By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Common Council wants to keep convicted sex offenders as far away from children as possible. On Tuesday lawmakers unanimously approved a new law that will restrict where they can live.
The new law will prohibit convicted sex offenders from living within 1,500 feet from a city school, park, playground or day care centers.
Currently there are no restrictions.
Delaware District lawmaker Marc Coppola sponsored the resolution. But he said the new law will not include offenders already living in those areas.
"And that's by state and federal law. We would never be able to include them in a law after it was already passed," said Coppola. "However, these individuals do move around quite a bit and it would prevent them, once they move, from living in those specific areas."
Coppola said it is unfortunate, but there is nothing the city can do to prevent those who currently live near areas where children learn and play.
"Most laws that are created don't effect people how have already been in those situations. There are lot of laws created that you can not bring everyone into all at once," said Coppola.
The new law now heads to the Mayor's desk for final approval. Coppola is hoping Mayor Anthony Masiello will sign it.
"I would think the Mayor would sign it. I'm not sure. I have not spoken to him about it," said Coppola. "I haven't heard anything. He hasn't said anything to me. But I'm confident that he would sign it."
Coppola presented his resolution earlier this month, saying he was not pleased with the current state laws. Coppola said a majority of sex offenders convicted in the region live in the city of Buffalo.