LIers react to hate report on Suffolk

Suffolk residents, business owners, politicians, religious leaders and immigrants rights activists had varying views on the report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center characterizing the county as a hotbed of anti-immigrant sentiment and violence.

Some agreed with the report in blaming county leadership, in particular County Executive Steve Levy, and the Police Department, while others said the problem is bigger than Suffolk County and is fueled by the larger, national debate. Others said the report exaggerated the problems faced by Latinos in Suffolk.

All those interviewed, however, spoke of a long road to recovery. In Patchogue, police are investigating a case this week in which anti-Hispanic messages were left in a church across the street from where an Ecuadorean immigrant was beaten to death in November, allegedly by seven teenagers. Here are some reactions.

Bishop William Murphy, head of the Diocese of Rockville Centre:

Said he had not yet read the report but was concerned about anti-Latino and anti-immigrant attacks:

"We've had some incidents here in Suffolk County that have been truly disturbing," said Murphy, the spiritual leader of Long Island's 1.5 million Roman Catholics. "We have to move beyond the stereotyping and we have to recognize that new people mean new possibilities and new potential, not just for them but for all of Long Island."

Rev. Allan Ramirez of the Brookville Reform Church, a leading Latino activist:

"This is the harvest of the seeds of hatred planted by Steve Levy," he said. "He used to call us [Latino activists] lunatics, communists and anarchists. So who is the real lunatic now?"

Ramirez added that "by extension, this report, which documents dozens of attacks, is an indictment of the local media, in particular Newsday, which had these cases occur right under their noses but did not make available the resources to uncover them."

David Bustamante, owner of Gallo Tropical on East Main Street in Patchogue:

Said the bias crimes in the village were isolated incidents and not emblematic of deep-seated hatred. The seven Latinos who work in his kitchen, he said, haven't talked about feeling threatened.

"My guys have never told me people are shooting them or trying to run them over," he said. "They would have told me."

Jose Valerio, employee, Caribe Mini Market, Patchogue:

As he stocked the shelves in the East Main Street store, he said there's little tolerance in the village - not only of Latinos, but between other ethnic groups as well. And people who are looking for trouble, he said, will attack anyone regardless of their race.

"If the police department were to take a heavy-handed approach to crime here, things could change here," said Valerio.

Mike Soto, resident, Patchogue:

A 50-year village resident, Soto said that while he hasn't witnessed any of the attacks mentioned in the report, an anti-immigrant climate does exist. Change, he said, could only come with new county leadership.

"Steve Levy is no good," said Soto. "If he, as the boss, is racist, then everyone who works for him is too."

Alicia, Brentwood resident (asked that her last name not be revealed):

After years of hearing stories about immigrants being beaten by bat-wielding perpetrators, Alicia, 62, said she hopes that someday immigrants will be able to report crimes to police without fear of not being taken seriously or deportation.

"The police doesn't care what happens to us," she said.

Suffolk County Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip):

Barraga, whose district includes the heavily-Latino community of Brentwood, said the county needs a human rights commissioner to make sure the needs and concerns of the immigrant communities are being addressed.

"No one has the right to go out and harass and perpetuate violence in the community," he said. "The report is a wake-up call to take action. I'd love to see the county executive step up to the plate and say that the problems are serious enough that they have to hire a human rights commissioner."

Legis. Jack Eddington (I-Medford):

Eddington, who represents Patchogue, said he was saddened by the report and would like to see immigrant rights groups spend time in the community regularly - not just when a bias crime occurs.

"I understand this fear," he said. "We need people to come in and help. I want these advocates to help me reach out to the people who need help."

Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri Jr.:

Said the blame for anti-immigrant sentiment in Suffolk County cannot be easily placed on one person - like County Executive Steve Levy - because the roots of the immigration debate run deep.

"This is not something that just sprung up today," he said. "It took a long time to get to this point and it's not going to be easy to turn it around."

Assemb. Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood):

"When an elected official stands up day after day and says illegal, illegal, illegal, illegal, and he's referring to human beings, the human beings that he's referring to cease to be human beings in the eyes of some. What do we think leads several young men to hunt a human being on the street like an animal and kill him, what kind of warped reality comes about as a result of elected officials framing public opinion?"

The report, he said, "highlights the fear in our community."

"We must highlight the incidents that are happening more frequently in this county as a result of the climate that we see here."

--Click here to read the full report