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Levy apologizes to family of Patchogue stabbing victim

BY REID J. EPSTEIN

November 19, 2008

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy yesterday for the first time apologized directly to the family of the Ecuadorean man killed in a Patchogue hate-crime stabbing for calling the assault "a one-day story" and urged "people of goodwill" to denounce intolerance.

"It was a mistake for me to make that comment because it could appear to trivialize the tragic death of Mr. Lucero, and for that, I humbly apologize to his family," he said. "My strong and immediate denouncing of the act was a clear indication that trivializing this event was the last thing I wanted to do."

In a 12-minute address on News 12 that invoked President-elect Barack Obama, the destruction of Jewish-owned stores in Nazi Germany and segregation on Long Island, Levy declared that he hoped the death of Marcelo Lucero, 37, would not be in vain. Prosecutors charge that Lucero, who died Nov. 8, was attacked by seven teenagers, one of whom was charged with manslaughter as a hate crime. The others face gang assault charges.

"The best message we can send to those who think as this small mob did is that they will be met by a wall of people of all colors and all political perspectives who will fight for what is morally right and oppose intimidation and physical violence," Levy said.

The second-term executive, who spoke from the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, also pledged to be more sensitive in his comments about immigration-related issues.

But Levy, who launched a group of elected officials opposed to illegal immigration, defended his longtime policies and said the community's healing process should begin across ideological lines. "The battle lines should not be drawn between those supporting or not supporting differing immigration policies," he said. "Instead, they should be between the likes of those who killed Marcelo Lucero and all people of goodwill who will stand up to evil."

In Gualaceo, the Ecuador neighborhood where Lucero grew up, neighbors reacted to Levy's comments with skepticism.

"He should be more focused on us as human beings," said Benito Blandin Coeller.

"We are the cheap labor force" for people on Long Island, Blandin said.

Levy also tried to assure immigrants that Suffolk police will not ask crime victims their immigration status.

He said police "do not ask a victim's immigration status. We are committed to equal enforcement of the law and equal police service to all, regardless of immigration status."

The statement comes four years after Levy's 2004 proposal to deputize Suffolk police to detain undocumented immigrants solely on the basis of immigration status. In the face of political and police opposition, Levy abandoned the plan.

Patrick Young, the program director of the Central American Refugee Center in Hempstead, said he hopes Levy understands that immigrants are afraid to call Suffolk police because of his immigration policies.

"This isn't something that was made up as part of a political agenda," Young said. "This is really how people in the Latino community feel."

The Rev. Allan Ramirez, of Brookville Reformed Church, said Levy missed an opportunity to take responsibility for his words and policies. "He could have seized the moment to say, 'Forgive me. My words may have contributed to this,' " he said. "A community that is deeply faithful and religious wants to forgive, yet they can't find him wanting to repent."

The chairman of Levy's Hispanic Advisory Board, Alexander Gutierrez of Ronkonkoma, said the speech was "successful in all aspects."

"What he wants to do, like all of us, is start to develop a healing process," Gutierrez said. "He knows that we do have an issue. He wants to do something about it."

Staff writers Erik German on Long Island and Bart Jones in Ecuador contributed to this story.