DURING THE CAMPAIGN, ED SPOKE OF THE FOLLOWING ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Chris Day - September 29th, 2005

Ed Day, a former law enforcement executive and present security professional who is the Republican and Independence Party candidate for Rockland County Legislature, District #5 (New City-Haverstraw), today called for the Rockland County Legislature to create a local law establishing “pedophile free zones” in areas where the children of the community normally frequent.

“Like everyone else in this community, I am extremely concerned with the increasing influx of identified sexual predators coming to this neighborhood,” said Ed, who added that this information is available due to the implementation of the Sex Offender Registration Act, commonly known as “Megan’s Law”, which he lobbied for as a PTA Legislative Delegate some 10 years ago. He noted the recent notification that advised of a Level Three Sex Offender, the most violent and likely repeat offender, only a few blocks from Laurel Plains and New City Elementary schools.

“The presence of these types of criminals in our midst demands that proactive steps be taken to afford law enforcement every opportunity to prevent a tragedy from occurring here. We cannot afford to wait for statewide action on this issue. Our children deserve immediate action”, Ed added.

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TRUE TO HIS PLEDGE TO THE PEOPLE, AND ONLY THREE WEEKS AFTER HE WAS SWORN IN, THE FOLLOWING WAS REPORTED ...

ROCKLAND COUNTY LEGISLATOR WANTS "PEDOPHILE-FREE ZONES"
By SARAH NETTER
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: January 25, 2006)

Hoping to keep known sex offenders away from the county's youth, Legislator Ed Day is seeking to create "pedophile-free" zones in areas frequented by children.

Day also wants to give the county jurisdiction to notify residents when a sex offender moves to their area.

The proposal, being drafted and reviewed by the county Legislature's legal counsel, would establish protected areas within a 1,000-foot radius of locations such as schools, playgrounds and day-care centers.

Day, R-New City, said the law would allow police officers, upon seeing a known sex offender in a pedophile-free zone, to question the offender and remove him or her from the area if there's no reason for being there.

Allowing an officer to intercede could "hopefully prevent a child from being abused," Day said.

There would be exemptions, Day noted, such as if the offender is traveling to or from work.

The measure would pertain to all Level 2 and 3 sex offenders, not just those who had targeted children.

"We are dealing with a very unique criminal," he said. "If he's intent on committing a crime, then he'll go where the children are."

Sgt. Harry Baumann of the Clarkstown police said he hadn't heard of Day's proposal, but "anything that keeps the child from being harmed, I'm all for."

Right now, Baumann noted, police officers are able to question sex offenders or anyone else on the street only if he or she is acting suspiciously.

Darlene Lindell, a New City resident and mother of a 7-year-old, said she supports Day's proposal.

"I have a young daughter," she said. "Anything that adds to her protection makes me feel safe."

Lindell said her daughter's school has sent one or two notices in the past six months regarding sex offenders that have moved nearby.

Day said that all residents, regardless if they have children, should be notified when a sex offender moves nearby.

At the moment, police departments can notify school districts, which can then notify parents.

"Why are we not giving the tools to all people?" he asked.

Valley Cottage resident Anne Long agrees. Her two children are grown so she would never receive notification now, even if a sex offender moved next door.

"I think that it's time that we give the people here some rights, not just the offenders," she said. "We live here. We should know what's going on in the area."

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AND, AFTER MUCH WORK, ED GOT IT DONE ...

LEGISLATURE PASSES LOCAL LAW ESTABLISHING SEX OFFENDER FREE ZONES IN ROCKLAND COUNTY

TRUE TO HIS WORD, ED CONTINUES HIS FIGHT AS A CIVIC LEADER TO IMPROVE NEW CITY, BUT DOES SO NOW AS A COUNTY LEGISLATOR ...

DAY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO BE PART OF THE DOWNTOWN NEW CITY DEVELOPMENT

New City, NY (February 20, 2006) – County Legislator Ed Day is asking that his neighbors join him at the inaugural public meeting of the New City Vision Plan Committee next week.

This meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, March 1st, 7:00 PM at Clarkstown North High School, is being conducted by Behan Planning Associates, LLC, who was retained by the Clarkstown Town Board as part of the renewed effort to move the long awaited downtown New City Revitalization project from planning to action.

“The plans for the improvement of our downtown area has floundered for too long, and I am heartened by both Supervisor Gromack’s leadership in establishing this committee and County Executive Vanderhoef’s partnership with the town in this regard”, Legislator Day said. “It is imperative that we bring the true stakeholders together in short order, define a clear path to follow, and instill a sense of urgency to this issue. We must create a hamlet center here in New City that is befitting the worth of our community”, Day added.

Prior to his election, County Legislator Day had been a strong voice in advocating for the revitalization of New City as a past president of the Little Tor Neighborhood Association. That organization was often joined by the New City Chamber of Commerce in advocating for both the businesses and residents of the hamlet.

Legislator Day noted that both of these organization’s presidents are on the Vision Plan Steering Committee, along with other citizens, and this brings clarity, focus, and intimate knowledge of both the challenges and the solutions to the effort. “If anyone can help create an accurate map of what is necessary to the revitalization of our hamlet, who better that those who spend most of their lives here; the residents and the shop owners. We are indeed fortunate to have them at the table”, Day said.

In addition, Legislator Day has also volunteered to serve on the Vision Plan Steering Committee because, as he said “I am serving simply because I wish to support the Towns’ efforts in revitalizing our hamlet center in any way that I can.”

Legislator Day concluded that "the resurgence of this community is finally starting to happen, and I am excited by it. We have one shopping center being rebuilt, another soon coming on board, and a new roadway being finalized. I ask that the true stakeholders here in New City join me as part of the process of rebuilding our community.”

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AS ED SAID A YEAR AGO AS A CITIZEN ...

[Ed] Day said with the municipality having financial troubles, only minimal raises should be considered for individuals occupying high paying jobs.
"I have no objection to certain employees receiving raises," Day said, "But, when you're talking about people making six figures with benefits, it doesn't sit well with many residents."

- Rockland Review, Matthew Emma, February 18, 2005 - Article regarding pay raises for County Department heads

... ED NOW BRINGS TO THE FOREFRONT AS YOUR LEGISLATOR, ONLY SIX WEEKS AFTER BEING SWORN IN !!

LEGISLATOR RAISES CONCERNS OVER SALARY INCREASES OF COUNTY OFFICIALS
By Matthew Emma (Rockland Review-February 24th,2006)

County Legislator Edwin Day has raised concerns over salary increases for certain high ranking County officials.

The Legislature, at Tuesday's meeting, held a public hearing to discuss a Local Law providing for the salaries of seven County positions, among them the District Attorney and Sheriff, as determined by the 2006 budget that was handed down by County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and adopted by the Legislature late last year.

Pay raises for these positions range anywhere from three to four percent. The issue of pay raises for high ranking County officials has been a sensitive issue for Day, who was elected to his current post in November and took office last month. Day, who promised, if elected, to take a closer look at any proposed salary increase, said it has been a difficult year for many people in the community and questioned whether it was necessary to grant these raises.

Day said the only raise he, at first glance, believed was warranted was for the Sheriff and asked his Legislative colleagues to hold off on adopting the law until a study could be conducted to determine if these pay raises are warranted.

"I am asking that an assessment be done," Day said. "We owe at least that much to our constituents."

Legislator Ilan Schoenberger, chairman of the body's Budget and Finance Committee, said the increases are included as part of the 2006 budget that was already adopted, but agreed to pull the law and defer it until a later date.

However, Legislator Patrick Maroney objected, saying it is simply not in the best interest of the people in the positions in question to table this legislation.

"I am not looking to disrupt government," Day said. "I'm only suggesting that, from here on in, when salary increases are brought forward, the Legislature should see some study illustrating what these positions are worth."

Schoenberger said a pay equity study was conducted several years ago and all pay raises doled out since are in accordance with its findings.

The public hearing was closed and the local law was unanimously adopted.
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And, as an update, Ed did present a formal request to the County Executive for a CURRENT and INDEPENDENT study to accompany the next budget submittal, and not to rely on one that was conducted years ago.
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