Instant Alert On Area Sex Offenders

City Council Member Joseph Addabbo (pictured at right in photo) and Assemblyman Rory Lancman highlight various areas of Queens, such as the 15th Senatorial District, where a number of sex offenders currently reside. Local elected officials joined forces at Ridgewood's Mafera Park on Friday, Aug. 15 to urge the state to adopt a previously proposed measure that would enable parents to be immediately notified of any sex offender that has just moved into their ZIP code.

"We already, in this day and age, receive information on our Blackberries and e-mail with regards to weather and traffic. We have the technology and the existing database thanks to Megan's Law, which updates the Sex Offender Registry," said City Council Member Joseph Addabbo, who along with Assemblyman Rory Lancman emphasized the need for the passing of the legislation in light of an increased number of sex offenders in the 15th Senatorial District.

The darkest areas on this map of the 15th Senatorial Distrct above show the ZIP codes where the greatest number of sex offenders are located. (courtesy of City Council Member Joseph Addabbo) A recent analysis of the area, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Glendale, Howard Beach, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven, revealed that 35 percent of Level II and III sex offenders residing in Queens live in those communities.

Originally introduced to New York's Senate by State Sen. Jeff Klein over two years ago, the proposed legislation was reportedly "bottled up" by the Republican Senatorial body, according to Lancman.

"Whether it's the Republican Senate or a Democratic Senate in the future, I think that would be the impetus we need to get the Paterson Administration kind of on the block to implement this reform," said the local assemblyman.

Traditionally, to get this type of ruling voted into law, explained Lancman, an Assembly endorse- ment would also be required following the Senate's stamp of approval.

But Lancman believes that Gov. David Patterson would probably expedite the process by signing in the legislation instantly upon the Senate's endorsement, eliminating the need for an Assembly vote.

He further added that the Department of Homeland Security can also solve the problem administratively by implementing the policy without the approval of state legislature.

While parents currently have the ability to log in to the Sex Offender Registry at www.criminaljustice. state.ny.us, many people are too busy to constantly visit the site for news.

By allowing them to receive updates from NY Alert, a statewide emergency communication system, parents wouldn't need to utilize the Internet to scan the registry.

"It wouldn't cost taxpayers a dime," Addabbo pointed out. "Queens, in general, has had a steady influx of sex offenders over the past three years."

"It would give parents an extra peace of mind against unsavory individuals, who in many cases could be our neighbors," he added. "The technology exists. We can do this tomorrow if we wish. That's why it needs to get done now."

Lancman said that he hopes to see some progress during special sessions that are currently taking place in Albany.

A published report indicates that the registry will continue growing as more sex offenders will reportedly be subject to 12-year-old registration requirements.

This increase will also be due to more crimes, such as sex trafficking, being added to the list of registerable offenses.