By Julia Katz
Last Friday afternoon, officials gathered for the signing of I.R.1329, a law designed to hold property owners accountable and ensure that all group homes and temporary shelters meet local building and zoning codes. The bill also allows for County subsidies to be revoked from landlords who do not pass inspections or do not allow their properties to be inspected.
Sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature, the legislation was described as a “long overdue” effort to protect residents, neighborhoods, and first responders from the dangers of overcrowded and unsafe housing.
In recent years, Suffolk County has faced mounting criticism over lax enforcement of housing codes, with some landlords exploiting vulnerable tenants. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) remarked that the new law will give local governments the authority they need to enforce safety standards that state loopholes had undermined for too long.
“Just because someone’s on Social Services does not mean they have to live in substandard housing…all housing should meet state building and sanitary codes,” said Romaine.
Romaine, who previously served as Brookhaven Town Supervisor, recalled past incidents of extreme overcrowding, including a Gordon Heights home where 39 people were found living in a three-bedroom house.
“This bill gives us the clout to stop that kind of exploitation once and for all,” said Romaine. “We’ll lobby for additional housing subsidies, but that doesn’t mean we should ever accept less than what the code requires.”
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) called the legislation a major step in dismantling what he described as “the slumlord model” that has harmed communities for years, emphasizing, “packing dozens of people into homes isn’t altruism, it’s greed…it drags down entire neighborhoods. He explained that Brookhaven will now require all rental properties, including those used for Social Services, to obtain rental registrations.
“We’re not throwing anyone into the streets; we’re raising the bar for what’s acceptable living, and for families who deserve safety and for the neighborhoods who have endured this,” said Panico.
Panico and other speakers further explained the danger these illegally altered homes pose to first responders.
“When firefighters crawl into a home expecting a normal layout and they hit a wall that was never supposed to be there, that’s not just dangerous; it’s deadly.” In addition to the law protecting residents, it also protects the first responders who risk their lives to save them.
For Caracappa, the bill is about fairness, safety, and restoring community trust.
“These landlords put lives at risk – residents, police, firefighters, and emergency responders. Today, we’re putting an end to that,” said Caracappa. “To those landlords and property owners exploiting people in need, we know who you are. You’ll comply, or you’ll be out of business.”
Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) praised the collaboration that made the bill possible.
“Never in my lifetime have I seen what we have here today. This bill touches everyone, residents, civic leaders, first responders, business owners, because housing conditions ripple through every part of our communities,” said Mazzarella, adding that the measure would help “change the business model” of landlords who treat fines as the cost of doing business.
“When they realize their funding is being cut off, they’ll start to think twice.”
Echoing a similar message to Panico, local law enforcement and fire officials stressed the dangers of illegally modified homes. Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello called these homes “havens for crime” and entering as “one of the most dangerous things” first responders do. He described the overcrowded “slumlords” as “mazes,” making it extremely difficult to reach people in an emergency. Civello was joined by Deputy Sheriffs Association President Thomas Bivona and Suffolk County Chiefs Association President Mike Barry
Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Chair of the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) and Preparedness Committee, echoed these sentiments.
“We [FRES] will not be calling peoples’ families because they have fireman who won’t be coming home because some moron subdivided a house and trapped one of our firefighters,” said Thorne, joined by Suffolk County Legislators Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) and Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset).
From the community side, civic leaders praised the County’s leadership for listening to long-standing concerns, marking a turning point.
“This is not just another press conference, it’s real progress. We have leadership ready to act on the quality of life and safety issues our communities have been dealing with,” said Frank Fuggarino, President of the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association.
Part of the problem stems from how landlords are able to effectively “hide” behind LLCs, which are used to purchase houses – in some cases dozens or even hundreds of homes registered to one LLC. Officials lamented the lack of State assistance on the matter.
“Sober homes are anything but sober,” said Panico. “That is another tremendous issue that we have throughout all our communities. On William Floyd Parkway, we had a Legislator tackling one boarding house for over a decade. The house manager kicked people out and the occupants wandered the streets. There’s a role for the State to play, and the State, on many issues, has been absent.”
Thorne added that there were twenty-three boarding houses in a two-square mile area in substandard conditions.
“This is not picking on the poor; this is protecting them,” said Thorne. “There was a bill on the table in the State Legislature last year to make sure there was some kind of contact person you could reach. It was voted down by the State. It was absolutely absurd. That’s how they ‘hide’ behind LLCs.”
“We stand with you. We support you. We’re here for you,” said Caracappa before the bill received its ink. “To those who need help – whether it be mental health issues, dependency issues, domestic violence issues, or if you’re just down on your luck – Suffolk County is here. We’re ready to help you.”
