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Brookhaven Town Board rejects suburbia

Last week the Brookhaven Town Board rang the death knell for suburbia by downzoning the sleepy Jefferson Plaza shopping center in Port Jefferson Station to allow the development of a mega city of unaffordable apartments and large multistory buildings. 

The proponents, mostly the building industry lobby and the developer, who will reap millions of dollars in increased rent, took advantage of an industry-promoted zoning classification called Commercial Redevelopment District which allows city-like density in underperforming shopping centers throughout Brookhaven.

The new code was a byproduct of the dark days of COVID-19 when many thought that local shopping centers wouldn’t survive the loss of customers who were staying at home because of the pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, most shopping centers have now rebounded, but the Town of Brookhaven has not rescinded the urban density code that was promoted by developers and builders over the objections from several community civic organizations.

A Queens-like development this size and scale will alter the suburban character of upper Port Jefferson Station and lead to the further urbanization of the communities throughout the town.

Because of the Staller Center rezone, lawyers representing other shopping center owners have already made inquiries to the Brookhaven Town Board about rezoning their clients shopping centers to CRD as well.

It’s time for the Town Board to take a hard look at the CRD zoning code, realize how it will radically change the character of most communities throughout the town and build into it protections that would limit the size and scale of future redevelopment of shopping centers — and make it less destructive to the suburban character of communities we cherish.

Charles Tramontana, President, George Hoffman, Trustee

Three Village Civic Association

A timeline: Careful money management yields results

In 2011, Suffolk County announced a $500 million deficit. And in that same year, 2011, Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature and she asked to be assigned to work with the fiscal committee. To our benefit, Sarah insisted that with careful planning and foresight, Suffolk County could trim the budget and tighten spending while offering the same services and assistance to residents. For 12 years, Sarah pushed this version of fiscal responsibility, then she was term-limited out of the Legislature. 

The outcome of Sarah’s effort was everything we could have hoped for. In 2023, the Suffolk County Legislature announced that the $500 million deficit was eliminated and that the county’s bond rating had moved strongly upward. Before she left the Legislature, Sarah Anker brought stability to Suffolk County finances. 

I am grateful that Sarah Anker puts People Over Politics. Sarah Anker has my vote for NYS Senate.

Judy Black

Shoreham

Rebecca Kassay: A force for good, leading with heart and purpose

Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) is someone I’ve had the privilege of knowing and watching blossom into a true leader over the years. From the moment I met her, I could tell she had a deep passion for both her community and the environment. It has been remarkable to see how she’s transformed that passion into tangible, meaningful action. Watching her grow, both as a small business owner and as a community leader, has been an incredibly personal inspiration to me.

One of the things that has always stood out to me about Rebecca is her dedication to environmental governance. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Environmental Studies, she returned to Long Island and dove right into environmental work. I remember how she launched a youth environmental volunteer program at Avalon Park and Preserve. I watched her work tirelessly with local teens, teaching them to care for and protect our natural environment. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she wasn’t just teaching them about the environment — she was inspiring a sense of responsibility and love for the land. Seeing her in action made me realize that this wasn’t just a job for her — it was a calling.

Rebecca’s entrepreneurial journey is just as impressive. In 2013, she and her husband Andrew purchased a fixer-upper in Port Jefferson and transformed it into The Fox and Owl Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that quickly became a cornerstone of the community. I saw firsthand how much effort and care they put into the business. But more than that, I saw how deeply Rebecca became involved in the local business community. Through her work with both the Port Jefferson Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, she’s been a driving force in helping local businesses thrive. I’ve had many conversations with her about how to build a sustainable local economy, and her commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility is something I deeply admire.

When the pandemic hit, Rebecca’s leadership took on new meaning. She quickly organized the Long Island Open Source Medical Supplies initiative, rallying volunteers to produce PPE for frontline workers. It was a shining example of her ability to mobilize people for the greater good. In a time of crisis, Rebecca brought hope and unity to the community.

Watching Rebecca grow has been an inspiring journey for me. She leads with her heart and never loses sight of her values, making her a true force for good.

Indu Kaur

Port Jefferson Station

Transparency needed: Voters deserve answers from Assemblyman Flood

As a resident of Setauket I was distressed to hear that my Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) was disbarred last week.

As a lawyer I am concerned that Assemblyman Flood did not even bother to respond to the complaint against him even though he was charged that he “engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation with regard to both clients” and the courts. To merit disbarment, as opposed to censure or suspension, the alleged conduct must have been very serious.

As a voter I believe I am entitled to know what he was accused of.

Assemblyman Flood should make a full disclosure of what occurred. The voters deserve to know.

Chris Murray

Setauket

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An open letter to the residents of Port Jefferson Station and Terryville

Many local residents are aware that there is a planned redevelopment at the Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center. However, not all our neighbors necessarily know the specific details which will shape the face of our community along the major thoroughfare of Route 112. This large-scale proposal may allow for up to 280 apartments and 49,000-plus square feet of commercial space on that 10-acre parcel. This intensive use has presented us all with an opportunity to see growth and revitalization of our area, but also the challenge to address potential negative impacts to the existing neighborhood.

Members of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association have worked diligently for the past two years to impress upon the Town of Brookhaven that we welcome this opportunity but that changes could help improve the project. In particular, we expressed a need for a comprehensive traffic study of the area which takes into account surrounding developments. 

Others pointed out concerns about the unprecedented height of four-story buildings, voiced a desire for architectural design which could provide a sense of place, or questioned the need for full environmental review for a project which will nearly triple the density of any other multifamily developments in the town to date.

This entire proposal has its roots in a 2020 revision to the Town Code in the form of a Commercial Redevelopment District crafted and approved during the COVID-19 pandemic. This code, as written, seems vague and without any true metric on which to base a determination of the related density bonuses offered within the district. It is this CRD code which Staller Associates — owner of the Jefferson Shopping Center — is now pursuing for a precedent-setting change of zone on that property. It is my understanding that Brookhaven is prepared to vote on this motion and likely to approve it at its next Town Board meeting on Sept. 26 at Town Hall.

Last November, over 65 residents appeared at a public hearing to provide their input on what they wished to see for our community. Some of those comments have been incorporated by the developer into a few changes by the developer, at the urging and help of our Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook). However, much still appears unresolved in the areas of public benefits, clarity on the commitment to a comprehensive traffic study, developing consensus on architectural design and a decision on the ultimate level of density upon buildout. Some believe we should trust this all gets dealt with during the site plan review process. I am hopeful and have advocated that these issues should be addressed before the zoning change is approved in order to achieve the best, transparent outcome possible for all parties.

I solicit my neighbors, regardless of your viewpoint, to go to Town Hall this Thursday evening so that your voice is heard. More “eyes and ears” on this pivotal project will helpfully inform our local decision-makers what the public feels about how best to proceed to take pride in the place we call home. In any event, stay engaged and get involved.

Ira Costell, President

   Port Jefferson Station/ Terryville Civic Association

Port Jefferson electrification stuck in the slow lane

There is no funding allocated in the MTA’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan, just released, for advancement of the proposed $3.1 billion LIRR Port Jefferson Branch electrification project. Critical initial funding was not provided to pay for planning, preliminary design, engineering and the National Environmental Policy Act review to start advancement of this project. The next opportunity for funding will be under the 2030-2034 Five Year Capital Plan. Following the federal NEPA process is necessary to preserve future Federal Transit Administration funding eligibility.

There is only a vague reference in the plan to “improvements” on the Port Jefferson Branch. Contrast this with a specific reference to “looking at the feasibility to extend electrification of the Ronkonkoma Branch east from Ronkonkoma to Yaphank.” 

Riders east of Babylon to Patchogue and Speonk can also only count on a vague reference to “improvements” which doesn’t include electrification. No specific dollar figures, detailed scope of work or implementation schedule are attached to either Port Jefferson or Speonk Branch improvements.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber would have to request permission from the FTA to enter this project into the agency’s Capital Investment Grants (New Starts/Core Capacity) national discretionary competitive grant program. 

Funding for final design and engineering, property easements, land acquisition and utility relocation could be allocated under the 2035-2039 Five Year Capital Plan. This would be followed by $1.6 billion — probably far more due to inflation — in local MTA funding included in the MTA 2040-2044 Five Year Capital Plan. These dollars are necessary to leverage FTA funding. 

Based upon my past experiences on other FTA-MTA-LIRR projects, even if all goes well as I’ve outlined, Port Jefferson Branch electrification may not be completed until 2050. With inflation over time, the final project cost could easily grow to $4 billion and more.

 The LIRR 1960s motto “Line of the Dashing Dan” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth” when it comes to completing LIRR Port Jefferson Branch electrification. The concept of electrification was first proposed back in the 1950s!

Larry Penner

   Great Neck

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL 

We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

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Applauding Cedar Beach environmental sentiments

I applaud the sentiments of “Trying to enjoy peace at Cedar Beach” in Letters to the Editor, Sept. 5. 

I can’t count how many times I’ve been at the beautiful beaches and parks in our area — as well as parking lots — and felt similar feelings of bewilderment and anger when I see people sitting in their idling cars, often with the windows down. Why run the engine, especially on a beautiful day? It’s a waste of gas and money, and pollutes the air while creating unnecessary noise. 

Perhaps our local leaders can put forth legislation that would fine those who idle their engines beyond the 3-minute limit acceptable by New York State law? Maybe some people don’t grasp the detrimental effects on the environment — not to mention the waste of their own money — but perhaps enforcing legislation and fines would provide a wake-up call. Let’s all enjoy fresh air and nature in peace and quiet, and be considerate of others.

Adriana Lubarsky

East Setauket

Keeping LIRR on track

Port Jefferson commuters should be concerned that the LIRR still needs to reach a state of good repair for existing fleet, stations, elevators, escalators, signals, interlockings, track, power, yards and shops. It also includes more and more stations reaching compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. All maintenance programs for all operating assets also need to be fully funded and completed on time to ensure riders safe uninterrupted reliable service. Since its creation in 1964, the Urban Mass Transit Administration (known since 1991 as the Federal Transit Administration) has provided billions to pay for many of these capital improvements.

The LIRR share of annual FTA grants to the MTA averages 15%. In 2024, this should represent $270 million of $1.8 billion in federal grant funding. The state Department of Transportation provides Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance on an annual basis to the MTA and LIRR. Let us give thanks to both Washington and Albany for continued financial support for our very own LIRR — the nation’s largest commuter railroad.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Voices of service: the true cost of new nonprofit oversight

Last month, Suffolk County Legislators Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) and Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) sponsored I.R. 1687, a bill that would amend the Suffolk County Code to provide the county more oversight into the internal fiscal operations of nonprofit entities seeking county subsidies and limiting the salaries of nonprofit executives.

I have worked in nonprofit leadership since 2011. Leading a nonprofit is often impossibly difficult. Over half of respondents in a recent survey from the Chronicle of Philanthropy noted that they struggle with a work-life balance. Nearly two-thirds of the nonprofit leaders in the Chronicle’s survey say the country’s polarization — over politics, race and culture — is making their work more difficult.

A third of survey participants say they are likely to leave their current organization in the next two years. Twenty-two percent say they are likely to leave the nonprofit world altogether. Other than retirement, top reasons include salary, the challenge of finding resources and the demands of the job.

I can’t think of any other industry that is on the edge of losing almost 25% of their leadership workforce.

A healthy relationship between nonprofits and their local, state and federal governments brings stronger programming and services to residents. Without the nonprofit sector, the government does not have the infrastructure or systems in place to provide the care we need.

My colleagues and friends who have devoted their life to this work are not money-hungry hoarders. But if our industry is going to recruit competitive talent to lead, we must be able to offer competitive salaries.

Perhaps our county legislators and others like them should rethink opportunities to increase their giving and partnerships so we can actually solve the problems facing nonprofit organizations, rather than attacking the people responsible for working to solve them.

Cindy Morris

Stony Brook

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Cancer and our environment

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York has the fifth highest cancer rate in the country. Each year over 110,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with cancer and 35,000 die from the disease. One in every two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. So, we must ask the question why?

In 2001, I founded the not-for-profit, Community Health and Environment Coalition, to address the high rate of cancer in my community. New York State Department of Health released cancer maps which showed areas with elevated cancer rates and as a concerned mother, environmental advocate and a dedicated community leader, I wanted answers. My coalition partnered with elected leaders, medical professionals and residents to challenge the state to do something about this issue, and it did. The state DOH moved forward with the New York State Cancer Mapping Project, also known as the Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative, and focused its investigation in Coram, Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson Station as a follow-up investigation.

It’s been 18 years since the report was released, and as I look back and see the higher-than-average elevated breast cancer rates highlighted on the cover of the report, I must ask why isn’t more being done to address the exposure to toxic cancer-causing chemicals?

I was never paid as I led the community in our quest to find answers. I worked with elected officials across party lines, and with Long Island’s most renowned breast cancer advocates including Huntington’s Karen Miller, West Islip’s Lorraine Pace and Babylon’s Debbie Basile. Most folks I worked with thought it was our water, and now decades later experts have identified concerning chemicals in our water including PFAS forever chemicals, and 1,4-dioxane used extensively by military contractors. 

After the follow-up cancer investigation report was released, I found that the state DOH used mainly data from its database and did not come to our town to take soil, water and air samples. If a farmer used a pesticide that was not registered, that information was not included. If a company dumped toxic chemicals in the ground, that info was not included. This left more questions than answers.

People are finally understanding that exposure to carcinogen and cancer causing chemicals can have a delayed cancer diagnosis, and it can take decades to see the consequence of toxic exposure, as we’re seeing with 9/11 first responders.

Come on folks, we should expect better than this.

I sat on the Brookhaven National Lab Community Advisory Committee for years as the committee partnered with BNL to clean up contamination. Northrop Grumman and the Navy should do the same for the residents of Bethpage.

I was born on a Navy base. My dad proudly served for decades in the military, but we must hold those who pollute accountable. Mistakes were made decades ago when chemicals were released into our environment. We know better now, and we’ve got work to do so let’s work together to clean up polluted sites and protect residents.

Years ago, I was one of only about five people to attend and advocate to clean up Lawrence Aviation’s groundwater contamination at a public hearing in Port Jefferson.

What followed was a massive effort by the EPA, DEC and Suffolk County Department of Health Services to remediate the contaminant plume.

The government needs to do the same for the groundwater in Bethpage and other contaminated areas on Long Island. I encourage residents to get involved and be part of the solution. Let’s do this together.

So many lives count on it.

Sarah Anker

Mount Sinai

Founder of Community Health and Environment Coalition

Former Suffolk County Legislator

Current NYS Senate Candidate

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Vote for democracy this November

My car has a single bumper sticker supporting a Democratic candidate. On Sunday, I was driving home from doing some shopping. For the second time in a little over a week, a motorcyclist behind me at a stop light cursed and threatened me.

He called me un-American and threatened to vandalize my car. How can anyone believe that threatening to vandalize someone’s car because of the candidate that they support is consistent with our country’s values?

Neighbors, whatever party you belong to, I beg you this November to vote for the candidate who will protect our democracy. I have to believe that the vast majority of us, regardless of party affiliation, don’t want to live in the sort of country that some motorcyclists would like to create.

Rachel Kreier

Port Jefferson

Balancing restoration with resilience

I join county Legislator Steve Englebright [D-Setauket] in favoring the restoration of the iconic Stony Brook Mill Pond.

As the interim president of the Frank Melville Memorial Foundation, custodians of the dams and Setauket Mill Ponds, I thank Steve for his mention of our ponds and the credit given to our dam’s construction [“Perspective: Restore and protect Stony Brook Mill Pond,” TBR News Media, Aug. 29]. 

I would add to the story, however, when Steve says that we were subjected to the same storm event as the Stony Brook Mill Pond. While it is likely that we shared the same amount of water and climate violence as Stony Brook, we were the beneficiaries of a years-long Save The Ponds campaign in which we lobbied for the installation of the recharge basin at Detmer Farm (thank you, Suffolk County) and a cascade system to slow the runoff of rainwater from Main Street, Old Field Road and Christian Avenue (thank you, Town of Brookhaven) and yes, even Route 25A (thank you, New York State).

While our focus was on restoration of the ponds, the first stop, led by Chuck Hamilton — then a member of our board and a former regional enforcement officer for DEC — was to identify and address root causes. In our case, there was too much road runoff, sand and dirt flowing into our ponds.

Add to this that we have done a series of engineering assessments. The most recent of these was performed by Thomas O’Dwyer of HomePort Engineering who donated his services and was led by Robert Reuter, one of our board members and a past president. Our dam and sluiceway were reinforced under Robert’s oversight within the last two years. 

So yes, I vote to restore the Stony Brook Mill Pond, but not without a plan to manage the velocity and volume of water running down 25A and not without a commitment to inspect and maintain the dam itself.

Timothy Glynn

South Setauket

Restoring our roots

I am writing in response to Kurt Johnsen’s enjoyable and nostalgic guest column [“Stony Brook Mill Pond — a warm childhood memoir,” TBR News Media, Aug. 29]. His writing was both informative and captivating.

One can easily picture a somewhat different time in our not-too-distant past. For all that must have changed, much has remained. Three Village continues to share a strong sense of community along with the bucolic landscapes that fill our windshields from school pickups to grocery shopping to visits with friends.

The disasters at the Stony Brook Mill Pond and along Harbor Road are indeed impressive, in the scariest sense, especially when visited in person. Happily there was no loss of human life. Considering our hometown has been unique since the very beginning as explained by Mr. Johnsen, I am hopeful that our sense of place helps us restore what was lost and build something lasting for our children and grandchildren to share with their families and create memories not so different from the ones made nearly 60 years ago.

Mr. Johnsen would also be pleased to know there are wood ducks which frequent the Mill Pond. I do not know if they nest in the boxes he built all those years ago, but it’s not impossible to think his hope-filled project changed the trajectory of this particularly stunning waterfowl.

Rebuilding gives us an opportunity to do something special and future-focused. Thank you for inspiring us.

Craig Beale

Setauke

Trying to enjoy peace at Cedar Beach

People come to the beach for many reasons: fresh air, the scenery or to escape their problems. None of which can be enjoyed with you sitting in your car with the windows rolled up, while you scroll on your phone. It makes no sense! If you don’t want to enjoy all that our wonderful Island has to offer, fine. But, you not only get in your own way, but you ruin it for others.

I’ve gone to Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai to see the sunset several times this summer and without fail there’s someone doing this very thing. With their car running! It’s late in the season, late in the day so it’s not hot and yet people pull in with their windows rolled up.

Unfortunately, I cannot walk to the shore because of health reasons. So I sit on the beach right by the parking lot, away from the noisy Beach Club. I try to enjoy some peace on our beautiful beach.

But I can’t.

I didn’t come here to listen to your engine or to smell your car’s exhaust. So let me ask: Why are you here?

Deniz Yildirim

Port Jeff Station

Come meet Sarah Anker

If you’ve been asked to vote for Sarah Anker as your next New York State senator for District 1 and your answer is that you don’t know who she is, here is your chance to learn more about her.

Come meet Sarah on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 12:30 at The Shoppes at East Wind, Suite T, Wading River. Hear what supporters have to say about her, pick up literature and lawn signs, and eat some pizza. Of course, if you want to help reach out to voters, consider volunteering to help spread Sarah’s message. There’s a lot to be done between now and Nov. 5.

You can help canvas/knock on doors; make phone calls either from home or the office; reach out to your friends or people in your network, sharing with them why they should vote for Sarah; help with voter registration; getting lawn signs to put in your yard; or any other way you can think of to help Sarah become your next state senator.

On Nov. 5 it is crucial that you vote for those national candidates that will secure our democracy. Sarah will work for that goal and so much more. She will do what she’s done as a county legislator — she will have our backs.

So, come meet someone who will protect everyone’s rights. For more information about Sarah, go to her website at www.sarahanker.com. She will continue to put people over politics.

Ernestine Franco

Sound Beach

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL 

We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

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Disingenuous projection

Jim Soviero’s letter “Local Dems put politics first” (TBR News Media, Aug. 15), accusing Democratic politicians of avoiding “substantive talk of policy,” is a classic example of disingenuous projection.

Projection because it is Republicans who are avoiding discussion of their policy plans, from a national abortion ban to mass deportations. The Republican Party didn’t even bother to draft a new platform in 2020, instead officially endorsing whatever then-President Donald Trump [R] advocated on any given day.

The current Republican platform is a vague, self-contradictory manifesto — long on rhetoric but very short on specific policy prescriptions. And Republican politicians can’t distance themselves

quickly enough from Project 2025, the very specific federal overhaul playbook that will be implemented if Trump wins. Local U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota [R-NY1] claims to oppose a federal abortion ban, while having voted for multiple federal anti-abortion laws.

All this is unsurprising, given that Republican policy positions are incredibly unpopular. Significant majorities of Americans support reproductive rights, worker and union protections, stricter gun laws, marriage equality and higher taxes on corporations and the very wealthy. All are signature Democratic positions.

The Democratic Party, like all other mainstream political parties around the world, has a detailed written platform with numerous specific policy positions. For example, it supports a $15 per hour federal minimum wage, a 25% billionaire minimum tax rate and expanded Medicare drug negotiation authority, which has already resulted in a $35 per month cap on insulin and asthma inhalers. Mr. Soviero can consult that platform whenever he wants to understand what Democrats, both local and national, propose.

Most importantly, his accusation is disingenuous because this election is clearly not about specific policies. It is about fundamental questions of what government is for and what you think “The United States” should mean. Do you want a white, male, straight, single-party, Christian nationalist state run by a personality cult for the benefit of billionaires? Or do you want a secular, multiethnic, pluralist democracy under the rule of law?

There’s little point in debating detailed policies until we resolve that.

John Hover

East Setauket

Stony Brook’s flood fallout

The massive flooding and damage to Stony Brook village following the torrential rainfall of Aug. 18-19 is already well documented [“Storm ravages the North Shore,” TBR News Media, Aug. 22]. Now comes the process of rebuilding the dam and the washed-out segment of Harbor Road. Just hours after the catastrophe, officials from numerous were predicting “years” of reconstruction. The EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and a host of other agencies (i.e., red-tape), weighed in on the complexities of remediating the situation. Few could have predicted the 9-plus inches of rainfall within just a few hours, but after inspecting the wreckage at Harbor Road, it appears to have been just a matter of time.

Like the rickety Sheep Pasture Road bridge over the LIRR tracks in Port Jefferson, the dam at Stony Brook is a 19th-century design, and the opportunity for an updated/robust structure to replace the wreckage is now. 

After surveying the scene on Aug. 21, it appears the destroyed section of Harbor Road sat atop an “earthen” dam, wooden pilings and an ancient sluice-gate system to manage the flow of water. Yes, there will be time needed for design and engineering plans, and hopefully the new structure will incorporate reinforced concrete and steel, rather than dirt. That said, we’re not talking Baltimore Harbor Bridge here but only perhaps 100 feet of roadway and its underpinnings. 

The environmental crisis is here and now, not in the rebuild process. Maximum six to seven months to rebuild the structure and full restoration of the lake, a bit longer. Oh wait, I forgot something: this is New York State I’m talking about. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer [D-NY] stopped by the scene the other day … but Gov. Kathy Hochul [D]: “Hello, hello, where are you?”

Michael Meltzer

Old Field

Editor’s note: Gov. Hochul met with state and local elected officials Aug. 27 to tour the Mill Pond as well as Stony Brook University to assess storm damage.

Misguided optimism: A reality check on Smithtown’s storm damage

Supervisor Ed Wehrheim’s [R] statement that Smithtown was “fortunate” compared to surrounding areas, as reported in the news item “Storm ravages the North Shore” [TBR News Media, Aug. 22],” is highly misleading to say the least. Smithtown was inundated by the same 9 inches of rain as surrounding towns, and suffered similar damage.

Most notable were the devastation at Stump Pond — the centerpiece of Blydenburgh Park — and extensive damage to the main building of Smithtown Library.

The concrete dam at the west end of Stump Pond, long home to a variety of wildlife, was wrecked by the torrential downpour, causing the pond to empty out, much like what happened to Stony Brook Mill Pond. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water came rushing out, flowing toward the Nissequogue River, flooding Paul T. Given Town Park, severely damaging nearby homes and flooding streets. All that’s left now is a pit of mud and tree stumps that haven’t seen the light of day for 226 years, since the pond was first formed by clearing forest and building a dam. 

As for the library’s main Smithtown building, the entire basement floor was flooded from floor to ceiling. The Long Island History Room located there was badly damaged, particularly its priceless and irreplaceable collection of original materials dating as far back as the 1600s, including the original patent of Richard Smith. It was the most significant collection of historical archives on all of Long Island. In addition over 20,000 audiovisual materials were destroyed, as well as books, computers, wiring, shelving and other hardware. Now would be a good time to donate to the library or join the Friends of the Smithtown Library.

This is to say nothing of the many homes that suffered devastating damage and the streets that were flooded, including Main Street, and the 4 feet of water that flooded Smithtown Town Hall.

Instead of issuing a self-congratulatory statement after the storm, dubiously claiming that due to “proactive measures” and “recent upgrades” Smithtown was better off than neighboring towns, it would have been far better had town Supervisor Wehrheim acknowledged that, like them, it suffered painful and devastating losses. Unlike Supervisor Wehrheim, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine [R] gets it. He termed the losses “catastrophic.” “I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another hundred years for another storm like this,” he said. “It tells you the impact that climate change is having on our weather.”

David Friedman

St. James

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A haiku for your consideration

August

South Shore cousins want

tough soles negotiating

Pretty sound beaches

Joan Nickeson

Terryville

Thank you, Father Pizzarelli

It warmed my heart to read Father Francis Pizzarelli’s moving tribute honoring Father Gerald Fitzsimmons, who passed away in July [“Plain Talk: The loss of a bridge builder,” Aug. 8, Arts & Lifestyles, TBR News Media]. Father Fitz, as he was known, was our pastor at St. Mary Gate of Heaven R.C. Church and grade school in Ozone Park, Queens, during my childhood. He was known to be kind and understanding. Years later, he performed our wedding ceremony there in 1986 and, coincidentally, passed away on our anniversary.

I met Father Pizzarelli in junior high school when he was still “Brother Frank” at SMGH. My grade made our holy confirmation under his guidance where we forged unbreakable bonds between our classmates. We were challenged to “dare to be different” as we make our way through life, and we all took that very seriously. 

I’m happy to know that these two extraordinarily compassionate faith leaders were able to spend many years working and supporting each other. Their work has been a blessing to those in need and an inspiration to many more.

Father Fitz will be missed and I feel fortunate to have known him.

Joan Loscalzo Dickinson

Lake Grove

Setting the record straight: the real story behind West Meadow Beach cottages

I would like to address John Hover’s response to my letter to the editor regarding the West Meadow Beach cottages [“Gratitude not complaints,” Aug. 8, The Village Times Herald].

While Mr. Hover is entitled to his perspective, his characterization of the cottage community as one of privilege and exclusivity is not only inaccurate but also deeply unfair to the families who cherished this place for generations.

The cottages at West Meadow Beach were not the domain of the privileged or politically connected. They were a special place for ordinary families who built memories and passed down traditions. To dismiss their attachment as mere privilege is to overlook the genuine love and dedication these families had for West Meadow Beach, whose loss is profound and personal. What’s truly strange and sad is the lack of appreciation, compassion and sensibility toward the pain caused by an extreme and unnecessary legislative action led by political activists, contrary to the narrative used to justify their actions. More troubling is the fact that these people are still doing victory laps two decades later, without any appreciation for the history.

Originally private property, the land at West Meadow Beach was settled in the 17th century as part of the larger Setauket settlement, one of the earliest communities on Long Island. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, West Meadow Beach had become a popular area for summer cottages, where families built seasonal homes and enjoyed the natural beauty of Long Island. Over time, the Town of Brookhaven began acquiring this land, and by the mid-20th century the cottages were on town-owned land leased to families under long-term agreements.

However, starting in the 1960s and 1970s, legal battles emerged over the ownership and use of the land, often framed as environmental concerns. While some pushed for expanded public beach access, which could have been a reasonable compromise, the political activists were not satisfied. They pursued the complete removal of the cottages, pushing for the land to be reclassified as public parkland, which paved the way for the destruction of the cottages. This reclassification was achieved in 1996, when the New York State Legislature passed legislation under the guise of environmental preservation.

However, the true intent of these activists was not to protect the environment but, in fact, to destroy the cottages. This represents a clear case of political lawfare and abuse of office as the actions taken were not for the public good but to satisfy their political agenda. This counters the narrative that the cottages were occupied by a well-connected elite when, in fact, it was the well-connected activists who orchestrated this outcome. Yet somehow, Mr. Hover suggests that those who lived in the cottages should be “quietly grateful” for the time until their land was seized.

The scarcity of these cottages should not be mistaken for exclusivity. Anyone who was interested was eligible to secure a cottage for a modest price. This was not a community of elites but of everyday people who found solace and joy in a simple, beautiful place.

It’s important to remember that the value of heritage and tradition cannot be easily quantified. The families who occupied these cottages did not view them merely as their property but as a legacy, a connection to the past that is increasingly rare in today’s transient, Airbnb-driven culture. The cottages, unlike the opulent mansions in neighboring Old Field, were humble homes that provided a retreat for everyday people. The families who occupied the cottages were stewards of this land, not exploiters of it. Contrary to the false narratives used to justify the actions taken, it’s about more than land — it’s about losing a place that held the stories of their lives. The loss was not because they felt entitled to it, but because a beloved piece of their history was taken from them.

The cottages were rare and precious, and the people who loved them were not motivated by privilege, but by a deep connection to the community and their family heritage.

Jen Schaedel

Stony Brook

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Why ‘divisive’ hits the mark

Art Billadello objects to the word “divisive” headlining a TBR news article [Aug. 1] about the gigantic “In Trump We Trust” sign put up on a building at the main intersection of Port Jefferson, right across from the ferry terminal. He ignores the obvious: Of course a sign like that is divisive.

This was not a campaign sign. It was put up in January 2020, immediately before President Joe Biden’s [D] inauguration and shortly after the attack on the U.S Capitol sparked by the lie that former President Donald Trump [R] hadn’t lost the election. Some 20 feet long and some 3 feet high, it was displayed on the building’s second story balcony. It took our national motto, “In God We Trust,” and swapped out “God” for “Trump.” How is that not divisive?

When I moved to this area over 35 years ago there were no political signs outside of election season, let alone a gigantic sign erected in the middle of town three months after the election, implicitly claiming God-like status for the losing candidate. All that changed after 2016. After that election was over and Trump won, his flags and banners didn’t come down. They remained prominently displayed throughout his entire term. Then, when Trump lost in 2020, the Trump flags and banners still didn’t come down after the election. Why is that? What is the purpose of this other than to provoke and inflame division within our community? It’s not exactly the kind of thing expected of a good neighbor. It expresses the opposite of what unites us.

As for the letter writer’s attempt to draw a false equivalence between Trump and Biden as equally divisive, it’s just more gaslighting. The Biden administration passed the first major infrastructure bill in decades with bipartisan support, in spite of opposition from the extreme left and the extreme right. Trump, on the other hand has trafficked in race-baiting and ethnic stereotypes, hurled childish and vitriolic insults at his political opponents, and refused to disavow the most extreme and violent of his supporters, even to the extent of refusing to condemn their threats to hang his own vice president for performing his constitutional duty.

David Friedman

St. James

Local Dems put politics first

During interviews with TBR, several local Democrats could barely hide their excitement over the change at the tippy-top of their party’s ticket [“Local Democrats see new political energy and interest after Biden withdraws,” TBR News Media, July 25].

John Avlon said, “People are excited to be a part of something bigger than themselves.” Dems are becoming “fired up” about their political prospects. 

Steve Englebright was especially upbeat: “Everybody who I’ve talked to is energized. … I see the ascension of a Democratic candidate … who is a woman of color, a woman of substance, in terms of her accomplishments, as validating the idea that women are equally ready” to serve in any political office.

Hitchhiking on that idea, Rebecca Kassay added, “I’m energized and inspired to be running with our first potential female president.”

Suffolk County Democratic Committee campaign manager Keith Davies saw all this as a “great opportunity for local candidates to not have to worry about exciting Democrats.” Davies also added those running won’t have to spend much time fielding questions about President Joe Biden’s “cognitive abilities.”

All that uncontested “happy talk” was weeks ago. Missing then and, as of this writing, missing now, is any substantive talk of policy from the two candidates atop their ticket.

Both the vice president, Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Tim Walz, currently remain basically mute regarding specifics on how they’d manage inflation, illegal immigration, two wars started on their party’s watch, growing antisemitism especially on college campuses, fracking, police funding or restarting ICE “from scratch.”

The aforementioned, a partial list of important issues, does not include Harris’ 2019 call for ending private health insurance.

Campaign staffers trying to “walk back,” some would say flip flop, on her more extreme and unpopular positions are a poor substitute for answering probing questions in her own voice.

But, perhaps the most troubling part of the interview was Davies’ apparent relief that Biden’s “cognitive abilities” may no longer be a pesky political liability. The implication, in this time of multiple global existential crises, is that the fitness of POTUS is off the table. This, despite the fact that Biden’s significant cognitive disabilities remained purposely hidden, until after his awful debate. How then, without careful, unbiased scrutiny, could we know if the current president is fit to run our nation for the next six months?

It’s that kind of deliberate media incuriosity that has cost them credibility and gotten us to the point where unchallenged partisans can put their politics first, and celebrate muted candidates, with little fear of blowback.

Jim Soviero

East Setauket

The community we love

Every Saturday, my husband Bill and I head for the Rolling Pin Bakery at the Three Village Plaza in East Setauket to load up with goodies. This Saturday, when we entered the store, the manager called us over and surprisingly gave us an envelope with a $20 bill in it. 

It was found on the floor last week. They looked at the security video and lo and behold … it was us!

The point of all this is that it is really satisfying to know that we live in a community with such honest and caring people.

Thank you to the staff at the Rolling Pin Bakery. You made our day as uplifting as those raisin scones.

Patricia Martin

Stony Brook

Errors in Joseph ‘JOJO’ LaRosa Foundation article

I want to bring your attention to two errors in the recent article that was published about the Joseph “JOJO” LaRosa Foundation golf outing on Monday, July 29 [“Celebrating the life of JoJo LaRosa,” The Village Times Herald, Aug. 1].

The first being at the beginning of the article where you refer to our foundation in parentheses as “Forever JoJo Strong.” This is not accurate. JoJo’s father — and our dad — has a separate foundation with that name. JoJo and I’s parents are divorced and therefore made two separate foundations. 

The second error that needs to be corrected is when you refer to “JoJo’s dad” based on a comment by my mom Gina. In the interview she said, “my husband” when referring to the person JoJo used to play with at St. George’s Golf and Country Club and that is because her husband is JoJo’s stepdad, not his father. As I mentioned above, JoJo’s father is not married to my mom and has a separate foundation from JJLF.

I do apologize for the confusion, however, these are very important errors that need to be retracted or revised.

Emily LaRosa, Vice President

Joseph “JOJO” LaRosa Foundation

Editor’s note: We regret these errors and thank Emily LaRosa for bringing them to our attention.

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Poor choice of word

The word “divisive” in the headline of your article regarding the “In Trump We Trust” banner in Port Jefferson (TBR News Media, Aug. 1) is misleading. It infers that the banner indicates former — and, hopefully, future — President Donald Trump (R) is “divisive.” I’m sure that the papers wouldn’t have used the word “divisive” in the headline had the banner stated the name of the actual divider-in-chief currently occupying the White House.

Art Billadello

East Setauket

Gratitude not complaints

Jen Schaedel’s long, angry letter (“Unjustified dismantlement of West Meadow Beach cottages,” (TBR News Media, Aug. 1) is a classic case of the aphorism, “When you’re used to privilege, equality feels unjust.”

Whether the nearly-free early-1900s waterfront property leases were favors for the politically connected, or just gross municipal malpractice, giving away perpetually renewable rights to valuable public property for private use was always a violation of basic American principles.

Good-faith debates could be had over the proper fate of the buildings. But, the idea that leaseholders deserved to renew the leases forever was always morally indefensible, regardless of how wholesome the community was. So it is shocking to see anyone still defend it, let alone portray themselves as victims.

Rather than complain about public officials reclaiming public property for public use, all the people lucky enough to have been associated with the cottage community over the years should, instead, be quietly grateful for the decades of cheap, exclusive use of land they didn’t own.

John Hover

East Setauket

Brother, can you spare the MTA $15 billion

Port Jefferson Branch LIRR riders should be concerned that MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said he will take Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) at her word — when she promised to restore the $15 billion she cut from the transit agency’s $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan due to her pause of congestion pricing — is wishful thinking on his part.

Hochul continues to not provide the financial source for her $15 billion. She has kicked the can down the road until the next state budget is adopted — nine months from now.

In 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and the state Legislature, instead of providing hard cash, gave the MTA congestion pricing. This was supposed to raise $15 billion toward the MTA 2020-2024 capital plan. Albany’s financial watchdog, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D), said nothing. With real cash, virtually all of these state-of-good-repair projects would have already been under way.

Hochul claims she can find additional state and federal funding to make up for the missing $15 billion in congestion pricing. The MTA will receive $1.8 billion in annual formula grants supplemented by competitive discretionary grant program allocations from the Federal Transit Administration in federal fiscal year 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024).

Other than these resources, there are no other FTA pots of gold to cover the missing $15 billion previously accounted for from congestion pricing.

Clearly Hochul and her staff, who advise her and ghost write her speeches, have little understanding of how Washington funding for the MTA works. When it comes to MTA financing, Hochul reminds me of the old cartoon character Wimpy. He was fond of saying, “I’ll gladly pay you on Tuesday for a hamburger today” — or in this case $15 billion worth of MTA capital transportation projects tomorrow.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL 

We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

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Photo by Raymond Janis

Unjustified dismantlement of West Meadow Beach cottages

I am writing in response to last week’s article concerning the new West Meadow Beach sign which memorializes the cottages that once stood there [“New West Meadow Beach sign evokes old controversy,” The Village Times Herald, July 25]. Like the sign, the article fails to reflect the more nuanced story of the West Meadow Beach cottages and their significance to our community. As someone deeply connected to this community, I must address the misrepresentations and the devastating loss we have suffered.

Steve Englebright [D-Setauket], the former state assemblyman [and current county legislator], has shown himself to be a disgrace. Even if his story from his 20s about landing on the beach and being chased away were true, his relentless pursuit to remove the beach cottages was an abuse of his office. Englebright’s personal crusade and the narrative he and his associates crafted used circumstantial evidence to paint a false picture of a community that I knew intimately.

The beach cottages were not the domain of a privileged few but a bucolic community of families who created memories and contributed to the fabric of Stony Brook. Englebright’s claim that “most of the people of Brookhaven Town were denied access to their own public land” is simply untrue. Instead of addressing a genuine community concern, he pursued a personal agenda with the help of a few local activists who exploited his political influence to achieve an extreme outcome.

Herb Mones, of the West Meadow Beach Advisory Committee and one of the privileged homeowners behind West Meadow Creek, pursued a hateful agenda rather than working with the community on solutions. His group started the first legal challenges against the cottages in 1991, resulting in rulings that public parkland didn’t belong to private interests. This act has torn a hole in our marvelous town and demonstrated a cruel use of legislation to destroy a special place for so many. Rather than seeking an alternative zoning plan to balance access and preservation, Englebright and his cohorts chose destruction.

Today, the strip of land where the cottages once stood is a barren wasteland, neglected and unprotected. The community that once thrived there is gone, and the town is poorer for it.

Englebright’s defeat from his Assembly seat is a small consolation, but he should be further removed from any position of power. His version of events starkly contrasts with the experiences of many other town residents. My stepfather, for instance, was welcomed and rescued by the cottage community when his boat ran ashore. Similarly, I witnessed my late father coming to the aid of a pilot who crashed his lightweight aircraft on the beach. We welcomed the pilot into our home, shared stories, and my father helped him repair his aircraft.

Englebright’s defensive claims and narrative paints a very different picture than The New York Times story from 2004 [www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/nyregion/long-island-journal-cottages-at-west-meadow-beach-face-end.html] reflecting a community of caring residents who became legislative victims. Nancy Solomon, a folklorist and executive director of Long Island Traditions, rightly pointed out that the bungalows reflected local architectural tradition and that tearing them down was a loss of history. George Barber, president of the Brookhaven Bathing Association, feared that the removal of the cottages would lead to the beach becoming a garbage dump, which we now see happening.

If there is to be a second sign, it should inform the community of Englebright’s abuse of office and the destruction of a cherished treasure of the Three Villages. He and his cronies should be ashamed of themselves, and their actions will not be forgotten.

Jen Schaedel, Stony Brook

Editor’s note: Our front-page story covered the erection of a new sign at the beach and was not a detailed history of the cottages controversy, which was still discussed.

An alternative view of the West Meadow cottages controversy

Last week’s Village Times Herald article, “New West Meadow Beach sign evokes old controversy,” reminded me that it’s been 19 years since the beach liberation. 

Back then, our local newspaper was besieged with letters, including those from owners who promised dire consequences if the cottages were razed — arson, crimes, drugs, pollution and increased traffic. I was one of the people who wrote letters arguing that they must come down, and that the beach be returned to the public.

I thought back to a Brazilian trip where all the beaches were accessible to the public. No hotels or houses were built along the waterfront. A local explained to me that such building was illegal because beaches belong to the public, not the wealthy, would-be homeowners.

Here on Long Island we have a system where, generally, people of means reside on the waterfront and the rest of us share the places that remain public. The West Meadow Beach cottages were one of the worst examples of beachfront land abuse, because it was rented at a discount to those who “voted correctly.” And, yes, I was approached by more than one cottage owner who menacingly advised, “We know where you live.”

A champion of the beach reclamation was Herb Mones who first brought the issue to the taxpayers. And Steve Englebright will always be considered a heroic figure to me because he risked his career against overpowering odds and personal threats in order to do the right thing.

The dire predictions never materialized. No arson, crime, crack houses or increased traffic — just less sewage. It’s a joy seeing people taking that beautiful, serene walk on our peninsula, which is slowly evolving back to its natural state. 

Bruce Stasiuk, East Setauket

Horseshoe crabs need our help!

To readers of this newspaper there is good news about horseshoe crabs but your help is needed.

Legislation to prohibit the harvest of horseshoe crabs has passed the New York State Assembly and Senate (A10140/S3185-A) and awaits action by Gov. Kathy Hochul [D].

Please take a moment to urge her to sign the bill into law. You can do this by either:

1.  Calling her office at 518-474-8390.

2.  Sending a letter of support to:

The Honorable Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York State

New York State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

3.  Going to this website: www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form and type in a comment in the message box.

We have never been closer to stopping the killing of tens of thousands of horseshoe crabs —NYS regulations allow baymen to kill 150,000 annually for bait — and your voice is needed.

Horseshoe crabs have declined significantly over the past several decades and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission earlier in 2024 determined that New York’s horseshoe crab fishery is in “poor condition” — the only state along the East Coast with this troubling designation. 

This poor condition is borne out by our personal experience: Who over the age of 50 doesn’t remember our bay and harbor bottoms once being filled with these iconic animals? This species, known as a living fossil, plays a vital role in the coastal ecosystem with their eggs being eaten by a number of migratory shorebird species, including the red knot which is protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. Their eggs are eaten by many fish species too and the adults are consumed by sea turtles, also listed and protected in the Endangered Species Act. 

There are bait alternatives baymen can use that have proven effective. Over the past 25 years about 3.6 million horseshoe crabs have been killed for bait. It’s time that New York joins our neighboring state Connecticut, which recently enacted a statewide ban on the taking of these living fossils and stops the slaughter. These fascinating animals deserve better. We call on Gov. Hochul to sign the ban into law. It is vital the governor hears from the public by expressing your support for the ban. Please contact Gov. Hochul today!

John Turner

Four Harbors Audubon Society

St. James

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