Federal lawsuit against Islip Town heads to court

Testimony began Wednesday, Sept. 30, for the federal voting rights case between the Town of Islip and its Latino residents.

Brentwood residents Ana Flores, Rene Flores, Maria Magdalena Hernandez and
Magali Roman, and advocacy groups Make the Road New York and New York
Communities for Change, are asking that the town’s at-large system of electing
town council members be replaced with single-member districts, in which one
town board member would represent a specific district in the town.

The group, represented by Hempstead attorney Frederick K. Brewington, is
alleging that the town’s current system denies Latino representation on the
board and violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On Oct. 2, William Garbarino, chairman of the Islip Town Republican Committee, testified at the virtual bench trial of Flores v. Town of Islip. Garbarino said no current executive members are of Latino descent. Of the roughly 200 committee members, he listed seven as Latino.

Neighboring Babylon Town is working to transition from an at-large election structure to a councilmanic system. Garbarino acknowledged Babylon
Republican Committee’s aim to switch to single-member districts, but said he
believes that an at-large election is better suited for Islip.

“We’ve had a referendum in the past,” Garbarino said. “We feel that the people
have spoken. I truly believe that at-large elections are better because you have
more representatives for the entire town.”

Islip is the third most populous town in New York State, and is 34.5 percent
Hispanic, according to the 2017 American Community Survey. The majority
of Islip’s Latino community is located in Brentwood, Central Islip and North Bay Shore.

Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), who represents District 6, is
expected to testify in court this week. He said the at-large system disenfranchises the communities in his district, which encompasses Brentwood, Central Islip and part of Bay Shore.

“The perception in my community is that we have zero advocates within the
Town of Islip,” he said.

Moreover, there’s a lack of equitable resources in those communities, Ramos
said, and the board members are only perpetuating that problem.

“Traditionally, resources go where the political bread is buttered,” he said, and
added that people running for town office often disregard the needs of residents in his district and can win a seat on the board without their votes.

Leigh-Ann Barde, of Central Islip, who ran for town council in 2019 and lost, said the current system makes it “discouraging to be a resident in Islip,” and minority residents have even less of a voice at the town level.

“No one is looking to represent them, to speak their language,” she said, and
added that it’s difficult for current councilmembers to recognize the difficulties
that minorities face.

She believes the town’s tax dollars are directed to wealthier areas. She noted
that most funding for upgrades to Bay Shore’s Ross Park earlier this year came
from Ramos.

In September, Ramos and Islip Town supervisor Angie Carpenter announced
a team approach to rehabilitating Ross Park. At that time, Ramos announced
he was investing $650,000 in the park for construction.

Barde said the issues present in these communities are longstanding.

“These are issues that don’t happen overnight,” she said. “They’re issues that
fester year in and year out. And everyone should have a seat at the table, and the town is not fulfilling their fair share.”

After requesting comment from the Islip Town Board on the case, a town representative said, “It is the town’s policy to not comment on ongoing litigation.”

Brewington was not available for comment at press time.