April 28, 2008 6:31 PM
Though we may disagree on a lot, I think we can agree on one thing. The problem exists. There are companies that do not pay taxes on their workers and/or hire workers ineligible to work in the United States. The Long Island Association and this website have both made statements affirming their belief that this bill could have a dramatic economic impact. While I disagree with their assertions, I think we can take those assertions as an agreement that the problem exists. What we are left with is a decision on what to do about it. We can call the supporters of this bill names and suggest that they have hate in their hearts, but that won’t make the problem go away. We can give spicy quotes to the newspapers and the television cameras, but that won’t make the problem go away. We can make far-reaching claims of imminent disaster should this bill pass, but again, that won’t make the problem go away. We can allow the media to distort this bill in an attempt to incite controversy, but that won’t make the problem go away. We can even wrongly make the entire discussion of this bill about race, but that won’t make the problem go away either.
Or, we can reject all those distractions, and try and do something. We can stand by what we believe in, defend our position vehemently in civilized debate, and we can remind ourselves that progress does not occur by condemning the actions of others, but by producing actions of our own.
I believe that it is the responsibility of Suffolk County, and the Legislature, to ensure a fair economic playing field within its borders. I believe that some businesses are breaking the rules for their own financial gain, to the detriment of their competitors, and I believe it would be neglectful of Suffolk County to ignore this situation.
I have heard some suggest that this bill is somehow singling out one group of people. Again, I must strongly disagree. This bill requires license holders to pay taxes for all of their employees, without regard to race or creed. This bill requires that license holders follow all of the laws that are currently in place, or lose their license. So if this law is racist, than by extension, so must be all of the laws currently in place. Of course we know that not to be true.
During the long debate on this bill, I have spoken with many people who disagree with my position. Many of those same people have suggested to me that there is a human element involved in this situation, that many illegal workers are here only to provide a better life for their families. I am not indifferent to that fact. We all want a better life for our families and everyone would do anything in their power to provide for their children. However, if you accept that line of reasoning, you are also implicitly accepting the idea that a need of one group of individuals outweighs the need of another. In short, you have decided that the humanitarian need for one group of individuals to provide for their family trumps the right of other individuals to provide for theirs. The great thing about a nation of laws is that we don’t have to make that choice; we have laws that establish a system by which everyone can compete fairly. But those laws are not being followed, and that is what this bill is about.
In the long history of our country, we have made some terrible mistakes. The remnants of those mistakes have left us with a reflexive reaction to blame race for our problems. When race gets involved, we cloud the issue and create a very easy to understand binary equation: If you believe one thing, you are compassionate and progressive. If you believe the other, you are a racist bigot. That sort of oversimplified dichotomy of thought is not worthy of this issue, it is not worthy of the Legislature, and it is not worthy of any more of our attention. We can, and must do better.
This bill is not about race, it is about greed. It is about recognizing our laws, and the fact that not paying taxes on your employees or hiring illegal workers is a violation of those laws. It is about standing up for small businessmen and women who are getting taken to the cleaners by unscrupulous businesses who treat all workers as nothing more than a tool to inflate their wallets. It is about creating a level playing field, giving everyone a fair shot, and cracking down on greedy profiteering companies.
Brian Beedenbender
Suffolk County Legislator, 4th District
1919 Middle Country Road, Suite 210
Centereach, NY 11720
Phone: 631-854-9292
Fax: 631-854-9351
So, Brian, you disagree with Legislator Lou D'Amaro, one of your bill's vocal supporters, who says the bill is designed to "curb illegal immigration"? He opposes Cooper's proposal because, he says, "It send\s the message that Suffolk will look the other way when it comes to illegal immigration". So, at least for that very prominent supporter of the bill, its all about the immigrants, not some broad enforcement of Federal labor laws.
By Pat Young April 28, 2008 08:32 PM
If Legislator Beedenbender was truly serious about leveling the economic playing field for Suffolk workers, then he would use the county and state's existing labor law protections to go after bad employers.
But Beedenbender and County Executive Levy have decided not to use existing laws to protect the rights of Suffolk workers.
Why?
Because they're much more interested in trying to do the job of the federal government and act like federal immigration enforcement agents. Well guess what: the Suffolk County Legislature is not Congress. Suffolk lawmaker must stop trying to act like immigration agents and actually do the job they were voted to do.
If Legislator Beedenbender was serious, then he would educate his community about the cultural and economic, that's right, economic, contributions made by undocumented immigrants to Suffolk County.
The majority of undocumented immigrants pay federal payroll taxes, even though they won't see a penny of it. What's keeping social security alive in the United States? The social security taxes paid by undocumented immigrants, who also pay sales tax with every purchase that they make, and who are ineligible for the vast majority of federal, state, and local social services.
If Legislator Beedenbender was serious, then he would have an honest conversation with the people of Suffolk County.
Udi Ofer
New York Civil Liberties Union
www.nyclu.org
By Udi Ofer April 29, 2008 10:55 AM
Brian,
Whoa, hold on here! You write of
"... a fair economic playing field within its borders. I believe that some businesses are breaking the rules for their own financial gain..."
and
"...It is about recognizing our laws, and the fact that not paying taxes on your employees or hiring illegal workers is a violation of those laws..."
but you and the legislature can't even follow your OWN rules and LEGALLY discharge a bill from committee?!
Since George Nolan has been proven not credible, I'd be happy to arrange tutoring for you.
I suggest you start doing your homework instead of Steve Levy's dirty work.
By terri scofield April 30, 2008 11:09 PM
Brian,
I must share with you a real life story.
I ordered some equipment for my business out in eastern Suffolk. The equipment required the services of a licenced plumber. I called my plumber who I knew recently sold his business and asked the new owner for service. He explained that he would not be going east of the canal so I should find some one else.
I see many tradesmen in my business as morning breakfast customers so I put up a sign asking for a plumber. I had 3 weeks before delivery of all the equipment so I figured it would be no problem. I got several inquiries but the answer I got was that they were booked with work for weeks or months. I needed the installation done within 3 weeks. It was ONE days work for a licenced plumber. I was desparate.
I went to collect a bill at a customer west of the canal and they we having plumbing work done. The truck they were working out of said licenced and the phone number was local.
I went out back where two men were cutting pipe for a gas connection and introduced myself.
They said they were brothers and I asked if they could schedule work out east some time soon.
The conversion went something like this.
We can do that work but we expect to be paid COD when the job is done. I said that's OK I have a check book at the store. They said "we ain't cheap like those f@#$#ing Mexicans down at 7-11 and we mean real cash not check." I said I could do that but I'd need a reciept with their licence info on it. "You pay us cash we save you the tax, but we don't do cheap work like those f@#$%ing Mexicans". I took a deep breath realizing that 15,000 dollars of equipment was sitting in the back of my store to be installed and politely said that those men are not nessecarily all Mexican. They laughed and said we can be there tommorrow morning at 10:00. I agreed.
As I drove away I got more and more upset about their negative biased attitude. I wrestled for about 15 minutes with the whole thing and just decided to call it off. I called my customer and asked to speak to one of the brothers. I said I had reconsidered and would not be needing their services. The response was "what we to expensive for you, maybe you can pick up one or two of those F@#$ing Mexicans to do the job". I said I did'nt like their attitude or language, he called me an as#$*(@le and hung up.
Ten minutes later one of the other plumbers called and we agreed on real terms and the job got done.
The point to this story is that the cash underground economy that you seek to fix has been around for a long time. A lot longer than the immigration "problem".
Your focus on fixing this problem doesn't address the real problems people are angry about. Schools are under proforming, our medical system is rated 36 in the world and is the most expensive, our economy is faltering and not serveing the majority of our citizens.
All of these issues are being blamed on immigrants. That is flat out scape goating and pure prejudice. You and your bill are reacting to the public belief that if the immigration issue was solved all are troubles will be over.
That is of course ludicrous.
Bob Schepps (first graduating class of Centereach High School)
By Bob Schepps May 2, 2008 06:31 PM
to the author of the article: Ask yourself, am I creating more problems or solutions?
I've heard your lines that you do not single out one particular race, but it is blatantly obvious who this is affecting. We all know who is meant by the problem. You are ineffectively skirting a racist perception.
1 term.
By Jeff May 14, 2008 01:22 PM