The Chaos Behind Sex Offenders Being Relocated to Econo Lodge.

Story Update as of 12/6/2020: Econo Lodge is permenatly closed according to their Google results.

A town is built by different generations, people, ideologies, and dreams. Whether that town is a place to retire, prosper, or another stage in life is up to the individual but at the same time, it can grow to be a home for those who choose to stay. Life will come with several surprises whether the people in town are willing to accept it or not. On October 10th, 2020, the sleepy town of New Paltz awoke to news that a predator moved into town. Not a wild animal predator, but a sex offender, someone who harmed a member of a community for their own pleasure.

Vulnerable groups such as the students at SUNY New Paltz received an email that four Level 3 sex offenders were relocated to Econo Lodge, just 1.5 miles away from campus. A Level 3 sex offender is an individual that is at high risk of repeat offense and is considered a threat to the community. There are concerns about tourists deciding to reside in the hotel as the staff is not legally obligated to disclose the fact that visitors will be sharing the hotel space with these predators. The hotel is advertised on the freeway as a hotel travelers can rest at. The Econo Lodge is down Main Street and is next door to Diamond Car Wash and Blue Moon Cabaret. Tim Rogers, the Mayor of New Paltz, explained that the State of New York approached Econo Lodge with a deal to house sex offenders that had already served their prison sentence. Due to finacial burdens from COVID, Econo Lodge agreed to house the sex offenders for an undecided amount of time until more suitable housing can be found. As this report is being written, there are seven known level 3 sex offenders residing in Econo Lodge.

The state did not inform mayor Rogers about the relocation, he instead was notified by the Ulster County Sheriff about the transfer. This situation is not a new experience, according to Chris Farrell from the Ulster County Probation department, 95% of sex offenders get reintegrated into their original communities. What makes this situation unprecedented is the sheer amount of sex offenders being relocated into one residence within the span of one month. Vulnerable members of the community received emails, however, since the sex offenders moved in over the course of several days the emails were scattered throughout the month leaving residents confused about the exact amount. Community members voiced their concern on the New Paltz community facebook group, about how close Econo Lodge is to Blue Moon Cabaret, a gentlemen’s club that is next door to Econo Lodge. Specifically, the worry is directed towards the female workers that must come into work knowing that convicted criminals on parole are close to their workspace.

On Nov 12th, 2020 New Paltz passed a law limiting the number of sex offenders in any hotel or motel. Rogers, however, is not optimistic of the law’s legal standing if it were to be challenged. It’s illegal to deny housing based on a criminal record since the sex offenders already served their sentence. The Fair Housing Act prohibits using sex offender registry information as a reason to deny housing. While there are town laws similar to the one passed in New Paltz, according to Rogers none were formally challenged.

So what can the community do? Rogers said that he is working closely with the sheriff to create a program educating the public on how to reintegrate sex offenders into the community and the constant surveillance Level 3 sex offenders must have while on probation. Rogers spoke with Chris Ferrell from Ulster County Probation Department on the weekly Village of New Paltz livestream where they tried to address any questions or concerns from the public. As of the moment, there are no concrete plans on how to deal with the sudden influx of ex-convicts since the Town was not prepared or notified by the state before they were relocated to Econo Lodge.

Screenshot from Village of New Paltz livestream with Chris Farrell from Ulster County Probation Department

One female student, that wished to remain anonymous, talked about their experience living on campus this fall semester. Before this semester, she had lived on campus for the entirety of their time attending SUNY New Paltz. When she first got the email from the school she felt paranoid and concerned, immediately contacting her mother to bring the pepper spray she left at home. Her schedule changed to mitigate any potential danger of being alone “I tried to avoid leaving early in the morning or going back to my dorm late at night. If I could, I would call a friend just so I had someone on the phone with me if something happened.” The emails were confusing, she recalls getting 3 to 4 emails, and was told by a friend that one of the emails was a duplicate. “New emails didn’t have a total number of sex offenders, and if I wanted to figure that out I would have to go back and check old emails to count.” She compared to current life in New Paltz to life in New York City. “When you walk around New Paltz the streets are dark, when you walk around New York City everything is brightly lit. Both have their dangers but New Paltz felt safe before the state brought (the ex-convicts) into town.”

With less daylight, she had to start getting her meals from Peregrine Dining Hall earlier than before. “Normally I would try avoiding people because of COVID, but now I try getting my meals when a lot of other people are getting them.” COVID also was a cause of some worry, masks made it difficult to identify people. With everyone wearing masks meant to protect others, she felt less secure since she couldn’t recognize the people near her. The unclear schedule of where and when the campus police would patrol led to more paranoia. As the number of sex offenders began to rise she wondered how long were they staying in New Paltz? Why were they here and would they still be here if she decides to come back this spring.

NYS University Police of SUNY New Paltz are tasked with creating a safe campus environment and informing the vulnerable student population. Chief of Police at SUNY New Paltz Mary Ritayik, explained how they were informed about the situation at Econo Lodge and what extra measures the University Police has in place. Similarly, with Mayor Rogers, the school was contacted through the sheriff after the sheriff was contacted by the state. Ritayik wants to assure the campus community that the officers on campus are still maintaining their routine patrols and know what the offenders look like and are aware of where they’re living. When asked about campus security Ritayik explains “we’re still here on campus and we run a 24/7 operation we do routine patrols in vehicles and on foot.” For students worried about walking back to their dorms or to other buildings on campus late at night, the school has the Campus Escort Service (845-257-3338) which provides a walking escort from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m 7 days a week. Previously the escort service was offered with a vehicle option but due to COVID-19 for the safety of the officers and students, there will only be a walking option available for the time being.

One of the emergency phone booths scattered throughout campus

For those who are unaware of the phone boxes that are available throughout campus, there are yellow boxes and black pillars that have these phones that can be used for emergencies. They all have a bright blue lightbulb to indicate where they are. For the black phone pillars, they are also equipped with cameras for extra security. Ritayik wanted students to know that the campus will be safe to return to if they decide to return in spring “our numbers don’t change, we don’t close up 24/7, we still have to remain vigilant. We’re still out and about even when the students go back home for the break.” The UPD can be reached by calling 911 or 2222 on any campus phone, in the case of a campus emergency they can be reached at 845-257-2222 via cellphone.

The world is a scary place to be in right now. COVID-19 is growing by the day. People are seperated from loved ones and now have to worry about their own personal safety. The town of New Paltz is outside the jurisdiction of the University Police and there will be times when we have to leave the comfort and safety of our homes. When that time comes Ritayik offered one last piece of advice “know your surroundings, be self-aware when you’re out in the town, from here to town, and on-campus and back. Have your cellphone handy, but don’t be so engrossed in your cellphone, be self-aware of your surroundings and keep your stuff secure when you’re not there.”

Phone Numbers to call if you are concerned for your safety.

845-257-3338 for Campus Escort Service

911 or 2222 on any campus phone

845-257-2222 via cellphone for campus related emergencies

911 on any device in case of emergency.