As your County Legislator and a fellow resident of the Town of Newburgh, I ran for office to improve our community and keep voters informed. That is why I cannot stay silent about the biggest issue threatening our town’s future right now: the proposed ICE mass detention facility coming to 800 Corporate Boulevard.

For too long, our town government has suffered from complacency and a lack of transparency. We see this clearly in the current race for Town Supervisor. The Democratic candidate, Stephen Krasner, has released statements and videos stating that he is unequivocally opposed this facility. Meanwhile, the Republican candidate, Scott Manley—who currently serves as Deputy Supervisor—has remained silent. He has also refused to participate in a non-partisan League of Women Voters candidate forum, and the current town government has done virtually nothing to try to stop this facility from setting up in our town.

We are not just talking about a standard government office. This will be a mass detention facility run by an agency that has repeatedly demonstrated a reckless disregard for the law and human life. Nationwide, we have seen ICE operate with a level of impunity that should alarm everyone, acting as a private security apparatus used to carry out policies based on systemic profiling. People in this town are already afraid. We have to ask ourselves: what will our community feel like when ICE personnel and officers are living, working, and conducting operations right here in our backyards?

But even if you set aside the profound moral and humanitarian concerns, you cannot ignore the devastating practical and economic impact it will have on Newburgh’s future.

What happens to a community when a facility like this moves in? It becomes a massive liability. Home values will take a direct hit as the town becomes known regionally and nationally for immigrant detention rather than community growth. The area surrounding 800 Corporate Boulevard will rapidly turn into a “corporate dead zone.” New businesses and developers will refuse to invest or set up shop in Newburgh, and existing businesses—especially those in the immediate vicinity—will likely relocate because they do not want their brand associated with a detention center.

Furthermore, a facility of this nature will inevitably become a permanent flashpoint for non-stop protests, media spectacles, and civil unrest. This will place a massive, unsustainable strain on our local emergency services, first responders, and infrastructure—costs that will ultimately fall on the shoulders of Newburgh taxpayers.

This is not just an issue of human rights; it is an issue of economic survival. Whether you are voting to protect the vulnerable from an inhumane agency, or you are voting to protect your property values and local tax dollars, the conclusion is the same. We cannot afford a Town Supervisor who stays silent while our home is irreversibly damaged. We need leadership that will stand up and fight for the Town of Newburgh.

I want a Town Supervisor who will immediately put a moratorium on any type of warehouse facility that houses people. I want a Town Supervisor who will cut the water, sewer, and road access from the site to stop it.

We need leadership that will fight, not fold. We need leadership that will speak out, not remain silent.

VOTE. Early Voting starts October 24, and Election Day is November 3.