They should be put in exile, I agree with the Plum Island idea.
Some people just can't stop being politicians. Having sex offenders at the Capri (near a school) is unacceptable to the public but acceptable to our senator. Maybe its time for a change ?
While I understand and agree that everyone has constitutional rights, it doesn't detract from my original point - there MUST be a better placement for those individuals than 0.34 miles from the front door of GW Elementary School.
And as for your request for ideas on how to tackle this problem, that's why I reached out to Sen. Skelos in the first place.............
I am not letting this go, nor will I be placated by a standard issue form letter. I hope you all who agree with me that something PROACTIVELY needs to be done instead of reactively, join me in writing to Sen. Skelos (skelos@nysenate.gov), Assemblyman Ed Ra (rae@assembly.state.ny.us), Councilman Ed Ambrosino (eambrosino@tohmail.org), Supervisor Kate Murray (http://www.toh.li/helpline) and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano (http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/CountyExecutive/index.html) Thank you again my fellow West Hempstead Residents.
Can Senator Skelos look into enacting a rider, or amendment to the current law that states for locations like motels (in our case, the Capri) that there is a limit on the percentage of offenders being placed in regards to the total overall occupancy? For example, can 2% of the total occupancy be held for the placement of sex offenders? This would still offer them housing, while preventing an overabundance of offenders housed in one location.
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/SomsSUBDirectory/offenderDetails.jsp?offenderid=25995 I'm wondering, how many does that make in ONE location?
to answer your question the state website lists one person at the Capri