By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo – Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Marc Coppola wants to make sure convicted sex offenders are not living too close to City schools. But for now the idea needs more review.
Coppola introduced a resolution at Tuesday's Common Council that calls to prevent sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet from Buffalo schools, daycare centers or playgrounds. Currently there are no restrictions. But Coppola said for now, his resolution was sent to the Legislation Committee and then forward to the City's Corporation counsel for legal review.
"Well I assume there will be support for it. However, there maybe a constitutional issue with regard to is there anywhere in the City you can live, and be 1500 feet within a school, playground or day care center," said Coppola.
Coppola says he is not pleased with the current state laws. He said they don't provide enough protection for children.
"There has to be more done and I believe the state requirements under Megan's Law should be a little stronger," noted Coppola.
He says there should be more education, and funding to local government's for proper notification for neighborhoods and residents when a convicted sex offender moves in to the City. Coppola said he wants a law that would possibly "take away any temptation of those individuals who might be tempted from engaging in that activity again."
Coppola said his research of Megan's law indicates that in states where it was adopted, there are different versions. He said in New York, the law simply lacks teeth. Coppola says he has reviewed other states like New Jersey, where lawmakers were able to adopt a local law that does not allow sex offenders to live within 2,500 feet from schools, playgrounds and daycare centers. Coppola says Buffalo has a majority of convicted sex offenders living in City.