March 6, 2008 9:18 AM
GUEST BLOG
As the immigration situation heats up on the East End of Long Island this week, all I can think is where did this all go wrong?
I was notified a little over a week ago that there were 4 houses on North Sea Road in Southampton that had serious code violations and would be closed. Attempts by the Town to contact the landlords to fix the violations had failed, often hiding behind corporations and working with local real estate agencies to fill the four houses with seventy people. Twenty of those are children.
Town Board and other departments in Town Hall reached out to the local Spanish Apostolate and the Anti Bias Task Force to see what resources were available for the people involved in the evictions. The answer they received was dismal.
There is virtually no affordable housing in the Hamptons. The people living in these houses were paying a cumulative $5,000 to $6,000 a month per house. They all had given security deposits.
There are only a couple of shelters in the area, all at maximum capacity on warm nights in the winter, never mind how cold recent nights have been. Food pantries are often in desperate need of food, despite being in one of the richest communities in the United States.
One of the hopes the Town had was that most of the people had children born here so they would qualify for Social Services emergency services. However, when I inquired about whether Social Services had emergency housing in the Town of Southampton, no one was able to give me an answer. The most encouraging thing I heard was that if the children were moved to say Patchogue, the County had to provide transportation for the children to attend school where they had been. Although that may sound like a positive thing, I can testify that my previous 20 mile commute to work from Hampton Bays to Sag Harbor often took upwards of two hours in the morning. A child having to be at school by 7:30am, would need to be out of the house by 5:30am. I have a hard time envisioning a child functioning at their full potential after sitting on a school bus for two hours.
Parents also work locally, most carpooling with their housemates. We all know nothing gets an anti-immigration activist more riled-up than the prospect of an undocumented parent receiving social services because their child was born here in the United States. I have actually seen minutemen foam at the mouth when talking about the subject. Well now you are taking people that were not using social services before and forcing them to, even if it is temporary. You make parents who were hard working move to a community without transportation, what are they supposed to do? They are still just that, parents. And no matter who you are, you are going to do whatever is necessary to provide for your children.
There was also one other glitch. What about the people who were not here legally? The ones that the Hamptons need so desperately for their work force, yet turn their cheek to if the people who work so hard for them are in need of help. They do not qualify for social services. Many shelters ask for id when you come to spend the night. Most landlords require some form of id to rent to a person. So where were these people going to go? This question still remains a mystery and completely unanswered.
By using my excellent common sense, my guess is that most have gone to live with friends in other houses that will now be on the radar of the Town of Southampton. Since we are creating a system on how to better handle these code violations, you can be sure that the next time will move more smoothly, but there will be a next time.
Look, I have many friends in Town Hall. I have both personal and professional relationships with many who are working on this issue. I will not say that they are pushing a particular group of people out of the Town using what I deem to be almost cruel circumstances, but it sure raises some eyebrows, does it not?
The system is broken. It is up to the reader of this to decide which system that is.
During our Southampton AntiBias Task Force meeting this morning we received an update on this situation from the Town Attorney and two Council members. Three of the houses were closed on Saturday and the fourth on Sunday. It is believed that all the occupants have found housing, how and where remains to be unanswered and in a way I hope it does.
In an absolutely amazing feat, a Sister from the Spanish Apostolate was able to negotiate the return of three of the houses deposits. We cannot expect this to be the case in the future. We were fortunate in this case to have a landlord that was interested in doing right by their occupants in the end. Anyone who works in any kind of advocacy and activism knows that to find people willing to come to the table and open dialogue can be rare and often, even if the reasons behind it may not be as altruistic as we may want them to be, are very appreciated.
There are currently three organizations asking for people to open their hearts to this situation and send donations of any size to help these people with deposits, security or one-time urgent needs.
These are members of our community. They shop in our stores, their children attend school with our children, they attend social gatherings and community meetings. When I meet someone I like, I do not ask to see their documents. When I see someone in need, I do my best to try to help. I hope this post can in some small way raise awareness of the help they need. They should be treated like every other member in our community, with respect and dignity. They mow your lawns, work at the restaurants you dine at, they raise your children, they build your houses. Then when they need to be treated like humans, you turn your backs on them.
I want to believe I am being extremely cynical. I want to believe that people are better than this and community is still important in society today. Please help this girl prove that there is still good in this world. Show the children who were displaced during these evictions that not all people are bad. Let us set an example that caring for your neighbor and strangers is not something to be held in high regard, but something we all should do naturally and with ease. Always remember to pay it forward, because you never know when you might find yourself needing the kindness of other people.
For more information you can contact the Southampton Anti-Bias Task Force at (631) 702-1922.
Please send donations to one of the following organizations:
Hispanic Apostolate
168 Hill Street
Southampton, NY 11968
(631) 283-4379
St. Rosalie’s Church
31 East Montauk Highway
Hampton Bays, NY 11946
(631) 728-9461
Peconic Community Council
554 East Main Street, Suite 303
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 727-6831
For those that help, know that to one person you are what makes those bad days good.
ALERT! Find out about new bill directed against immigrants in Suffolk County
Time is of the essence. The Town of Southampton needs to focus on creating alternative housing and one way is to legalize accessory apartments, even those that are not up to full compliance with various codes. Those apartments--some above stores and some in people's homes--are much safer than the houses that have very serious code violations. What about bringing the accessory apartments to code? Give the owners a reasonable time frame(6 months?) but let them rent them out now.
By Myron March 6, 2008 11:06 AM
This is an excellent article about an incredibly difficult situation. Housing is a major difficulty for all levels of income, whether one is a local person or a worker from afar. This issue needs much attention at the County and Town level as the work force situation out here on the east end is quite unique.
Thanks for the blog and drawing attention to this and those who are trying to help.
By John Whelan March 6, 2008 11:20 AM
It is time the people of Suffolk County step up to the plate. We must not allow people of color to be scapegoated under the mystified guise of unhealthy housing conditions. In the past immigrants lived in conditions that were worse. I am not approving of unhealthy living situations, but I am hoping if we are outspoken, it will force government officials to act on both the affordable housing crisis as well as the immigrant legalization issues that we face here in Suffolk.
By James Banks March 6, 2008 11:42 AM
This raises some questions.
If a landlord was willing to negotiate a return of the rental deposit why was not fixing the housing code violations possible?
Why does the Town evict people rather than see to it that violations are corrected?
Do we need to review our housing laws?
Do our neighbors care about living conditions
or only the number of cars parked in front of a
house?
By Tony Ernst March 6, 2008 12:19 PM
Dear Lisa, My name is Dianne Rulnick and I had the honor to work with Sr. Breige Lavery as she visited the four homes over and over again. When I suggested she ask the managing rental agent to put deposits in escrow, she demurred and instead built trusting relationships with that person, and with many in the houses who have now received their deposits back and moved.
The day the houses were closed Sr. Breige worked to make sure they were neat and that a dumpster had been donated to clean out debris. Some of the houses did a very good job at that themselves.
As matters will have it, the Press took a picture of one of the houses after the tenants had left and rennovation work had begun. Bags that were neatly piled up, along with furniture, and awaiting a dumpster, had been moved outside, and the newspaper's front page picture looked very bad.
What I had observed, on a number of prior visits, were families trying to survive together, and living happily together, until we arrived. Over Christmas we visited to find mothers, fathers and children singing carols before an artistic wall-sized creche they had built. I found it both emotional and moving.
I understand that the conditions had safety violations which required closure, but I never saw or felt any roach situation highlighted by the Town administration as "the walls were moving".
I was struck when Sister said to me, these houses will perhaps be the best living conditions these families and individuals will experiance.
One minister said, if the Town plans to repossess the homes, or would consider buying them, could they not be made into workforce, low cost or affordable apartment housing. The head of a group interested in furthering low cost housing quickly suggested this would put a "drain" on our water resources.
I am interested in hearing solutions to the housing crisis in our community, which is dire, and which I am sure exists in other places. I am interested in hearing how other communities have dealt successfully with xenophophobia and hatred toward minorities. I am interested in how we can build strong foundations in our community and bridge differences.
We destroy our own humanity and quality of life when we label and dismiss immigrants as illegal aliens and when we fail to lead in a way that does not foster community.
I am struck by the question you ask Lisa--where did all this go wrong? We know intelligently that we are a nation of immigrants and that we have always given people new to our land a hard time. We know that we once thrived on the use of slaves.
Today we are labelled as the single most racist community in the Country -- towards Latino members of our community,legal and illegal,towards blacks who are accosted by thoses who want to gentrify the streets where they live, because of all who want privacy and put blinders on when school budgets impact our children--and on and on and on.
We live in a beautiful Town. That is acknowleded, and an oft repeated refrain. It must not be just skin deep or a mcMansion facade. We cannot "get over it" without recognizing it for what it is.
What will it take to secure smart and humane solutions?
By Dianne Rulnick March 6, 2008 12:39 PM
Hola from Mexico-Read your article with great interest- as always these problems are very complex. It seems to me any partial solution would need the sanction and participation of the Southampton Town Board and that would be a good start to bring pressure to get some action. I expect to be back in NY first week of April and will contact you. Norman
By N Remler March 6, 2008 02:58 PM
Thanks for the clarifying article on the housing situation with the workers. At the least, the town needs some transition housing for families when these tragedies arise. thanks
By Ann Sandford March 6, 2008 03:14 PM
this blog does provide a good service and should be encouraged and continued. I especially like the interactive feature of this conduit. Please keep it up. Anyway I can help, let me know.
By Michael H. Covey March 6, 2008 04:41 PM
Very well done. For once, someone is actually pointing those in need to valuable resources.
By Micahel Conte March 6, 2008 04:53 PM
If each of you who mentions what the Town "should" do went down to Town Hall and talked to the Supervisor, or the members of the Town Board, or the members of some of the Committees and Boards, we might have a chance. The Town is so caught up in petty bickering and in-fighting, nothing will happen unless the folks who feel the Town ought to do something, start doing something themselves.
By Syma Gerard March 6, 2008 10:35 PM
Lisa: Without going into detail to comment on your blog entry, first let me congratulate you for your new forum or "bully pulpit." As you know, I am a big believer in the First Amendment and welcome opposing points of view. I truly dislike "bullying" whether it be from the far liberal left latte drinkers or the far right conservative extremists (and all points in between).
I will say this. I have come to find that there are two issues that are seemingly unwinnable. That is:
1. Affordable housing
2. Illegal immigration
To your credit, you have tried to tackle both. I will note that it is one thing to illuminate a problem and cast blame but quite another to come up with a workable solution that satifies the public. Just an observation. Keep up the good work.
By Bob Olson March 7, 2008 08:59 AM
Lisa: Without going into detail to comment on your blog entry, first let me congratulate you for your new forum or "bully pulpit." As you know, I am a big believer in the First Amendment and welcome opposing points of view. I truly dislike "bullying" whether it be from the far liberal left latte drinkers or the far right conservative extremists (and all points in between).
I will say this. I have come to find that there are two issues that are seemingly unwinnable. That is:
1. Affordable housing
2. Illegal immigration
To your credit, you have tried to tackle both. I will note that it is one thing to illuminate a problem and cast blame but quite another to come up with a workable solution that satifies the public. Just an observation. Keep up the good work.
By Bob Olson March 7, 2008 09:00 AM
Lisa: Without going into detail to comment on your blog entry, first let me congratulate you for your new forum or "bully pulpit." As you know, I am a big believer in the First Amendment and welcome opposing points of view. I truly dislike "bullying" whether it be from the far liberal left latte drinkers or the far right conservative extremists (and all points in between).
I will say this. I have come to find that there are two issues that are seemingly unwinnable. That is:
1. Affordable housing
2. Illegal immigration
To your credit, you have tried to tackle both. I will note that it is one thing to illuminate a problem and cast blame but quite another to come up with a workable solution that satifies the public. Just an observation. Keep up the good work.
By Bob Olson March 7, 2008 09:01 AM
I have not set foot on Long Island since 1998, and I am not an expert on housing. I am, however, married to an immigrant and I can testify that the process of entering the country legally is not only intrusive, but almost inquisitorial. Anybody who seeks to obey the law while entering the country is treated by the Federal government as a potential criminal.
As far as I am concerned, we can make progress towards solving this problem by abolishing all laws governing immigration into the US. As far as I'm concerned, anybody who wants to work and make a life for themselves in the US should be welcome to do so. We're supposed to be a free country, right? At least, that was the lie I was told in school. Let's make the lie true, shall we?
By Matthew Graybosch March 7, 2008 09:28 AM
All the bloggers have framed the situation very well. To get to the point however is the NEED for the politically appointed to stay that way. We, the many organizations and individuals who have warned against racism and bias facilitated by this new law, can now start a "head count" of those displaced. We should "color" the results of this law as it is being enforced. Right now Latinos "lead" 70 to 0.
I hope that the "head count" leads to the only real result in Southampton Town which is the bringing of an EXCULUSIONARY ZONING Law suit that will confiscate tax moneys, seize public lands and reduce current zoning "law" to the toilet paper it really is and construct affordable housing that meets the Constitutional needs of ALL citizens on the East End. Thank you Lisa for creating this BLOG but we need one with spell check. thanks
By Bob Schepps March 7, 2008 11:55 AM
Just to let you know, this is the most visited and commented on article so far in 2008 on LIWins.
By Pat Young March 7, 2008 12:19 PM
thanks for enlightening us to this issue, i'll forward your article to my hamptons friends...well done, lisa. k
By kelli bickman March 7, 2008 07:49 PM
I hope you find a way to crack down on the slumlords, employers and ultimately the system that punishes people for trying to find a way to feed, house and protect their children.
By Debbie March 8, 2008 09:30 AM
You've certainly hit the nail on the head. Similar situations occur out here in Ohio as well, and all I see because of it is a future of economic and social depression. Having been a Long Islander most of life, I continue to think and hope that communities there will make the right choices and set an example for other places in the country.
By Michael Ritter March 8, 2008 11:02 AM
My wife and I thought that Lisa's article was excellent. The way the town treats Hispanics is disgraceful. Keep us informed
John and Jane Strong
By John A. Strong March 12, 2008 12:14 PM
Lisa, your blog article is terrific and distressing. It brings to mind Jane Benedict, the great affordable housing advocate. She always insisted that "housing was a public utility" and for this reason private interests should not control the housing supply or its price.
What a visionary and grassroots activist she was.
Isn't that an incredible concept: Housing as a public utility.
by Clare Coss March 12, 2008
By Clare Coss March 12, 2008 11:09 PM
American citizens do not dare live in such crowded conditions in order to save money (for themselves OR to send 'home'). We have to worry about CPS and DMV and the courts. Once we receive a traffic ticket or criminal charge we cannot erase our identity and start anew, we cannnot be perpetual 'first time offenders.' We have bookds and movies about people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, however (and for good cause) we now have the knowledge and ability to have fire and SAFETY codes. You cannot raise children in overcrowded, dangerous conditions or work without safety regulations. Comparing now to previous immigrants' conditions is disingenuous - you favor a triange shirtwaist factory because it happened before? The criminals are the landlords and employers that exploit these people. I believe in basic human kindness, but facilitating this will just perpetuate it. A previous poster describes the horrors of legal immigration - so we should reward those who circumvent every basic rule the rest of us have to abide by? By the way, I am a rabidly liberal Democrat. I also come from a lower middle class background - American citizens who are being hurt by the undercutting of these jobs. We don't NEED illegal immigrants to do these jobs, we WANT them because they are cheaper and demand less in the way of basic rights. When you help them to get their rights, they will no longer be the desirable workers anymore.
By Peggy Richards June 14, 2008 09:26 AM
Compassion is a virtue. Of course we should help individuals in dire circumstances. We should not, however, encourage lawbreaking.
Illegal immigration is a crime. Illegal immigrants, like it or not, are criminals. By setting up programs to benefit illegal immigrants, one is abettomg and giving tacit approval to the crime of illegal immigration. Institutions that implement and manage such programs are putting themselves above the law.
I believe the solution lies in working to change immigration laws while simultaneously putting pressure on Central American and Mexican officials to provide for their citizenry.
By Zuma July 28, 2008 02:29 PM
Zuma, no one should ever be left out on the streets with children...I don't care what their legal status is.
By the way, "jumping the fence" is a civil offense, not a criminal offense.
By Lisa Votino-Tarrant July 28, 2008 02:53 PM
I am getting pretty tired of all these blogs that promote sob stories and the idea that somehow people who make the choice to enter this country improperly are entitled to all sorts of benefits that we don't extend to our own native-born citizenry.....that somehow we are all obligated to continue to make excuses and special exceptions for them.
Average working class Americans who are struggling to provide for their families are entitled to live in safe, stable communities that have not been turned into slums by undocumented migrants who turn homes into boarding houses. There is no way any community should have to put up with that, or tolerate that behavior and all the attendant social issues that go along with that type of behavior.
Furthermore, it is the rich who are benefitting from these people showing up, working for low wages "without papers", while the social and economic costs of having this group of people is borne by the working and middle class workers, who do not have access to generous tax breaks as do the rich.
Instead of making excuses for these people's choices to come here illegally and improperly, why are the tough questions being asked WHY Mexico, one of the most resource-rich nations on earth, would rather export it people with a nudge, nudge, wink, wink, than work on providing its citizenry with economic and educational opportunities? Why are the questions not being asked what is wrong with Mexico and what can be done to stop them from using the US as a dumping ground for their marginalized citizens?
Why are you worrying about how and where undocumented children are going to be educated, instead of asking why the head of the Mexican teacher's union embezzled so much money from funds earmarked to educate children that she can afford a villa in France and a yacht in San Diego? Those are the "educational" questions you need to be asking, not fretting about a group of kids who don't have the right to live here legally being bussed from Patchogue.
The Catholic church would have alot more credibility with people if they worked to bring about social justice in Mexico and Latin America -- corrupt and almost failed states -- and worked to establish more schools that prepared its students for a global world -- including literacy in English -- then working to undermine US sovereignty and immigrations laws in the USA. Is it any wonder that the pews are empty, save for their recent arrivals?
Get a grip and start being real about the problems. We are all sick of the pro-illegal lobbyists and panderers like yourself taking the position that the problem is American -- these people CHOSE to enter illegally and live in a community they can't afford. Their employers CHOSE to hire them for below market wages, dumping their problems into the community at large.
Fine the employers and deport the illegals and their dependents -- US citizens or not. If they are minors, they should remain in the custody and care of their parents. Make the rich apply for their domestic help through the right channels and with a living wage. Until that happens, I agree, our illegal immigration problem will never be solved.
Enough is enough.
By Karen July 28, 2008 07:10 PM