The Suffolk County Legislature voted against adopting a controversial loitering bill Tuesday night.

Only six legislators voted in favor of the measure, while one abstained and another wasn't present. If passed, the bill would have banned people from soliciting work on county-owned roads, effectively outlawing day laborers from county streets. The Legislature allowed residents three minutes to speak on the issue. More than 73 people in attendance spoke.

Medford resident Wendy Reilly was in favor of the ban.

"I'm fearful [for] our young children playing outside," Reilly said. "I don't know who these people are."

Celeo Avila, who gathers with his peers in search of work on Depot Road in Huntington Station, believes the bill was unfair.

"Because we are illegal aliens, they think that we are criminals," Avila said through a translator. "And we are not. We are also very thankful for being here."