Sex Offender Law Detailed For UCCA
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

An agreement, between the legislature and Governor Eliot Spitzer will result in a new law concerning the matter of so-called civil confinement.

Acknowledging the news that New York state will legally be able to detain sex offenders after they have served their prison sentences, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris said, "We now have a mechanism for their evaluation and further confinement." Gianaris made the announcement at the March meeting of the United Community Civic Association (UCCA).

An agreement, between the legislature and Governor Eliot Spitzer will result in a new law concerning the matter of so-called civil confinement. Under the law, mental health experts are to identify sex offenders in prison who are still believed to be at risk of committing future crimes if they are released. Sex offenders who are potentially still a threat would be tried before a jury. If the jury finds that they do pose a threat, a judge could sentence them to further confinement or could release them under strict supervision.

Under former Governor George Pataki, the state's mental hygiene laws were used to detain sex offenders in psychiatric hospitals after the end of their prison term. However, the State Court of Appeals ruled against that tactic last November.

A new state Office of Sex Offender Management will be created under the agreement. In addition, new "sexually motivated felonies" will be introduced into the law, allowing prosecutors to charge someone for intending to commit a sex crime, even if one was not committed.

"It should do a lot to make our neighborhood safer," said Gianaris.

Also speaking at the UCCA meeting, City Councilmember Eric Gioia announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had agreed to run weekend service on the No. 7 train for the March 17 St. Patrick's Day celebration that falls on Saturday this year. "For many people, [the 7 train is] a lifeline," said Gioia.

Service on the No. 7 between 74th Street- Broadway and Times Square was to be interrupted on weekends through March 25.

UCCA President Rose Marie Poveromo said the civic association was in support of concerns expressed by federal officials over the city's placement of an 11-story marine transfer station tower less than 2,000 feet from LaGuardia Airport's eastern runway.

The Sanitation Department transfer station will be directly across Flushing Bay from Runway 31. LaGuardia has two runways, each handling about 500 flights per day. The structure will rise 110 feet into the air and is part of a plan to renovate a marine waste transfer station in College Point.

The Port Authority of New York and Congressmembers Carolyn Maloney, Joseph Crowley, Anthony Weiner and Gary Ackerman have all expressed their concern over the proximity of such a tall tower to LaGuardia Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the station was not a danger as long as it is properly marked and lighted in a ruling last September.

The Port Authority has appealed the FAA decision. "It could impact operations," said Pasquale DiFulco, a spokesman for the P.A. in a February 4 New York Times report.

The Sanitation Department said the transfer station is needed to help reduce the dependence on trucks for garbage transfer. Poveromo said Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty will be the guest speaker at UCCA's next meeting on April 19.