Editorial: Equal for All - 27 East
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Sag Harbor Express / Editorials / Opinion / 1895348

Editorial: Equal for All

Editorial Board on Jan 30, 2020
There has been much clamoring recently about changes enacted last month to the state’s criminal justice system, most notably the elimination of cash bail for many defendants changed with nonviolent... more

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Once and for All

There’s an irony that Southampton Town officials might have the least power when it comes to the travel plaza featuring tax-free gasoline that is going up on Shinnecock Nation property in Hampton Bays — but also might be most at fault for the current situation. Neighbors are incensed that the nation is building the gas station off Sunrise Highway with seemingly little oversight. The Environmental Protection Agency has stepped forward to provide a framework for the sovereign Shinnecock Nation’s project, but also has allowed the nation to proceed mostly on pledges to follow EPA rules. A new development with thousands ... 4 Dec 2024 by Editorial Board

A Do-Over

Stop digging. That’s the best advice we can offer the Southampton History Museum. When you’re in a hole, recognize it and, if you do nothing else, don’t make it deeper. And there’s a hole, and it’s deep, and it’s time to think about climbing out of it. It was foolhardy to think evicting the Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery from the North Sea site owned by the museum, near where English settlers first landed in 1640, wasn’t going to land with a thud. Perhaps the hatchery could be a better tenant — there is fair concern about the sometimes disheveled state ... by Editorial Board

The Real Problem

Since the Shinnecock Nation cleared trees from the Westwoods property in the middle of the night in early February, the town has insisted on an approach of open dialogue and friendly communication with the nation. Since the summer, when the nation brought in large construction vehicles to build a road and dig trenches for massive gas tanks, residents have been asking what’s going on. Responses have reassured residents that the town is working with the nation and that things are okay. Since August of this year, when the town issued a stop-work order, there’s been no enforcement of it. The ... 2 Dec 2024 by Staff Writer

Profound Impact

I had the privilege of volunteering at Conscience Point Shellfish for over three years. This experience was instrumental in shaping my marine science career — and it’s deeply disheartening to think that future students might not have the same opportunity. CPS has made invaluable contributions to our community and ecosystem, and it’s frustrating that false claims have been made against their integrity. I first learned about CPS from my neighbor, a Community Supported Agriculture member and oyster enthusiast. As a high school student eager to gain experience in marine science, volunteering with CPS was the perfect fit. Every Saturday morning, ... by Staff Writer

Valuable Work

I support the work of the Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery and have not seen a degradation of the beauty of the walk to Conscience Point. My grandchildren continue to enjoy the walk to the point, as well as learning about the oyster life cycle at the hatchery and seeing the local wildlife. North Sea Harbor as it was in 1640 is gone forever, but the land owned by the Southampton History Museum and leased by the hatchery can still preserve natural beauty and support oyster farming. The importance of the filter feeding of the oysters is widely recognized as critically ... by Staff Writer

River of Misery

May I begin by saying that my response to yet another column by Carlos Sandoval [“For Whom the Bell Tolls,” Vistas, Opinion, November 28] is not meant as a personal attack but as a reaction to the platform this paper gives to its liberal columnists and the lack of same to those of us who would enjoy an alternative point of view. So, Mr. Sandoval: You begin with the liberal media’s delusional obsession with a Donald Trump dictatorship and his campaign promise to return countless illegal border crashers to their former countries. The nation made its choice in our recent ... by Staff Writer

Reassurance Needed

U.S. Representative Nick LaLota is a veteran who served in the U.S. Navy for eight years following his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. I think he should tell us what he thinks of Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Navy. Trump has picked John Phelan, a financier with absolutely no military experience, to run the U.S. Navy. Mr. Phelan is an investment manager, an art collector and a big GOP donor. He hosted a fundraiser for Trump at his home in Aspen, Colorado, this summer. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being a rich financial guy — ... by Staff Writer

Labor of Love

Representing the East End in the New York State Assembly for almost 30 years has been an honor and a privilege. Nothing has been a greater source of pride for me than to represent my hometown of Sag Harbor, where I have lived my entire life. I have spoken frequently about Sag Harbor and all the things that make it so special. At the top of the list are the people who live here who have been devoted to protecting the traditions and character of the village. It has been a labor of love to work with all of them ... by Staff Writer

Where and How

In 2015, the Suffolk County Department of Health was directed by the County Legislature (Resolution 245-2015) to inspect groundwater quality at the Sand Land mine operations. The study was delayed when the owner of Sand Land mine “refused to provide access, forcing the department to obtain a court order to move forward.” In the words of then Suffolk County legislator, Bridget Fleming: “The evidence shows significant negative groundwater impacts from the waste management activities occurring at the site, including manganese exceeding drinking water standards by almost 100 times, and iron by over 200 times, as well as elevated levels of ... by Staff Writer

Destroying an Industry

Mining began at East Coast Mines in 1953. My father took over excavation in 1973. I took over operations in 2003. Countless families have been supported by this mine over the last 70 years. These hardworking individuals have sat on your school boards, served in your local fire departments and coached our children’s teams. East Coast Mines has provided the materials necessary to pave our roads, pour our foundations and restore our beaches. The Town of Southampton is proposing to close all mines in the town within one year. The current proposal purports to be about groundwater protection. The director ... by Staff Writer