WI- Manitowoc sex-offender ordinance halted

I'm flabbergasted, lawmakers here actually used logic in making their decision to not go forward with residency laws. This is a rare moment in history!

2-19-2009 Wisconsin:

MANITOWOC — A proposal to keep convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of areas frequented by children in the city of Manitowoc was knocked down tonight by the Public Property and Safety Committee of the City Council.

Committee members voted 4-1 to halt the creation of the ordinance, which would have kept offenders from residing near churches, schools, licensed child care centers, trails and parks. Maps drafted by the city showed that nearly all of Manitowoc would be off-limits to sex offenders with the 2,000-foot setback.

“There is no proof that we’re keeping our kids any safer by doing this,” Alderman Dave Soeldner said of the proposed ordinance. “There is some indication we may be endangering our kids more.”

Alderman Jim Brey cast the lone vote in support of creating the ordinance, while Soeldner and fellow aldermen Rick Sieracki, Eric Sitkiewitz and Tom Frieder voted in opposition. Had the proposal passed, an ordinance would have been drafted and sent on to the full Council for approval.

“I can’t believe anyone would vote for this,” Sieracki said. “All the groups have said the same thing — it’s a bad idea. If we’re creating safe zones, then we’re creating danger zones. Our energy would be better spent on promoting safe behaviors.”

Sitkiewitz, chairman of the committee, said he instead would like the city to work on an ordinance with stronger notification requirements for residents when a convicted sex offender moves into their neighborhood.

“Having a bubble around your neighborhood doesn’t make it safe,” Sitkiewitz said. “I’m more concerned about notification and communication.”

But after the meeting, Alderman Ray Geigel said he was upset with the committee’s decision and intended to bring an amended version of the residency restriction ordinance to the Committee of the Whole on his own. That would give all 10 aldermen and the mayor a chance to vote on whether the ordinance should be considered further.

“Letting the ordinance die in committee like that was disappointing,” Geigel said. “I don’t know what everybody’s afraid of.”

He said he plans to tweak some aspects of the ordinance in hopes it will gain more support.

“People are still gonna do bad things, whether you like it or not, and whether this is gonna help or not, I don’t know,” Geigel said. “But it’s a step toward helping. If it keeps one child from being offended, it’s worth its weight in gold.”

Officials at the meeting, however, said the belief that a residency restriction will make the community safer is a fallacy.

“Sex offenders live amongst us — they always have, and they always will,” Manitowoc County District Attorney Mark Rohrer said. “I don’t think (a residency restriction) is a good idea.”

Rohrer said most sexual offenses take place between people who know each other, and that often means they’re occurring inside homes.

“The majority isn’t circled by this (ordinance),” Sitkiewitz said. “Any ordinance that we draw will not exclude people from being friends.” ..News Source.. by Helen Clarke • Herald Times Reporter