Legislator Setting Meeting To Address Syosset Crime, Mercy First

SYOSSET, NY — Following a string of burglaries and vandalism at a dozen businesses in Syosset, Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan announced he would be holding a community meeting to address resident's concerns about safety.

The break-ins on June 7 were committed by five teens from the Mercy First facility, Nassau County police said.

Mercy First in Syosset is a residential facility for at-risk youth. It provides care for more than 3,200 children, teenagers and their families in sites in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. It operates family support programs, foster home and adoption service, treatment family foster care, community-based group homes, mother/child residences and campus-based residential treatment programs. It was founded in 1894.

But a recent increase in incidents both at and around the facility has Syosset residents on edge. In addition to the break-ins, two police officers were injured when responding to an incident at the facility last December. Run-aways from the facility are also common.

“We must continue to be compassionate to these children in difficult circumstances, and the educators and staff who work at Mercy First, but we have a fundamental responsibility to ensure residents and businesses are safe,” said Lafazan. “It is crucial to hear from the community when it comes to crime and public safety. As elected officials we must be receptive to those concerns and take action.”

Lafazan said that Mercy First CEO Renee Skolaski has made good-faith efforts to address residents' concerns, but that new solutions are needed. The meeting, Lafazan said, will bring together Nassau County police, the Mercy First administration and community leaders to address rising crime in the area.

“We need to bring all stakeholders in the community together to devise a comprehensive plan that can be implemented to keep our communities safe,” Lafazan said.

The date, time and location of the meeting have not yet been set, Lafazan said. It will be announced soon.