Lawmakers override veto to end vouchers for sex offenders

Legislators voted 13-5 Tuesday night to override County Executive Steve Levy's veto of legislation ending Suffolk's voucher system for homeless sex offenders.

The county's Social Services department has been giving homeless sex offenders $90 per day to stay in area hotels.

The voucher system came about after the state ruled county trailers in Riverhead and Southampton were inadequate to house the homeless sex offenders.

Earlier Tuesday, the legislature unanimously approved a local measure to ban the sale of aerosol dusting products to minors who increasingly use them to get high by what is popularly known as "huffing."

"This product is often a teen's first high," said sponsor Legis. Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon), displaying how compressed gas comes out of the aerosol can at the end of a straw. He noted that studies show that five percent of eighth graders try such drugs because they are available, cheap and appear safe, though they can be deadly.

The products, used on computer keyboard and other electronics are often referred to as "canned air," contain toxic hydrocarbons that may cause a temporary high by denying oxygen to the brain. But the substances are also addictive and cause kidney and liver problems, paralysis, brain damage and even death by cardiac arrest, known as "sudden sniffing death."

Industry officials opposed the local measure, saying it unfairly singled out a product when there are 1,500 to 3,000 that cause similar problems. They said education is the better approach to fight the problem.

County Executive Steve Levy must hold his own public hearing on the measure and has 30 days to decide on the issue, but aides Tuesday night said support is likely.

Lawmakers also amended Levy's capital budget adding $33.4 million in spending over three years, largely to speed up the building of a new library and gym at Suffolk County Community College to spur construction jobs. The legislature also approved the spending of $411,000 to undertake an environmental study of Levy's controversial Legacy Village project in Yaphank with nearly 1,300 units, most of them affordable. They also approved a $3.75 million grant to Patchogue to help its downtown housing revitalization.

Earlier in the day, nearly two dozen school administrators panned a proposed local law to hold school principals responsible, with fines up to $1,000 if they failed investigate or act on bullying problems. Foes said the proposal, sponsored by Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) oversteps the county authority, lacks specifics and ignores existing state laws that deal with the issue in a more comprehensive way.