Suffolk's Immigration Views Stand Out (Poll: NYC and suburbs)

Newsday ^ | 6/10/06 | Bart Jones

[Clemenza]

Suffolk County has the highest percentage of residents in the state who have negative opinions about undocumented immigrants, according to a statewide poll conducted for Newsday/NY1 and released Friday.

The survey found that Suffolk is the only county in New York where more registered voters think immigrants in the country illegally have had a negative impact on their communities rather than a positive impact.

[Clemenza]

Here in the NYC area, immigration is shrugged off by most. Suffolk County is the exception, perhaps, largely because of its large lower middle class population.

[Clemenza]

From what I hear people saying in my area, most folks actually do appreciate the work of the illegal population. However, you must understand that in NYC, most of our underclass is considered unemployable (thank a generous welfare state) and that the illegals actually look better in comparison to such people in the eyes of many.

[ECM]

I hail from Putnam county (now living in LA) and spent many yeara in Western NY and I'm still surprised that Suffolk came up as number one in the state.

[Personal Responsibility]

I live in Suffolk, in the town right next to Farmingville (of the documentary movie). I drive past the illegals lining up on Rt 83 every day and get madder and madder about illegal immigration. Even though this is a pretty liberal area most of the people I know are anti-illegals, even the libs.

The only thing we have going for us is that Peter King is from near here (Seaford). Other than that, its one lib dem after the next.

[Hildy]

Out of all the lower NY Counties, I'd say Suffolk is the most blue-collar. Do you agree with that?

[Buck W.]

Are you a Flaming Arrow?

[Clemenza]

Funny, when I was a kid, Farmingville was known as a town where guys with beer guts drove Camaros, and the women had hair teased as high as fence posts. I also remember a decent Portuguese restaurant.

Hard to believe it has so many illegals. I think because the rents are cheap for that area (no offense to Farmingville residents that may be reading this, but F-Ville never would be confused with South Hampton, or Huntington for that matter).

[Personal Responsibility]

I have lived here my whole life (36 years) and it defintely used to be. I am not so sure anymore. The gentrification of Suffolk has gotten all the way out to exit 70 on the LIE, and all of Riverhead. Where most of the area east of exit 65 used to be farm land (and very blue collar) there is now one $500,000 house development after another. Lastly, with new house taxes in the $9000 range, the blue collar types can't afford to live here anymore.

[Personal Responsibility]

Back in 1987 I was. I marched in the homecoming parade 3 /4 years in high school.

:)

[Clemenza]

Suffolk and Rockland are pretty much similar in their blue collar/white collar ratio, although Rockland has more limo liberals (Piermont, Nyack) than Suffolk (the Hamptonites generally voting in Manhattan).

The blue collar parts of Suffolk are on the central portion of the south shore and in center county. The North Shore communities, especially near the Nassau border, have many limo liberals.

Nevertheless, I currently live (albeit temporarily) in a blue collar burg in New Jersey where folks tell me that they prefer the illegals to certain other (native born) ethnic groups that shall remain nameless. Just the way things are around here...

[Personal Responsibility]

Funny, when I was a kid, Farmingville was known as a town where guys with beer guts drove Camaros, and the women had hair teased as high as fence posts

I remember that from high school in the mid-late 80's. That is definitely an accurate description of Farmingville, Holbrook, Ronkonkoma, Holtsville.

[Hildy]

I grew up in Plainiew in Nassau County. Left almost 20 years ago.

[conservative in nyc]

Out of all the lower NY Counties, I'd say Suffolk is the most blue-collar.

Of the downstate New York suburban counties, probably. But I think Richmond (Staten Island), Bronx and most of Kings (Brooklyn) and Queens Counties are even more blue collar than Suffolk.

[Clemenza]

Queens is now dominated by immigrants, the children of immigrants, and high level New York bureaucrats (the latter particularly prevelant in Forest Hills). I'd say the only stereotypical "white, blue collar" nabes in Queens these days are Middle Village, Glendale, Maspeth, and Howard Beach.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

The survey found that Suffolk is the only county in New York where more registered voters think immigrants in the country illegally have had a negative impact on their communities rather than a positive impact.

Isn't Suffolk County where Peter King is out of? If so he's obviously representing his district by opposing illegal immigration the way he is.

[Clemenza]

King's district straddles the Nassau/Suffolk border. Most of Suffolk is represented by Tim Bishop (D) and Steve Israel (D).

[conservative in nyc]

Many of the immigrants and children of immigrants are doing the blue collar jobs that the stereotypical "white, blue collar" folks used to do. Same occupations, different ethnic groups.

Staten Island is definitely full of stereotypical "white, blue collar" neighborhoods.

[Talking_Mouse]

I moved from Orange last month and there is much to what you are saying.

[Clemenza]

Many of the immigrants and children of immigrants are doing the blue collar jobs that the stereotypical "white, blue collar" folks used to do. Same occupations, different ethnic groups.

Correct. Amazing how when you go to a construction site these days, you are likely to encounter guys from Guyana and Ecuador.

[Buck W.]

I am as well--a few years before you. Lived in Holbrook.