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At Saturday’s community meeting, I provided an update on the options we are pursuing to compel the Army Corp of Engineers (ACE) to repair our damaged beach. I also shared the various strategies we have engaged in with the government agencies and elected officials who are positioned to engage and encourage the ACE. Since that update, more developments are worthy of mention, both positive and negative.
On the negative side, for those not on the island over the past two weeks, Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Ophelia have decimated our beach, as you can see from these photos. These same storms have also severely impacted other east end communities, including Davis Park and Ocean Bay Park.
On the positive side, here are several updates I can provide:
- Suffolk County and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), our local and state sponsors of the beach, have agreed this week to file another request for emergency repair of the Fire Island east end beaches. I have been in touch directly with officials from Suffolk County, the Town of Brookhaven, and the New York State DEC, who are in the process of taking pictures and completing surveys of the beach to capture the data that will support our new application for emergency repairs. I have assured them the Pines will do anything necessary to help their team gather the data they need. I would like to thank community members Josh Meltzer and Pei Pei Cheng de Castro for facilitating our relationship with Governor Hochul’s office and the New York State DEC.
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While working on the Pines Party with the National Park Service, I worked closely with Senator Chuck Schumer’s Long Island regional coordinator. Working with him and building on the NY Times coverage of our challenge in getting the ACE to repair our beach, we have been able to secure Schumer’s support of our efforts and emphasize this support to the ACE. Also helping from behind the scenes with the Senator was long-time community member and former DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias. Schumer’s letter was sent earlier this week to the Commanding General of the ACE. I can’t overstate how important this kind of support is in pushing forward our request for beach repair.
- In a parallel strategy with our other U.S. senator, I had a meeting this week organized by another long-time community member, Joe Conforti, with an aide to Senator Gillibrand. Joe and I received a pledge that Senator Gillibrand will also support the emergency repair and send a letter to the ACE as early as this week.
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Finally, as I reported at last weekend’s community meeting, one of the outcomes of the recent FIPPOA Political Action Committee event held earlier this month are these letters written by Town Supervisor Ed Romaine advocating for the Pines and other Fire Island communities located within Brookhaven. Ed sent these letters to all three of our federal elected officials (both Senators + Congressman Garbarino) and two senior leaders at the ACE based on our request.
I am heartened by the support of our efforts from all our elected officials, local and state government agencies, and always amazed by those in our community who have reached out to me to offer their personal contacts to help further our cause. However, we must be realistic that for all the support we have secured, getting the ACE to put sand back on the beach, as they are obligated to do, is still a big lift, with an uncertain outcome. I will keep you updated on any further developments.
Henry
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