The Jericho Family Support Center is a laudable concept that deserves our support. The plan involves the conversion of the former Hampton Inn on Jericho Turnpike into a transitional housing facility equipped to provide approximately 80 families with case management, childcare, workforce readiness training, health referrals, and 24-7 security.
Currently, there are approximately 50 families living in inhumane squalor at dilapidated motels in Jericho. They are homeless during a global pandemic, at a time when our neighbors have lost their jobs and incomes at a level not seen since the Great Depression.
Despite the clear merits of the plan presented by service provider Community Housing Innovations and their nearly 30-year track record of success in this field, Oyster Bay Town officials have nevertheless obstructed this project. They have embarked upon a politically motivated campaign notable for its embrace of fearmongering, misinformation, shameless self-promotion and wasteful lawsuits – all bankrolled by you, the taxpayer.
It is the height of callous, heartless hypocrisy.
Town of Oyster Bay officials who recently sent self-congratulatory, glossy, full-color mailers to Jericho residents to announce that they “fully enforce local zoning laws… to protect your suburban way of life” have no right to take such a disingenuous victory lap.
They are the same people who have consistently failed to apply town code and its enforcement mechanisms to compel the owners of these squalid motels to clean up their act. In fact, CHI’s facility is likely to do more to ameliorate any level of a perceived blight than Oyster Bay Town officials have in many years.
Eligible families residing in those motels or elsewhere in the County would be relocated to the Jericho Family Support Center, where they would benefit from individualized case management with defined goals in support of their return to independent housing.
Children would have access to recreational and enrichment programs, academic assistance, and transportation to Jericho schools or their home districts. Of the 80 families who have interviewed for the Jericho Family Support Center, only 19 children thus far have expressed interest in attending the 3,000-student Jericho School District.
The leap from economic stability to instability is no longer so unimaginable. As compared to July of last year, the Nassau/Suffolk unemployment rate has increased by 10 percent, rendering an additional 135,000 residents without work.
Amidst the pandemic, Nassau County has been asked to consider a proposal to lay off 2,900 hard-working men and women. Food insecurity has tripled as rent and mortgage assistance programs have ended. The face of homelessness has changed, and the next family who becomes homeless could look just like mine or yours.
To the individuals choosing to engage in hurtful, divisive rhetoric that, by its design, fuels the stigma that keeps struggling people in the shadows of our society, I pray that no one you love will ever be in need of the services CHI is seeking to provide.
Just like you and I, these homeless families have been endowed by their Creator with the basic, inalienable human rights of dignity and respect. Their government has a constitutional and moral obligation to aid them.
Not only is this endeavor the right thing to do, it is the epitome of fiscally responsible governing. By investing in the long-term wellness of at-risk populations, we affirm their humanity and reduce the burden on social service safety nets by empowering these individuals to once again become self-supporting, independent and productive citizens.
I understand why residents are angry about the process, and I have expressed my frustration directly to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and to CHI. However, I cannot allow my displeasure with a flawed process to prevent me from supporting a proposal that I know will provide potentially life-saving resources for families in need.
In 2016, I made the decision to run for the Nassau County Legislature to succeed the late Judy Jacobs – a woman of the highest integrity and conviction. I ran because I wanted to help people. My desire to help people is the reason I became an attorney, and it is the reason my wife and I made the conscious decision to teach our children these same values.
At a time marked by such great suffering and hardship, I refuse to forsake my humanity for the sake of political expedience.
Arnold W. Drucker, of Plainview, was first elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2016. He represents the 16th Legislative District in the Nassau County Legislature.
Thank you for pointing out that families may be already living in the district. The “not in my back yard” attitude is flawed, since homeless families are in everyone’s back yard. We need to give them the opportunity to receive the help. Giving families the education they need is a benefit to all of Long Island. Those who protest should look at how much THEY are already paying to house families in Jericho motels. Then, they will understand how important it is to give these families a chance to get out of homeless and lessen the burden on the tax payers.
Thank you for your candor and great service, Arnie. Your reversal of position on this issue within the last month is not very surprising given your record of doing very little other than campaigning. On a call with the opposition group to the homeless facility, you supported their position and came out against the facility. Why the change of heart? You were very opposed to the facility less than one month ago, or you just gave lip service to the opposition when you were on the call with them. It appears as though you do not want to take a position on this issue so you don’t anger any of your constituents. Perhaps you want to unjustly enrich their developer to the tune of $80k per family housed at the transitional facility. Perhaps you are not concerned with the potential crowding of the already over crowded Jericho schools. We all know that in a facility that is intended to house close to 80 families, having only 19 new students in the Jericho schools is completely absurd. It would appear based on the amount of families in the facility the number of new students would be closer to 100. If the intent of this facility is to better the lives of these families, why would they not send their children to Jericho, one of the top performing school districts in Nassau County and New York State? Can you also explain who is going to make up the shortfall in taxes collected by the prior occupant of the site of the facility. It appears that $6,000,000 had been their real estate and school tax charge that will simply not be collected going forward due to the nature of the non-profit status of the user of the location. Where will the $6M come from. Is it your opinion that the residents of the Jericho School District can make up the shortfall because it won’t have any impact on them? Well, Big Arnie, that would be wrong. There are many families in Jericho schools that can not afford any additional taxes during these times because they have also experienced hardships from the pandemic. Is your position that Jericho families should bear the economic brunt of this facility simply because you feel they they have not faced any hardships due to the pandemic and they “have the money to help”? I can assure you, Big Arnie, that since you spend a fair amount of your time looking to raise money for your campaign and talking out of both sides of your mouth on controversial issues, you will have significantly more time in the near future to focus on your private law practice than to flip flop on issues of importance as a legislator. Pick a lane, Big Arnie and stop playing politics. Unless you want the unjust enrichment of the developer of the facility, your position in this op-ed piece is untenable and a complete reversal of your position when you were on the call with the opposition group of the facility. As usual, Big Arn, your only concern is for yourself.
Arnie and Sal (previous commenter) are complete morons and should have a steel cage death match of hitting each other on their heads with ball peen hammers.
Please post all comments and make this an open forum. Not cool.
Thank you for this informative article. It is important to recognize that we are all one step away from the individuals who are in this situation right now. This is true in any time but is especially accurate in the current climate that we are in right now with Covid 19. This virus has found a way to destroy the various aspects of living ranging from income to unemployment to housing. As a community, we have a moral responsibility to ensure our family, friends, and neighbors have a place to live. Also, for those concerned with overcrowding in schools please be aware that it will not promote any drastic change. The only drastic change this transitional facility would provide is the safety and security of our neighbors. Even more notable is the fact stated in the article that of the 80 families interviewed, only 19 students expressed interest in attending the Jericho school district. We all need to come together to show support for this facility which could provide many struggling families with some sense of stability.