Riverhead

Sunk

Thank you for covering this story (“Sunken boat leaks fuel into creek,” July 9). The Timothy J was known to be sinking by a waterfront neighbor. Contacting the DEC and Coast Guard got your typical inadequate, protectionist, that’s-not-our-job response — due to regulations!?

The owner, unfortunately, was unable to properly remediate the situation, or it would have been done months ago. The Southold Marine Division, to their credit, recognized the boat was going to create havoc if left to sink, and was able to place five pumps to get her floating. In my opinion, the boat is in Southold Town, therefore the Town Board , but especially the supervisor, should have taken control, whether he is lead …or not. Strong’s Marine’s travel lift is no more then 2,000 to 3,000 feet away.

Understanding their hesitancy to get involved, the board and supervisor had the ability to convince one of the largest boat dealers/marina owners, with multiple local sites that can and will require town approval, to help. Unfortunately, this is now an environmental mess. The oyster farm off the stern is now in jeopardy and the problem is still unresolved.

I hold no grudge against anyone, but this is so indicative of our society and leaders .That vessel needs to be raised yesterday. Figure the money out after.

Daniel Birkmire

Southold

Thank you

In May, the Southold Conservation Advisory Council, town officials, Rewild members, master gardeners and local environmental organizations planted a garden with over 200 native perennials and shrubs. A deer fence was erected and watering capacity was provided to the site to protect the young plants. With town support and a generous grant for design and plant material from Rewild Long Island, this 700-plus-square-foot garden is ready to be seen by residents and visitors.

The town, from the supervisor and Town Board to the departments of public works, solid waste and highways, supported and helped move this project forward. DPW director Erick Haas and staff paved the way to delineate the location, clear the grass, top it with compost and pick up the plants for the garden, designed by CAC members and a master gardener.

The native plant garden promotes climate resilience, supports biodiversity, provides food and shelter to pollinators and wildlife, and serves as an example to the community of the beauty and benefits of a native plant garden.

We thank the town for its support and Mr. Haas, Dan Goodwin and Nick Krupski for making this garden a reality.

Carol Brown

Southold

First Amendment

The Secret Service visited a local farmer who displayed a 86 47 sign. Being beyond appalled is my natural state these days, but this one jarred me. A not so discreet message from our government.

The First Amendment allowed white nationalists to march in Washington, as well as it should. [But] I’ll bet they were not interviewed. For me, it energized me to order bumper stickers that say that, too.

I feel sorry for the men and women who joined the Secret Service to investigate counterfeiting of U.S. currency, bonds, and securities. Cybercrime including computer breaches, wire fraud, and ransomware attacks targeting the U.S. financial and telecommunications infrastructure. Identity theft, credit card fraud and telecommunications.

He rails about communism, but this is right up the Stalin playbook.

Rosellen Storm

Greenport

A vital civics lesson

With the ongoing discussion about paid parking in Greenport, our community is witnessing more than just a debate over policy. We are seeing an excellent real‑time example of civics in action — one that can help teach future leaders how local government works, and one that reminds current residents of the responsibilities entrusted to those who serve on the Village Board of Trustees.

Every issue that comes before the board, including parking, must be reviewed, discussed publicly and voted on according to established procedure. Trustees are required to ask questions, evaluate costs and benefits, consider long‑term impacts, listen to residents and work collaboratively before making any decision. This process is not only how good governance operates — it is also a civics lesson unfolding in real time.

For younger community members watching this discussion, it shows that leadership means listening, analyzing, engaging with others and acting with accountability. For adults, it serves as a reminder that village decisions are not made impulsively or in isolation. Trustees must weigh the needs of residents, businesses, workers and visitors, all while protecting the fiscal health and character of our historic village.

In moments like these, participation matters. When residents attend meetings, speak up, ask questions and stay informed, they help strengthen the democratic process and model civic responsibility for future generations.

As we continue this conversation about parking — and many others that will follow — let’s view it not only as a policy debate but also as an opportunity to learn, teach and reinforce the principles that guide our local government.

Mary Bess Phillips
Village of Greenport trustee

Mattituck

Someone special

On July 9, the North Fork lost one of its greatest native sons. Sean Gagen grew up in Southold and was a dear friend of so many who live here. I remember meeting him for the first time in our first-grade class in the little Peconic School and knowing right away that he was someone special.

Sean lit up a room with his presence and could make anyone laugh. Intelligent, witty, hilarious, Sean could talk to anyone about everything and could tell one heck of a story. Sean became the glue that united a group of North Fork teenagers that led to lifelong friendships and so many amazing adventures and memories for us. He had that natural talent that drew people in and made them want to know him. He could make children laugh and forget their worries and make adults feel young and excited about life again.

Sean was also bold and had a strong commitment to standing up and speaking out loud against the many injustices in our world, no matter how big or small. Although he traveled to so many parts of the world, he always came back to the North Fork. The hometown grip was strong; the saltwater of the bays and ocean flowed through his veins. I have never met someone who loved the land, the water and most of all the people who call this area home as much as Sean did. He saw the beauty in nature and in people, things most of us take for granted.

So whether you were blessed enough to know him like I was, or someone who’s just meeting him now through my words, I encourage you to take a moment, clear your mind, just listen to your surroundings. Soak up the joy and love Sean Gagen continues to bring to all of our hearts!

Jim Gilvarry

Laurel

The American Dream

My wife and I got married in 1968, in our mid-twenties. The one-bedroom apartment we rented cost 13% of our combined gross income. After two years, we bought a house in Port Washington. Today, most people in Suffolk County can’t find a house they can afford.

Those who believe in upward mobility and feel hopeful about the future are the people who were born somewhere else and chose to come here, not those who were born and raised here.

The American Dream is not something most people have given up on. They have given up on the idea that it belongs to everyone equally. That is a meaningful distinction, and it points directly at the failure that actually needs addressing.

The failure is that for decades, politicians have found it more useful to weaponize the American Dream than to expand it. They have changed it from a vision of what America could be for every person who lives here, into a talking point that wins primaries. People who believe the American Dream is achievable are harder to mobilize with fear than the people who believe it is a competition with a limited number of winners.

Charles Gueli

Riverhead

ICE in their veins?

The probable murder of Lorenzo Salgado in Houston by ICE puts local politicians on the spot.

How can Republican members of the Riverhead Town Board continue to tritely reaffirm their support for ICE and refuse to give serious consideration to the modest legislation drafted by OLA and former state senator Fred Thiele?

Are they waiting for a similar tragedy on the East End? Have they no concern for the 20% of the town’s population and the two-thirds of our high school students who are of Hispanic origin — some vulnerable to ICE marauders? Will Supervisor Halpin publicly challenge his colleagues’ position?

We know that Rep. Nick LaLota, taking a page from his boss in the White House, has threatened to withhold taxpayer funds from East Hampton and any other 1st District town that adopts the safety-oriented provisions of the OLA legislation.

Let’s compare the positions of Mr. LaLota and his opponent Chris Gallant on justice for Lorenzo.

It obviously matters whom we elect to Congress in November and, hopefully, as supervisor in Riverhead.

John McAuliff

Riverhead

Lopsided leadership

A rigid, authoritarian ideology of calculated exclusion has established itself at Riverhead Town Hall. True public servants look at vulnerable populations — like our hard-working Latino neighbors — and seek to ensure basic human rights, public safety, and legal clarity.

Instead, by stonewalling every attempt by residents and OLA to discuss a local safety framework regarding ICE, the Town Board sends a chilling signal to our entire immigrant community: You don’t belong here, and your safety is not our concern.

Our board members wield the ultimate authoritarian tool: systemic exclusion. They ignore eyewitness reports from rapid responders and pretend the terror felt by local families during unannounced immigration actions is a “created narrative.” This is xenophobia disguised as governance — an ideology that views human rights as a zero-sum game, where protecting an undocumented neighbor somehow diminishes someone else.

The forecast is unmistakable: ICE will be increasing both targeted actions and random raids in Riverhead. While we cannot prevent these federal actions, we can prepare for them. Yet, instead of preparing, the Town Board acts as if the coming storm will magically turn direction and spare our little town.

Right now, every time ICE shows up, town leaders nonchalantly hand over all the keys to our municipality. They cede all facets of our safety to the whims of armed federal authorities. They are abandoning the very definition of leadership. They have no plan for dealing with the fallout of ICE actions, no plan to mitigate civil financial liability, no plan to ensure seniors retain access to health care, and no plan to protect schoolchildren from becoming collateral damage of an ICE raid gone bad.

If our elected officials lack the basic humanity to ensure the safety of all town residents, then they lack the moral authority to lead. If they lack the conviction to plan for foreseeable crises, then they lack the organizational capacity to lead. At this critical moment, when true leadership is desperately called for, our elected officials are simply failing to show up.

Colin Tooker

The post Letters to the Editor: Sunk appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

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