Westchester weighs restrictions for sex offenders

A new Putnam County law that puts restrictions on the residency and work location of sex offenders is raising civil rights concerns in Westchester County.
Putnam County recently signed into law a measure preventing convicted sex offenders from being within 2,500 feet of schools, parks or locations where children congregate. A Rockland County law imposes a 1,000-foot ban. However, similar measures have failed in Westchester County. County Executive Andy Spano (D-Westchester) says, "We can't pass things like that. I mean, we have even more places that you couldn't be near and you could never live anywhere in Westchester County."
Laurie Margolis, of Ossining, disagrees. "It may make life more difficult for those sex offenders, but I think it's even more unfortunate that children are being abused by sex offenders."
The New York Civil Liberties Union is debating whether to challenge the Putnam County law. The county executive admits he doesn't know whether the measure will withstand a legal challenge.