Letters to the Editor

HAUPPAUGE

Way off base, again

Once again the TimesReview Newsgroup has published a factually inaccurate editorial based upon information that was one-sided and unbalanced.
We complained several weeks ago about an editorial written without the newspaper having first contacted our office to get our side of the story, which would have corrected some of the inaccurate facts upon which it built its editorial.

It’s déjà vu all over again.

The latest editorial criticizes the county’s new law that allows for millions of dollars to be infused into the building of sewers and improved septic systems to clean our environment. Incredibly, the editorial sought to analogize the county Legislature’s approved resolution to the behind-the-scenes bookkeeping maneuver implemented by East Hampton officials that took money from the community preservation fund. The two have nothing to do with each other. In East Hampton, the budget officials’ bookkeeping changes shifted money from the preservation fund into the general fund to show more cash available in one fund as opposed to another.

In Suffolk County, the amendment to the quarter-penny sales tax program was done in the light of day after public hearings, a vote from the Legislature and vetting from the county attorney, counsel to the Legislature and the major environmental groups across the county. In fact, environmental groups such as the Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment and The Nature Conservancy helped draft this bill that the editorial is panning.

Gadfly Dick Amper once again stands alone in trying to shout down a worthy county program. He does not speak for other environmentalists who were fully on board with this proposal. Mr. Amper was lying when he said that money is being taken from open space funds or clean water funds. No money was taken from the open space fund. These monies were specifically segregated in the current quarter-penny sales tax program for sewer rate stabilization, not open space.

It was discovered that there is so much reserve in this fund that we can stabilize rates for all sewer residents throughout the county for the next 20 years and still have hundreds of millions left over. The environmentalists and county Legislature agreed that it would make far more sense to use it for the construction of sewers and upgraded septic systems today, rather than keeping this money idle for the next 20 years.

This is actually cleaning our water, contrary to Mr. Amper’s ridiculous politicized statements and the uneducated and unbalanced ideas floating in your editorial. Some of the money is also being used to defease county debt which is an appropriate thing to do since this was money that was intended to aid in mitigating people’s rates in the first place.

We respect your right to criticize things you disagree with, but we must reiterate our concerns that these factually inaccurate editorials are being written without you having done your homework or at least giving the opportunity for the other side to be heard.

Steve Levy

Suffolk County executive

RIVERHEAD

He makes a nice sammich!

The owner of Farm Country Kitchen took an eyesore on West Main Street and transformed it into a diamond in the rough! It seems as though he is being punished for making an investment in Riverhead and succeeding. I’m guessing he did not get a tax break for his project and no county grants to create his restaurant. He took a gamble and invested his time, sweat and money in the American dream. Give the guy a medal!

Is there really a parking problem? I don’t have any problem parking in the area. Any reported accidents? Is street parking on West Main Street illegal? Are the residents of West Main Street complaining?

Riverhead supervisor/Wading River attorney Sean Walter is urging owner Tom Carson to move to East Main Street. If only Mr. Walter were as successful at his supervisory duties as Mr. Carson is at making a nice sammich.

Perhaps we’ll see a new signature sammich on the Farm Country Kitchen menu named after our supervisor: It would be called “the double dipper,” steak & pork panini with two dipping sauces.

(Back in the day there were TV ads for Levy’s Jewish Rye bread. A NYC deli counterman was creating a pastrami sandwich using Levy’s bread and commented: “It makes a nice sammich, a nice sammich.”)

Thom D’Angelo

RIVERHEAD

We have to move on

’Tis the season for politics. I open the News-Review to see a full page ad from Mr. Cardinale seeking to regain his old job. And in a news article he states, “Hopefully we can get more Democratic voters out for that vote,” in reference to the general election. Here we go again; politics as usual. How about being bipartisan? Do what’s best for the town, not the party.
Mr. Cardinale points to the shutdown of the old rail station’s food program, but he forgot to mention the town taxpayers were paying for its maintenance and now the program is based out of the Salvation Army building.

He cites the termination of a fire marshal and hardship to the former worker’s family, but he forgets to mention he proposed to terminate 13 911 dispatchers; at the time there was no mention of their impending hardship.

He cites the ”improper” inspection at the Wading River Motel. If those same families got hurt because of health hazards, who would be blamed? It’s called enforcing the laws on the books.

I respectfully state that Mr. Cardinale had 10 years to accomplish his proposals. But what we got was 10 years of vacant buildings in downtown, a failed theater, the Youngs Avenue landfill mess and don’t forget the indoor ski mountain. In Mr. Walter’s two years in office more businesses are in downtown, The Suffolk Theatre is finally moving forward, there’s more smart business development on Route 25 to increase the tax base. Mr. Cardinale, you had numerous chances; let’s move forward not backwards. By the way, I do not know either gentleman personally, only publicly.

Rich Park

AQUEBOGUE

Outlandish property

The “dream home” on Meetinghouse Creek in Aquebogue is a nightmare for neighbors.

Property owners have the right to create a home as they wish, but did this one take into account the tranquility and tasteful properties that share this beautiful waterway? Clearly not.
The neighbors hate this house and are offended by the noise and circus grounds on the waterfront. When did Town of Riverhead let a residence turn into Club Med? Why would Times/Review feature this outlandish property which has so destroyed the peaceful nature of our community?

Marita Franzman

JAMESPORT

How can you overlook $250K?

With local officials’ discovery of $250,000 owed to Riverhead Town, its beyond all comprehension just how the town’s bookkeeping can allow such a large amount to be lost for three years.

Yet when it comes to spending the taxpayers’ dollars these same elected officials have no trouble finding $500,000 for yet another consultant to study the further demands for industrial and commercial property at EPCAL.

Yet instead of looking into how and why this money went missing in the first place, these same elected officials are more concerned about patting themselves on the back over the fact that it was found. It’s amazing how our elected officials think — especially with elections coming in a few more weeks!

Thomas W. Smith

RIVERHEAD

Support appreciated

The volunteer men and women of the Riverhead Fire Department would like to thank all in the Riverhead community who donated to our current fund drive. Your support is both needed and appreciated. Our volunteers are part of the community and provide an extremely important service to you when needed most; your donations show that you recognize this.
The dedicated volunteers in our department spend many hours responding to alarms and training, drills, meetings, work details and other activities to maintain their proficiency in keeping lives and property safe in our community. This coming month we will participate in fire safety training for the children in our elementary schools.

Your generous support to the fire department allows us to continue many of our community-sponsored functions, such as fire prevention for kids, sponsorship of a Little League baseball team, a memorial scholarship fund, our annual open house, recruitment and various other training sessions not covered by the district.

If you have not given yet, we urge you to donate to our fund drive. You can contact us online at riverheadrfd.org. To make a donation, click on the PayPal logo.

Our open house event is scheduled for Sunday,, Oct. 2 and all are welcome. We will have demonstrations, activities for children and refreshments. Thank you again for your donation and your continued support.

Nicholas Luparella

Chief, Riverhead Fire Department

CALVERTON

Armory good for PD

It may have gone largely unnoticed, but Governor Cuomo’s decision recently to sign into law a bill that ceded the armory on Route 58 to the Town of Riverhead will benefit taxpayers — and, importantly, safe neighborhoods — tremendously.

Riverhead is already the fastest-growing town on Long Island and, as it continues to grow, the men and women in Riverhead police blue will need a police headquarters equipped to meet the 21st century challenges ahead. A separate police headquarters, centrally located on Route 58 and free from Town Hall political interference, is a step in the right direction.
Taxpayers can now receive the benefits of a new police headquarters without having to pay millions. All residents will see the benefits in shorter response times. But it goes even further than that.

The Riverhead Police Department is not yet a New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services-certified, accredited police agency. As a result, Riverhead residents pay a higher insurance premium for our police force. The armory will go a long way to enhancing public safety and the professional standing of the Riverhead Police Department. As a homeowner, taxpayer and  a retired certified police instructor, I know first-hand the significance of this development.

The Riverhead Police Department deserves better, and this is a good first step.

Marlando Williams
candidate for Town Council
Editor’s note: Mr. Williams is a retired state police trooper.