Sex offender residency rules toughened

By Kate E. Salute
October 06, 2005


At a press conference at City Hall last Friday, city and school officials unveiled new state standards relating to residency requirements for convicted sex offenders.

According to the new regulations, signed by Gov. George Pataki and presented to the community by Sen. Dean Skelos and Long Beach Councilwoman Mona Goodman, registered Level 3 sex offenders are forbidden from coming within 1,000 feet of any facility used primarily for the care or treatment of minors, which includes schools and day-care centers. Sex offenders categorized at the less serious levels 1 and 2 are also prohibited from entering the 1,000-foot zone if their crimes involve a victim under age 18.The City of Long Beach has one Level 3 offender, Andrew Millar, a 75-year-old resident of West Broadway who was convicted in July 2000 of sodomizing a 15-year-old boy. The identities of Level 1 and 2 offenders are not made public."If it deters one person from approaching a kid with such intentions, then it's a success," said Dr. Robert Greenberg, Long Beach superintendent of schools.Goodman will be seeking appropriations from the City Council to post "Child Safety Zone" signs at various points throughout the city, such as the perimeters of school zones. "As elected officials," Goodman said, "we have a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable citizens, especially our children." A yellow sample sign behind the podium read, "Sex offender free zone." "I'm not comfortable with that verbiage," said Goodman. "I'm going to work with the school board and the PTA to come up with appropriate wording, and then I'll ask the city administration for sign funding."Goodman is up for re-election in November. Among her opponents is Democratic Councilman Leonard G. Remo. "Our children need to be protected from sexual predators by every method available," Remo said. "Taxpayer dollars may be better spent on increased communication and awareness among the police, the school district and the PTAs than on signs posted near the entrance to a school or playground.""It's a conversation I want to have with colleagues, parents, neighboring districts, etc.," said Greenberg. "I just can't imagine what wording to use, and I can't envision a photo that would do. Maybe what should be done is to just publicize the law and get notification out to everyone."Level 3 sex offenders' residences can be located at www.mapsexoffenders.com.Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
©Herald Community 2006