Planned shutdown of day laborer site called rash

A day after town officials said they will close the Huntington Station day laborer site, a partner in the endeavor said it was a rash decision and immigrant advocates continued to question the move.

On Tuesday, Town of Huntington officials informed the Family Service League through a letter that because of what they said was declining use of the facility, its contract to run the site would not be renewed when it expires in June.

Luis Valenzuela of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance said there should have been more discussion to find a solution. He hopes private funders will step in and make up the difference to continue a site somewhere on Long Island.

"It's surprising because sites have been associated with order and safety," Valenzuela said.

Darren Sandow, executive director of the Horace Hagedorn Foundation, which partnered with the town to fund the site at Third Street and Depot Road, said the foundation had planned to increase its funding to ease the town's burden.

"It's unfortunate that a town as progressive as Huntington has chosen a path of doing nothing as opposed to improving a working solution," Sandow said. "Instead they're opting to put 60 to 180 men on the street on a daily basis."

The Hagedorn Foundation contributed $28,500 toward the $135,000 operating cost of the site, with the Long Island Community Foundation contributing $27,500, and the town picking up $79,000, according to the Family Service League.

Petrone said he was not aware of the Hagedorn Foundation's plan to increase funding but said the site was not working anyway.

David Okorn, of the Long Island Community Foundation, said it will continue to work with the town and the Family Service League.

The Rev. Allan Ramirez, an immigrant advocate, said the men will now stand on the street looking for work.

"At the very least the town should have called on advocates for the immigrant community to address the issue of closing the site," Ramirez said.

Keith Barrett, president of the Huntington Station Business Improvement District, a group of business owners and residents appointed by the town to beautify the area and improve sanitation and security, said he supports the decision to close the site.

"At one time I think the site served a purpose but I think at some point the men started overflowing into the street and it kind of got away from everybody," said Barrett, who owns an auto repair shop on New York Avenue. "You might as well close it and move on to something else."