This was printed in Newsday and since I don't have a subscription, it can't be read online. Luckily, a copy was sent for me to share it. I'm not surprised this crooked contract was renewed, but I was shocked to find out why Ahearn needed more money. Apparently, they are such a liability, their insurance rates increased more than five times over.
If Laura Ahearn and her goons were really about helping victims why would they take part in creating victims? Why would they deny help to victims coming to them seeking help? Having these escorted out of the building... Perhaps they cherry pick which victims and children they will help? Why would Parents for Megan's Law take $25,000 from the victims fund to support their hefty insurance increase? Is it the tax payers fault this groups illegal actions have made them such a high risk? Perhaps most important - Why does a corrupt Suffolk County legislature continue to support and stand by this groups illegal behavior in violation of New York State Law? Perhaps Steve Bellone thinks he can keep distributing tax payer money dishonestly to his friends because he thinks all eyes are on his X-pal DA Spota and no one will notice his dirty deeds??? Parents for Megan's Law EXPOSED
Pols back sex-offender monitoring program
By Rick Brand
From Newsday, 6/1/16 print edition
The Suffolk Legislature approved an emergency resolution last night to indemnify and defend the nonprofit Crime Victims Center Incorporated in its work doing in-home verification of sex offenders’ residences.
Lawmakers approved the resolution on a 16-2 vote. During an hour-long debate, several Republicans sought unsuccessfully to table the measure at least partially because Suffolk Police Commissioner Timothy Sini had not taken a position on the issue.
Legislator Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) left the meeting to speak about the resolution by phone with Sini, who she said told her he supported it.
County Executive Steve Bellone issued a certificate of necessity to permit an immediate vote after the center’s insurers had agreed only to extend its liability coverage until June 7 in the face of two lawsuits brought against the county and the nonprofit over his program to verify residences of sex offenders listed on a state registry.
“We’re not going to abandon the most successful program to monitor sex offenders in the country,” said Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) during the debate.
The center, formerly known as Parents for Megan’s Law, had a $2.5 million contract with the Suffolk Police Department for the past three years to verify sex offenders’ addresses as well as monitor social media and conduct education programs under Suffolk’s Community Protection Act.
The contract expired April 30, but the county has budgeted $768,000 for a contract extension through year’s end. County Attorney Dennis Brown said a new agreement, which includes County legal coverage for the “narrow scope” of its verification duties, should be complete within a few days.
Several Republicans said because agreement details were not available, they feared indemnification could cost taxpayers millions in court verdicts for personnel not trained or supervised by the county.
“It’s a very bad idea to put taxpayers on the hook for people we don’t even know,” said Legislator Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), himself a former Suffolk police detective. He said police could take over the job.
In the past, Suffolk County officials have been reluctant to indemnify other nonprofit groups with contracts, such as the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, because of the potential exposure to damages in a lawsuit. However, Brown said, the county in the past has provided similar coverage in some cases, including to doctors who worked in county health centers, and those working at the Vanderbilt and County Maritime museums.
Laura Ahearn, the center’s executive director, said insurance costs had climbed from $4500 a year to $25,000 annually before the insurer threatened to stop covering the center’s work for County.
