Farmingdale, New York, is being sued by Latino residents who claim the Long Island village has been trying to kick them out of the community.

 

The predominantly white town allegedly had developers tear down an apartment building largely occupied by the plaintiffs and other low-income residents after Farmingdale’s mayor, George Graf, bragged about pushing the project in a newspaper opinion piece. He also led a crackdown on day laborers.

 

Townsfolk have been accused of making racist remarks as well, such as the online posting to the Village Board of Trustees message board that read: “Everyone knows that white people from this country dont [sic] cause crimes ... Its immigrants and the so called minorities ... Before you know it our town is going to be as dark as Amityville or the city and then where will you go.”

 

An Hispanic woman said she was told at a board meeting: “You people should get your tubes tied.”

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

L.I. Village to Stand Trial for Pushing Out Latinos (by Adam Klasfeld, Courthouse News Service)

Rivera v. Farmingdale (U.S. District Court, Eastern New York) (pdf)