Representatives of unions, education associations, school funding advocates and government watchdog groups gathered in the State Capitol yesterday to call for the passage of legislation, pending in both chambers of the NYS Legislature, that seeks to prohibit industrial development agencies from abating school district taxes. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the Riverhead Central Faculty Association was among the participants. Their president Greg Wallace took the podium to talk about impacts of tax breaks locally.
“Between 2014 and 2021, the Riverhead IDA has awarded more than $23 million in tax breaks for proposed developments throughout the town of Riverhead,” Wallace said. “The diversion of these funds has created an extreme fiscal burden on the school district by directly impacting the services we can provide to our students. Last year alone, $2.7 million was diverted from the Riverhead Central School District by the Riverhead IDA, whose members are appointed and not elected,” he said. John Kane, executive director of Reinvent Albany, said study after study shows that tax subsidies do not work. He pointed to a report Reinvent Albany published last year, “Debunked: 25 Major Studies Showing Corporate Handouts Do Not Work.” It specifically debunks the idea that corporate subsidies drive job growth and good jobs, he said.
A proposal to develop a new Westhampton Community Center on Old Riverhead Road is under review by the newly seated Southampton Town Board. Town Supervisor Maria Moore said this week that the board, which has three new members, including herself, would be taking a hard look at “all available options and whether the current location is the most appropriate for all the services we seek.” Tom Gogola reports on 27east.com that the facility under review is a former auto dealership and restaurant that was purchased by the town in 2020 for $4.1 million through a bond authorization and in a process championed and led by now-former Southampton Town Councilman John Bouvier. The building already has a sign in front of it announcing it as the new home of the Westhampton Community Center while it awaits the arrival of numerous contractors who would repurpose the facility. In an e-mail response to 27east.com, Moore said, “As would be expected upon taking office, the current board is doing its due diligence in reviewing all the capital projects and evaluating them in the context of our priorities.” Supervisor Moore said the board will further discuss the project at work sessions and meetings over the next few weeks..."most likely before our next board meeting on February 13.”
Sag Harbor’s annual HarborFrost is this coming Saturday. HarborFrost is a celebration of winter in Sag Harbor highlighting two extreme elements—fire and ice! Featuring live ice carving demonstrations, ice sculptures along Main Street, live music performances and indoor children’s activities. The festivities culminate Saturday night with the stunning Fireworks by Grucci display off the end of Long Wharf. There’s something for everyone! Spend the day shopping and dining in Sag Harbor —“We are OPEN for business!” exclaims the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce. The action starts Friday night with the Taste of Sag Harbor kickoff party at the Sag Harbor Cinema. For further info click here.
A wave of dread hits Jenny Lilja whenever her landline phone rings in the middle of the night. Lilja, the general manager and executive chef of The Hedges Inn in East Hampton, said she has come to expect who's calling: Village police with news that another vehicle has barreled into the historic inn. Joe Werkmeister reports on Newsday.com that it's happened eight times in the last decade, according to The Hedges Inn manager. Some were direct hits, others took out fencing and landscaping, she said. The last two incidents, on Jan. 15 and in November 2022, have sparked a renewed push among East Hampton Village officials to find a solution. Mayor Jerry Larsen and police chief Jeffrey Erickson acknowledged the problem has been going on for years. It's no secret to anyone in the village that the inn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and features 14 rooms and a restaurant, is in a precarious spot at 74 James Lane. Drivers heading east on Route 27, the main artery for traffic, reach a traffic light in East Hampton Village where there's a T-intersection. To continue east, drivers must make a left turn onto Main Street. The inn sits about 75 yards directly beyond the intersection in the path of any vehicles that inadvertently continue straight. During the day, normal traffic conditions typically prevent drivers from speeding and missing the turn, Chief Erickson said. But at night, “the runway’s open,” he added. Mayor Larsen said the village plans to hire a traffic engineer at its next meeting to study the location and advise the board on possible solutions. Changes to Route 27, a state road, require approval from the New York State Department of Transportation. But, Stephen Canzoneri, an agency spokesman, said Tuesday that state transportation officials aren't aware of any safety issues at the location.
The Town of Islip is moving forward with a contract that will allow analysis and testing of chemical contamination at Long Island MacArthur Airport, which was declared a state Superfund site last February. Brianne Ledda reports on Newsday.com that the agreement with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will allow the agency, along with the state Department of Health, to proceed with a more thorough investigation of the site, a step that’s required before clean-up can begin.
As owner and operator of the airport, Islip will be responsible for covering the cost of cleaning up contamination at MacArthur — a price tag yet to be determined, according to the DEC.
Last year, the DEC confirmed it found perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, "at levels that exceed applicable standards."
The site was listed as a possible Superfund site in 2018 over concerns that past use and storage of perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, a chemical found in firefighting foams used at airports, could have contaminated drinking water supplies.
The substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they don’t break down easily, have been linked to immune system problems, cancers and other health impacts, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Officials from town, environmental and water quality agencies repeatedly have said public water in the area is safe to drink.
Once the agreement is finalized, the Town of Islip will submit plans for the investigation and public participation to the DEC and Department of Health for review.
Residents may register for regular updates on the clean-up process on the DEC website.
LTV Studios and the Eastville Community Historical Society will celebrate Black History Month by hosting two educational live multimedia lecture events this February. LTV and Eastville will host two programs at LTV Studios, 75 Industrial Road in Wainscott, both free and open to the public. The first presentation is this coming Saturday at 7 p.m. on Groundbreaking Black Comedians. It will showcase Godfrey Cambridge, Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory, Flip Wilson, Nipsey Russell, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, and Eddie Murphy. The Sidney Poitier Story is the second program - set for Sunday, February 25, at 7 p.m. For more information, go to LTVeh.org.
The management and board of directors at SYS recently decided to serve a timeout to the group of pickleball players who routinely show up at the facility off Majors Path in North Sea for open play on weekday mornings on the indoor multi-purpose rink. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that an email sent on January 23 stated that “due to ongoing issues and behaviors by pickleball participants, the SYS Board of Directors and Management has decided to suspend open pickleball play from Wednesday, January 24, to Monday, February 5.”
The SYS-run pickleball league, which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, was not suspended and will continue to play.
During the suspension of open play, the email informed participants that SYS would be “reassessing the pickleball times, usage and code of conduct,” and would send updated information and policies out to members shortly.
The email warned that if the inappropriate behavior continued after the resumption of open pickleball play, the pickleball community “would be at risk of losing court time permanently.”
SYS Executive Director Scott Johnson said the main reason for the temporary suspension was “for everyone to have a chance to reset and have a chance to reassess why they come here.” (I.e. – A Time Out.)
Johnson said he had received multiple complaints from his staff members about the behavior of the pickleball players. “To have my staff verbally abused on multiple occasions is unacceptable, especially from adults,” he said. He did not elaborate on the specifics of the alleged verbal abuse.
“My first job is to protect my staff,” he said. “Without them, there is no rec center. We’re all blessed to have this 65,000-square-foot facility, and we should all be thankful.”
And play nice with each other.