Cruel, Cruel Summer: East-End Businesses Prepare For Possible “Bust”

True, Long Island is taking the lead from its cousins to the west and in many ways becoming a cosmopolitan megapolis of its own. Still, there are (thankfully) still parts of our serene suburbia where serenity is “king” and areas that still rely on the influx of tourists for their posterity and prosperity.

We’re talking about the East End of The Island, with its vast landscapes and beaches and many modern summer retreats, many of which depend on the variety of foreign (Dominican and Jamaican) housekeeping and laundry crews to sustain them through the busy summer season (in the Hamptons).

But, even before the busy season even got a chance to begin, it seems that many East-End lodgings establishments may be in for a big surprise, and, not necessarily a good one. This as a result of federal officials denying the temporary visas for many of these workers.

And, managers are left in a quandary of what they will do and just how they will operate without the extra help. In fact, many attest to relying solely on these workers without even the comfort of a plan B to fall back on.

Plus, they worry that with a lack of sufficient help and staff and otherwise lucrative summer season, one they look forward to all year long, could turn into a total disaster.

And, experts note that it affects more than just local hotels but also restaurants and landscaping businesses, all that won’t be able, without the help of these workers, suitable service their summer clientele.

Many go on to say, that this year’s denial of visas is only one more measure adding insult to injury which started last year, when the labor department shut it doors to regional processing centers and instead opened two national centers, cutting back on a qualified staff that has years of experience in foreign labor certification. And, along with that also came a more stringent review by federal officials.

According to officials the department has seen a 40 percent increase nationwide in requests for H-2B visas, leading also to some significant delays. Plus, the state Labor Department notes seeing a 10 percent increase in application, and while they are doing their best, are working with a system they suggest gets a bit more ambiguous each year. And, many, including a spokesperson from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suggests that the issue won’t likely get resolved until the full effect is felt by all those who may “suffer” during the upcoming summer season.

However, the Immigration representative notes that the agency has a cap of 66,000 new visas set by Congress and comments that the organization remains committed to helping local business by processing applications as quickly as possible.