Security Systems: Local Efforts To Restore Safety To Our Neighborhoods

Long Island has historically prided itself on being a safe family community and now, some communities are taking steps to apparently make it even safer.

After some “disturbing” reports of sex offenders freely residing in and roaming our neighborhoods, some Nassau communities are taking steps to install residency restrictions on sex offenders that are much greater than those limits put in place by the county.

According to officials, a law set in place earlier this year would prohibit sex offenders from taking up residence within 1,000 feet of schools and 500 feet of parks and playgrounds. And, just a short while ago, the Village of East Rockaway voted to include in the restrictions places of worship, libraries, day care centers, community centers, recreational facilities and other areas where you’re likely to find children within a 1,000 foot limit.

Officials add that the new law improves upon Megan’s law by deliberately imposing zones of safety and protection for children that predators can’t cross or invade.

And, some member of the Long Beach City Council have proposed similar legislation, making the areas popularly frequented 3 ½-mile long beach among the locations off-limits to sex offenders.

They further add that since Long Beach is merely 4,000 feet wide, at it’s widest vantage point, it makes it challenging for anyone to live with the set parameters and still be within the new law and limits its sets.

In fact, they note, that the new law may make it so difficult for sex offenders to stay within the 1,000 feet guidelines that many may have to move, and they don’t see that as a negative, but instead as a positive consequence.

But, the new law replete with its restrictions still has to be introduced to the City Council.

East Rockaway however “has’ put an map of restricted areas into effect and has also delineated certain sections removed from the village center where registered sex offenders could legally take up residence.

And, they add, that to date, the village of East Rockaway does not show any sex offenders living within the village. However, there are 10 sex offenders residing in Long Beach according to officials.

And, if passed, the Long Beach measure would also put in place an e-mail alert system via the Police Department notifying residents about new sex offenders moving in.