Letter: Prejudicial Immigration Policies Hurt Local Government

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Letter: Prejudicial Immigration Policies Hurt Local Government

Friday, 09 March 2012 00:00

The pandering rhetoric of politicians on the subject of immigration is a throwback to a time when slavery was the law of the land and later in the 1920s when we restricted immigration, establishing quotas based upon ethnicity and countries of origin. The Irish, Germans and Italians all successfully assimilated here but some candidates believe that we should expel the 11 to 15 million undocumented immigrants here, most arriving from south of the border.

They, like our forbearers, are just looking for better lives for themselves and their families. They live in an underground economy, forced to drive illegally because they cannot secure Social Security numbers or drivers licenses. They are packed into illegal substandard housing where they pay enormous rents in cash to absentee, unscrupulous landlords.

They work as day laborers, low-end jobs, which few citizens would accept. They have no medical insurance, Workmen’s Compensation or Disability. When they are injured in the often-dangerous jobs that they are compelled to take, they have no coverage. Without a bilingual education they are unable to secure better paying jobs; their children struggle in school and their assimilation into the rest of our society and culture is at a standstill.

While candidates for the presidency come up with impossible solutions, local governments are forced to balance individual rights with enforcement of existing laws regarding housing and the unlicensed operation of motor vehicles. In my court I am charged with the responsibility of upholding the Constitution and at the same time preserving the residential character of the community. These two issues are often in conflict because of the added burdens placed on local governments, including our school, water and garbage districts, as a result of illegal housing and unworkable immigration policies.

Legalizing the immigrants who come here would allow for their documentation and taxation that would then alleviate many of the problems that we have in local government. So far not a single politician for national office has had the courage to realistically speak out on this issue.

Hon. Thomas F. Liotti
Village Justice, Westbury
Attorney, Garden City

News

Westbury Installs 34th Fire Chief

Friday, 24 May 2013 00:00

Doug Ingram was recently named the new chief of the Westbury Fire Department.

Ingram grew up in Old Westbury and graduated from Westbury High School in 1974. After graduating, he joined the Navy where he spent two years stationed in Italy. When he was honorably discharged in 1979, he joined the Westbury fire department and has been involved there ever since.

BOE Nixes Contract With Search Firm

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

In what is hoped to be a step forward for the Westbury School District’s ongoing search for a superintendent, the board of education voted to terminate its contract with search firm Hazard, Young, Attea. However, questions still remain. Will the board continue the search with another firm? Will the board conduct the search themselves? Will it consider current Interim Superintendent Mary Lagnado for the position? And of course, how long will the process take before a permanent superintendent is named?

Sports

Frogs Eat Falcons

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Carle Place softball avenges semi-final loss to Locust Valley

Avenging the previous day’s loss and moving themselves one step closer to a possible county title, the Carle Place Frogs Softball team beat out the Locust Valley Falcons Wednesday, May 15 in a game two rematch for the Nassau County Class B Semi-Final, 12-3.

Okinawan Karate Celebrates 10 Years

Friday, 17 May 2013 00:00

Westbury Okinawan Karate recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary of coming to the Westbury Recreation Center. Since then, the dojo has trained 250 students, ages six and up, in the art of karate with the style of traditional Okinawan ShorinRyu Shidokan.

Founded by sensei John Power, the classes seek to instill the confidence and strength needed to obtain success in everyday life.

“A lot of kids are lacking confidence,” said Power. “We let them practice leadership in the class and this contributes to their confidence.