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Riverhead Town Board candidates square off at News-Review debate

James Wooten
James Wooten

Is the town in need of a new justice court? Where do you see the ideal location for a justice court if so?

James Wooten: “Absolutely. I’d like to see it moved to the armory. I think it’s a great location to have the police and the court complex up there. It’s a matter of dollars and cents, so we’re looking at how we can best fund it. The town has been on notice since I was a court officer. That courtroom is woefully inadequate for the amount of volume that goes through there.”

Neil Krupnick: “Yes. We need a new court. From what I’ve heard, it’s so inadequate that victims have to pass in the hallways with their perpetrators. Clearly something needs to be done about it. As far as the location, the armory does make sense, but obviously, this is something we need to look into because it’s going to be yet another big item on the budget and right now, we’re broke.”

Tim Hubbard: “There’s not a courtroom in America where victims don’t pass their perpetrators in the hallways. That’s just the way buildings are made … Justice court is in need of some help. Do we have the money to build the facility up at the state armory? No, we do not. The initial estimates came in somewhere in the area of $13 million … They’re offering the idea of doing night court one night a week. That will free up some people during the day and court will be less crowded … I will say about court right now: it is a severe safety issue the way it is currently set up. There are more court officers needed seven days a week in that building.”

Laura Jens-Smith: “We do need a new justice court and we do need to address this issue. This is not my area of expertise, and I would not know how we would adjust it at this point. But if I don’t know the answer, I will look into the town assets that we have, I will do my homework and find the best solution and present it to my fellow board members. I understand any decisions we make would have to be made within the confines of budget and safety.”

Neil Krupnick: “Jim said this is a problem that has been going on for years since before he was on the Town Board, so what has the current board done to deal with this problem? Everything seems to come up right now that it’s election time. They should have been talking about this and coming up with a good plan, and maybe if they had more income, we’d be in a position to get a new courthouse. But as it is right now, $13 million — it’s just not going to happen.”

James Wooten: “We have done a lot … We have a lot more security in the courtroom now than we used to have. Meeting with the judges and getting them to adjust their calendar, with night court or spreading the calendar out so they have less volume in there at any one time — that would be a good idea to do, too.”

Closing statements

Neil Krupnick: “Thank you all for coming tonight. I believe there’s a clear choice to help Riverhead get back on its feet. You can go with business as usual or you can go with a fresh perspective and fresh ideas. Business as usual means the bickering, deals that benefit friends and families instead of the taxpayers, a board overstuffed with ex-police officers — and how’s that been working out? It’s time for a change. I’ve said this before: the issues in this town are neither Democratic nor Republican; they’re Riverhead issues. And yet for six years, five people in the same party couldn’t even agree with each other to get things done. The ex-chairman of the Republican Party even wrote an editorial on how they couldn’t work across the aisle. What aisle? I’ll work for the best interests of Riverhead. And we all know that tax breaks without a clear benefit to our citizens are not in our best interests. We all know that turning a blind eye to clearcutting and illegal sandminig is not in our best interst. We all know that turning down solid income opportunities and raising our taxes instead is not in our best interest. Our opposition, the so-called Party of the New Leadership, is offering the town the same policies as the old leadership and then some. With this “new leadership,” we’ll get someone who thinks building a 15-mile gasoline pipeline from Northville to Calverton will be exciting for Riverhead. No. It will only be exciting for the billionaire who reaps all the profits while Riverhead reaps nothing in return. We’ll get 600 houses at EPCAL, which will further burden our school system. We’ll get five-story apartment buildings downtown with no vision, no plan and no consideration for parking. I see this election as being about our past, present and future. We must respect the past, but also learn from our mistakes. We must deal with the present, especially as it pertains to our financial affairs. But we must not jeopardize the future by making deals and decisions that will adversely affect future generations. This town needs serious people who have the energy and commitment to making Riverhead the best it can be. You deserve a board that is engaged, that respects all of our taxpayers and respects our quality of life. I promise I will work for you and with you to turn this town around.”

Tim Hubbard: “Throughout the debate process, Mr. Krupnick stated several times that this should not be a popularity contest. He’s right. The selection should be based on electing the person who is best suited for the job. I’m sorry if Mr. Krupnick feels that I am more popular than him, but this is not middle school. My popularity in this town is based on the amount and quality of public service I have performed for this community over the past three decades. I use my role as a police officer for over 32 years to gain this community’s trust and to prove to all of you that I really care about the people of Riverhead. As director of the police athletic league, I provided hundreds of children with the opportunity to come together and learn the value of teamwork, personal determination and discipline. As a school board member, I was able to keep taxes affordable and pass budgets for our children’s educational benefit. My work on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES advisory board created a school weapons policy that made our schools safe. The Democrats think that diversity is needed on the board. I agree. And I will tell you that although I was a police officer, I am not to be confused with current or prior members that shared the same career path. I am Tim Hubbard, and I have my own unique approach to serve this community as its next Town Board member. Riverhead doesn’t need a fresh start from two individuals who the only thing fresh about them is that they are new to Riverhead. Mr. Krupnick is a producer from New York City whose only involvement in the town is that he opposed United Riverhead Terminal. Ms. Jans-Smith’s only connection to Riverhead is through a technicality: she technically lives in Riverhead, but only by a few feet, yet her children attend Mattituck schools where she serves on the Mattituck school board. If you think Mr. Krupnick and Ms. Jans-Smith are truly a fresh start, then you don’t believe what I believe: that Riverhead deserves better.”

Laura Jens-Smith: “I want to serve as your next town board member because, like you, I care about the future of this town. I’m tired of the empty promises, poor planning and mismanagement. This town needs a candidate who will provide a vision and a plan for our future. The Republican vision for the EPCAL subdivision is over 20 stores along Route 25 with IDA tax breaks plus over 600 homes. To me, it sounds a lot like Tanger West at the taxpayers’ expense. The Republican vision for Route 58 is the continued overdevelopment as stores within parking lots are approved while shops behind them are closing left and right. My opponents praise the tax relief provided from the buildout on Route 58, but the reality is the tax relief provided to you is only 58 cents per day, and the increase is offset by the costs of police, infrastructure and the traffic we need to endure. Oh, and by the way, you’re all aware that this year, we’re having that 5 percent tax increase. Jim, Tim and Jodi call themselves The New Team, yet Jim has been serving for eight years, Jodi has served for six years and Tim has the same police resume as two sitting board members. The New Team: they cannot even get that straight. My opponents would like you to believe only someone who has been here for generations can be a true hometown leader. But I believe all members of this community who choose to call Riverhead home are equally important and are entitled to have a voice in this community and its government. I believe to be a true leader, you need to be passionate about making a difference. You need to be willing to school yourself on the issues, and you need to do your homework and be prepared to make the tough decisions required to benefit this town, not just the popular or convenient decisions. You need a town board member who is proactive, not reactive to the challenges we face ahead, and I believe I am that candidate. It’s time for a fresh start in Riverhead.”

James Wooten: “It’s been my pleasure to serve as your councilman for the past two terms. EPCAL is moving forward, despite what you hear. EPCAL has a subdivision map, up to the DEC now for approval. It’s been a long road, and it’s not always an easy road. With EPCAL, you have to bring everyone to the table. With EPCAL, we’re poised well to move forward. I don’t know where they come up with 25 stores — there’s a lot of stuff being thrown out there that just isn’t true. 25 stores along 25 and 600 homes? Please. It’s all scare tactics. That’s not what we want at EPCAL — we want industry up there, we want technology up there. I want a place where my daughter has a place where she can grow and live in this town the way I did and the way my mother did. We do our research. This town today compared to what it was eight years ago — you’ve got to see it, you’ve got to feel it. Have you been down on Main Street? Yeah, Route 58 is a hustle and bustle, but you know what that is! I guarantee everybody who goes there to shop gets something sometime during the day. This town is moving forward. It’s a much better place than it was eight years ago. And yes, we pierced the tax cap this year, but it’s by two percent over the tax cap. And we finally have a levy that is absolutely is a flat tax, no more one-shots — I hated one-shots. Now we have a levy that we can absolutely budget. Everything that goes on at EPCAL, that will all go toward debt and toward tax relief. This town is moving forward and has been moving forward. We’re on a good path. Everything they said is what I said eight years ago when I ran.”

Top caption: Town council candidates (from left) Neil Krupnick, Tim Hubbard, Laura Jens-Smith and James Wooten. (Credit: Chris Lisinski)

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