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Legislator Jon Cooper on Levy’s Introduction of Employee Verification Bills: “It Makes No Sense”

Posted June 6, 2011 by Ted Hesson

Back in March, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy tried to introduce a bill that would require all county contractors to verify the immigration status of new employees.

That effort, however, hit a snag when Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) reminded Levy that a similar law to create an employee verification pilot program in the Department of Public Works was already on the books, but not being enforced.

Whoops.

Levy withdrew the bill and subsequently suspended his public works commissioner for a week—someone needs to be held accountable around here!—and the whole affair disappeared from the public eye when Levy was nabbed for improper fundraising and shamed out of the race for county executive, as well as $4 million in campaign funds.

Apparently tired of answering questions about his $4 million dalliance with corrupt fundraising, Levy instead is back to focusing on immigration enforcement, introducing two new employee verification bills that will likely cause discrimination against Suffolk Latinos and immigrants.

The problem is that the

“I’m disappointed that County Executive Levy has introduced these two controversial bills at this point in time, especially considering that the County Legislature is already dealing with massive problems including an unprecedented budget crisis and the potential closing of our health centers,” says Suffolk Legislative Majority Leader Jon Cooper. “Suffolk County has already established an 18-month E-Verify pilot program, and a report on its effectiveness will be presented to the Legislature in September 2012. It makes no sense to even consider moving forward with an expansion of this program until that report is presented, a position that Levy himself previously held.”

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