Southeast board candidate tackles illegal immigration topic again
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- May
- 12
When Matthew Neuringer, a 21-year-old graduating Fordham student, ran for Southeast Town Board two years ago, tackling illegal immigration was at the forefront of his campaign. Neuringer ran alongside now Supervisor Michael Rights and Councilman Dwight Yee on the Save our Southeast line. He lost to current Councilman Roger Gross.
Now that Neuringer is running again to gain a seat on the Town Board, his fight to curb illegal immigration continues. He recently wrote a guest column to The Journal News entitled: “A LOCAL, PROACTIVE APPROACH IS NEEDED FOR SANCTUARY CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES,” outlining three ideas to stop “overcrowding,” “illegal hiring,” and “loitering.”
Neuringer is running with Joseph DePaola, 28, an attorney. Both men are facing a Republican primary challenge from attorney Elizabeth Hudak and police sergeant Bob Cullen.
Neuringer’s column after the jump.
A LOCAL, PROACTIVE APPROACH IS NEEDED FOR SANCTUARY CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES
“Illegal Immigration being a Federal Issue is not a valid excuse.”
Across the Hudson Valley some communities have found themselves having to grapple with the realities of a deeply rooted black market economy. Often times these communities feel as if they have no other choice but to sit back, allow this illegal activity to continue, and lament that “it’s a federal issue, there’s nothing we can do about it.” While the root cause of illegal hiring and Illegal Immigration do require federal action, there are other proactive options available to Hudson Valley communities to address these problems at the local level.
Before tackling these problems, communities must, as a matter of principle, establish that this is an issue of respecting the rule of law— it is not an issue of immigration or race. While extremists on both sides may find it within their interest to focus on the politics of polarization, the real answers are not to be found at the extremes of either side.
1) Overcrowding: If your community has a underground population living in overcrowded housing conditions, consider the following: often times, these conditions include 10-15 people living in a single family home and the use of dividers in bedrooms and living rooms in order to “honeycomb” the home into small apartment sections. A rental registration law requiring each landlord to register with their rental units with their municipality can be used to set appropriate standards. Following registration, the municipality must follow up with random inspections and levy strict fines against those landlords who violate the law. Continued non-compliance and/or non-payment of fines must be backed up with a judicially administered civil forfeiture procedure. Property owners need to know their right to profit from renting is limited by the necessity of ensuring the safety and well-being of not only the tenants, but our emergency personnel who can often be injured or worse when responding to a call. Furthermore, the community at large suffers from the overtaxing of water, sewer and other shared resources and services.
2) Illegal Hiring: The old adage that “if you feed them, they will come” stands true with illegal hiring. If someone employs them, they will come and congregate on the streets to seek employment. In conjunction with county code enforcement, local municipalities can establish a consumer affairs program for their jurisdiction. The consumer affairs department must enforce the county, state, and local standards for licensing, hiring, bonding, insurance and workers compensation protections. Code enforcement officers must be mobilized to proactively seek out contractors and local residents violating the laws, levy significant fines, and, if necessary, seize property in the event of continued violations or non-payment of fines. A proactive, zero-tolerance approach will change the perception of your community in the eyes of both illegal employers and employees.
3) Loitering: Excessive loitering is a major deterrent to local consumers looking to shop in down town areas. Municipalities can combat this by establishing a commerce zone encompassing the areas in front of businesses. In conjunction with the commerce zone, a loitering affidavit program can then be introduced to law enforcement and businesses. Businesses can sign an affidavit authorizing local law enforcement to keep the areas of commercial priority clear of a defined standard of obstruction.
In sum, each of these components must be strictly tailored to fit the needs and wants of each local municipality. At a minimum, they serve a starting point for the discussion of proactive, creative solutions for communities that are beleaguered by these quality of life concerns.
Recently, the Supervisor for the Town of Carmel attempted to have just such a discussion and introduced the idea of a loitering affidavit program. Within hours organizations like “latino justice” were threatening litigation. It appears these organizations would rather have municipalities ignore the problems altogether rather than be a part of the discussion of proactive solutions. This is not a workable approach for any Hudson Valley community. Any one individual or group cannot be exempt from following the law and the thought that a community should continue to allow the disrespect for the law that is presently happening in villages like Mahopac and Brewster is outrageous.
Respect for the rule of law and its application to all people, regardless of their race, sex, creed or position in society is sacrosanct in America. We must stand strong in defense of these American values, we must not be deterred by the threat of litigation, and we must continue to seek proactive solutions to these problems and enforce our laws equally against all persons.
Matthew Neuringer
Councilman Candidate
Town of Southeast, NYmore->
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 12:02 pm by Marcela Rojas.
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Thank god there is someone who wants to stop this illegal
alien madness. Part of the reason we are in a recession is because these low life’s do not pay taxes or pay into our
system like a citizen would. 75% of what they make goes back
to their country of origin to stimulate that economy and not
ours. Wake up people America is turning into a third world
coutry that is going down the tubes real fast.
New York state lawmakers now grappling with a $1.7 billion budget deficit for 2008-2009 and a looming $15 billon shortfall predicted for the 2009-2010 session, were advised three years ago of the mounting costs of illegal immigration in the state. In 2006, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) issued a study of the fiscal cost of illegal immigration to New Yorkers. At that time, the cost to the state’s taxpayers was $5.155 billion dollars a year. That estimate included the cost of educating the children of illegal aliens both those illegally in the country and those born here in K-12 public schools, emergency medical care, and incarceration of criminal aliens.
While these annual costs for illegal immigration have been steadily draining New York’s budget, the costs have risen and are placing an even greater strain on the state’s resources in 2009. The 2006 cost estimate was based on an illegal alien population estimated at 645,000. Today, FAIR estimates New York’s illegal alien population has grown to 1,000,000 persons, a 55 percent increase. As a result of both the continued growth in the illegal alien population and the higher cost of governmental services, the current fiscal cost outlays for the illegal alien population in New York are now approaching $8.4 billion annually more than half the projected shortfall for next year.
Addressing New York’s budget crisis requires that state officials acknowledge the real cost of illegal immigration. What part of Mr. Neuringer’s statement can be reasonably argued against? Is it Latino Justice’s position that a person race is reason enough to break laws?
A big chunk of the state deficit could be lessened over time if the state adopted measures that effectively complemented federal efforts to deter illegal immigration.
The crisis is even more dramatic in New York City where a $4 billion budget gap is forcing Mayor Bloomberg to consider reducing payrolls by 23,000 workers and imposing an increase in sales taxes. During a period when New Yorkers are facing job losses, increased taxes, and seeing vital state services reduced or eliminated, it is irresponsible for state officials to look away while employers profit from illegal workers who have no right to seek employment, residence and most benefits in the state. New York’s policymakers have a clear obligation to not ignore the budget-busting costs of illegal immigration and adopt polices that protect the interests of law-abiding residents.
On a national level, here are the facts:
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year.
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!
5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.
6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and Social Services by the American taxpayers.
9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that’s two-and-a-half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US.
Let the debate begin, just make sure that the true costs of what ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ means are included.
Ed Kowalski
9/11 Families for a Secure America