I hope you are enjoying your summer. Prior to our August recess our caucus successfully negotiated an historic agreement that helps alleviate the tax burden for Erie County taxpayers. Rather than see an $8 million increase in the property tax levy for 2024, it will be reduced by $1 million. Taxpayers will also see relief in their home heating bills this winter. Erie County will be suspending sales tax on all home energy products during the months of December through February, reducing residents winter energy bills by 4.75%. The two percent tax cap remains in place, meaning taxpayers can expect to save more than $80 million over the next decade with this one-time levy reduction.
I am extremely troubled by the number and severity of recent criminal activity involving the unvetted migrant community shipped here from New York City. A self-purported “asylum seeker” was arrested and charged with raping a woman in front of her 3-year-old child while staying at a Cheektowaga hotel. Then we learned this past weekend that a 22-year-old migrant was charged with sex abuse and unlawful imprisonment for an incident involving a female employee of the agency working with this migrant population. The District Attorney has also acknowledged that at least three other asylum seekers have been arrested on petit larceny charges, and another migrant at the Dingens Street hotel location has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. We are learning of others who have outstanding arrests, and the Cheektowaga Police Department is working overtime to deal with myriad issues.
Sadly, this was all quite predictable from the beginning of the migrant crisis on our southern border. According to the immigration specialist, over 90% of migrants entering our country seeking asylum will not qualify for asylum status. However, claiming asylum provides migrants an opportunity to present their case in court. Immigration courts are overwhelmed. Compounded with the lack of background check information provided by their countries of origin, these unvetted migrants are being allowed to stay in our county for upwards of seven years until they receive a court date. In the end, it is virtually impossible to determine which migrants are fleeing their homelands to avoid persecution and which ones are fleeing prosecution. The result is serious safety concerns for the residents of Erie County.
A couple of months ago, my caucus called for an emergency declaration to block migrants being shipped to Erie County from New York City until we were able to ensure the safety of Erie County residents, something done by government leaders of virtually all upstate counties, regardless of political affiliation. Unfortunately, our County Executive let politics drive his decisions, claiming unequivocally that these migrants were properly vetted and resorting to name calling, insinuating we were racist and xenophobic. The County Executive rolled out the red carpet for these problems. He owes Erie County residents an apology for his misleading and divisive comments. Additionally, he needs to immediately cease all shipments of migrants until we can ensure all migrant guests are safely vetted.
I am in favor of legal immigration and the asylum process. When our allies from Afghanistan and Ukraine feared for their lives, I was in favor of providing safe harbor and resettlement in the United States. Immigration is how most of our ancestors came here. But there is no plan, no coordination, and no proper process being followed. The federal government needs to step up and handle this crisis once and for all. Erie County can no longer be disregarded by Albany and New York City.
