Media Detail
- Corrupt Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy Takes Aim at Immigrant Workers
- Written June 6, 2011 by Danny Rangel, Change.org
Steve Levy just won’t quit. Mr. Levy’s term is about to end, but the exiting Suffolk County Executive is launching one more anti-immigrant crusade. By introducing two new bills at the next meeting of the county legislature, Levy will cement an anti-immigrant reputation that once featured an angry (and categorically false) rant against so-called “anchor babies.”
Levy’s proposed legislation will require those seeking occupational licenses from the city to cross-check their identities under the federal E-Verify program. Levy also plans to introduce a measure requiring businesses working for the county to certify their employees under the same federal system.
These two proposals come on the heels of Mr. Levy’s disgraceful exit from a campaign to extend his position as County Executive. In a classic political scandal, Mr. Levy bailed on his reelection bid after the district attorney started to investigate the source of his $4 million war chest. Levy received $200,000 from law firms who are contracted by the county, a revelation that wouldn’t have been so shocking if you didn’t consider that Mr. Levy has been known to steer pet projects to his friends and contributors.
More outrageous: at least one of Levy’s upcoming bills is completely redundant. Suffolk County already has a verification system in place for the county’s contractors. It’s been there since 2008, no less. In fact, the author of that original law is apparently irked that a colleague would waste the county’s time with a bill that is almost certainly useless.
Why introduce a bill that’s already been made into law? “You have to wonder why Levy, marginalized politically, would even bother to introduce two bills that will very likely tank with the legislature. Especially since a similar law has been on the books since 2008,” said Luis Valenzuela, the Executive Director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance. “It’s unnecessary, duplicative, so what are we to think about this?” Valenzuela added.
It’s clear that Steve Levy wants to start an immigration debate in order to cloud his recent corruption scandal. Enough is enough. Mr. Levy’s colleagues in the Suffolk County legislature must act to stop the harmful and divisive actions of a corrupt, lame duck member of their chamber. Tell the Suffolk County Legislature To Vote Down Anti-Immigrant Bills From Steve Levy
Photo credit: longislandwins
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