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Councilman Romaine Renews His Demand for an Effective
‘Housing & Community Court’ for the Town of Brookhaven

‘Watered-down’ community court is a last minute campaign concept of the Brookhaven Democrats; would have no effect on improving our neighborhoods

News from Citizens for Keith Romaine
1/26/09

(MASTIC, N.Y.) Councilman Keith Romaine has continuously called for the creation of a Brookhaven Town Housing & Community Court since before his election in 2007 and has never received support for the initiative from any of the Democrats on the Town Council, including former Supervisor Brian Foley. In fact, they opposed the concept.

“It is extremely hypocritical of the Brookhaven Democrats and their unknown Supervisor candidate to act as if this is a plan that they are supporting, when they are simply coming late to an issue that has gained widespread support in the community after their party stonewalled its advancement,” said Councilman Romaine.

Councilman Romaine is the first real advocate for a specialized Housing & Community Court in the Town of Brookhaven. He has fully researched the issue, the process and the legality of such a court.

Romaine, a Republican, even had an occasion to discuss the matter with Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, a Democrat, at an Independence Party function that both attended last year. Bellone’s attempt to create such a court in Babylon Town was well documented.

Bellone’s attempt ultimately failed but did result in a compromise with the Unified Court System to have its District Court create a community court program in Babylon.

Unfortunately, the court that was created was a far cry from the one that residents wanted. According to the courts, that state-supervised court “combines conventional punishments with alternative sanctions and on-site treatment and training in an effort to break the ‘revolving door’ cycle of crime” and involves “sentencing low-level offenders to community service” and includes “an array of non-traditional programs, such as community mediation, job training and placement, drug treatment and homeless outreach.” [NYS Unified Court System Community Courts homepage]

“That is not the type of court that is being called for by myself and the community,” said Councilman Romaine. “Our court needs to aggressively pursue illegal housing, slumlords, overcrowded homes, and properties that have become a blight to the neighborhood. It needs to focus on these matters exclusively, issue orders to comply with Town code, and have severe penalties for ignoring a judicial order.”

“Currently, there is no such court in New York State and Brookhaven would be the first to have one,” stated Councilman Romaine. “Its creation would require legislation to be passed by both the State Senate and Assembly. Unfortunately, the Democrats have no interest in helping our community by allowing this court to exist. Recently elected State Senator Brian Foley seems to be continuing the opposition that he had while Supervisor.”

“This type of ‘watered-down’ community court being advanced by the Brookhaven Democrats would have no real teeth and no effect on improving our neighborhoods,” explained Romaine. “They must drop their opposition to a real Housing & Community Court that would cut the red tape, ensure justice, and be truly effective. It would be helpful if they lobbied their political party in Albany for such a court and demanded that the Democrat powerbrokers end their opposition. For the past two years, I have been the one pushing for this.”

BELOW: Text from an October 16, 2007 media release from Keith Romaine that was distributed to local media regarding his advocacy of a Housing & Community Court in Brookhaven Town.

A unique component of Romaine’s plan is his proposal to create a Housing & Community Court for Brookhaven Town.

“As it stands now, if a slumlord actually pays his court ordered fine, the money goes to the state because the case was heard in the District Court,” said Romaine. “With a town housing and community court, all fines paid would go to Brookhaven Town.”

“The proceeds from the town housing and community court fines could then be used to pay for more code enforcement, law department investigators, and a greater allocation of funds to the fight against illegal, unsafe, overcrowded and abandoned homes,” continued Romaine.

This court will focus exclusively on local housing code violations and other quality of life issues involving town code. “The District Court system is one of the busiest in New York State. By virtue of its caseload, the District Court cannot possibly give these quality of life cases the attention they deserve. This town court is desperately needed,” Romaine said.

“The judge would focus on fines and timely court actions that would bring the violator into compliance with the town code or, in the case of a flagrant abuser of the system, impose substantial fines for multiple violations. No longer would cases be indefinitely adjourned and placed on an inactive calendar,” stated Romaine.

“These non-complex code prosecutions would be diverted to the town housing and community court which would expeditiously determine them without the rigorous pleading and evidentiary requirements of criminal law."