outside his residence on Post Avenue in North Bellport on June 15 A North Bellport man shot and killed his neighbor one day after being outed for having social media interactions with a 14-year-old girl in June 2022 a Suffolk prosecutor alleged during opening arguments at trial Thursday is accused of gunning down 28-year-old Lee Houpe on Post Avenue one day after Houpe alluded on Facebook to messages Smith allegedly sent to Houpe's teenage cousin after seeing her in a park Assistant District Attorney Veronica McMahon told the jury seated before Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei in Riverhead McMahon accused Smith of telling the 14-year-old they could "be friends until she turned 16," after she told him her age "What does everyone think about a 28-year-old talking to a 14-year-old?" McMahon quoted from the post Houpe made on June 14 which included a screenshot of the alleged exchange between the man and child McMahon said Smith "outed himself," however when he began an argument with Houpe in the comments section of the post [Smith] executed [Houpe] in front of his childhood friend's home," McMahon told the jury "All Lee Houpe had in his hand was a cigarette and a cellphone." Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy Smith is charged with second-degree murder and two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon who is trying the case alongside fellow Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro said Houpe was pronounced dead within minutes of arriving at Brookhaven Hospital having been shot three times in the head and neck twice in his hands and arms and once in a thigh before being pistol whipped across the face by the 9 mm handgun While the shooting was not captured on video motion-activated home surveillance footage did capture Smith and his brother arriving at the scene in separate vehicles moments earlier and the commotion as witnesses rushed to help Houpe a friend of Houpe who lived at the home where the shooting took place Defense attorney Jonathan Manley told the jury that video evidence and a 911 call will be key in that it proves Rich who allegedly later told police Smith was the shooter Did you see who did this?' " Manley told the jury "You know what [Rich's] answer was Manley said Rich first accused Smith in the shooting two weeks later and no DNA evidence will be presented at trial McMahon said Smith did not obscure his face during the daytime shooting and a vehicle shown arriving at the scene was registered to his girlfriend Police would end up chasing Smith's brother as he drove erratically from the scene at more than 100 mph while Smith discreetly drove away in the girlfriend's car The prosecutor said a cellphone Smith was carrying left a "breadcrumb trail" that places him at the scene of the shooting before immediately fleeing to Newport News Manley asked the jury to consider the logic of investigators believing the shooter would drive away calmly while his brother leads police on a chase Manley also said the crime scene evidence is "unreliable," telling the jury dozens of people immediately approached the area where Houpe was shot the ambulance couldn't get there," the defense attorney said McMahon said a Facebook executive will testify to the authenticity of the social media messages sent the day before the shooting and neighbors will describe what they saw happen on that sunny afternoon in North Bellport "[Smith] told [Houpe] the reason he decided to end his life that day," McMahon told the jury "He told him it was because of a post on Facebook." Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months 2025 at 9:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}​Arson Squad detectives are investigating a fire that broke out at a North Bellport home on Monday morning NY — Arson Squad detectives are investigating a fire that broke out at a North Bellport home on Monday morning The fire broke out at the Taylor Avenue home at around 8:30 a.m. and the residents inside escaped to safety with no injuries The American Red Cross said five people from the single-family home were helped after the disaster Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 7:34 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A pizza delivery person was robbed of their cell phone and some cash in North Bellport on Sunday night NY — A pizza delivery person was robbed of their cell phone and some cash in North Bellport on Sunday night The person was making a delivery on Michigan Avenue at around 8:25 p.m. when they were approached by two males who said that they ordered the pizza They ended up making off with a cell phone and some cash The delivery person was not hurt in the robbery It is the latest robbery of a delivery person in recent months On March 1, a pizza delivery man for The Pizza Shoppe was also robbed while making a delivery in North Bellport Then on March 8, a delivery man for Papa John's in Patchogue was robbed apparently at gunpoint co-chair of the Greater Bellport Coalition Plans to refurbish a North Bellport park and the hamlet's train station are among more than a dozen proposals competing for a $4.5 million state grant designed to help revitalize the community according to an official who will help select the winning bid About 20 proposals from developers and nonprofits were submitted as part of a state-sponsored community redevelopment aimed at adding affordable housing and creating jobs a state economic development official who co-chairs a committee of local officials and residents reviewing the plans upgrades for the hamlet's Robert Rowley Park and refurbishing the Long Island Rail Road station State economic development officials are expected to select the winning bid later this year or next year following a monthslong process that includes public workshops at which residents can inspect and comment on the proposals The winning project will become part of a Brookhaven Town effort to revitalize North Bellport's downtown an industrial neighborhood that residents say lacks basic amenities such as grocery stores Many residents are tired of seeing their children and grandchildren move away because the area lacks housing and job opportunities “They move to other places after we pay the taxes and put them through the school system,” said Crawford In July, Brookhaven officials and Hauppauge nonprofit Long Island Housing Partnership announced plans for 32 single-family homes each with a one-bedroom accessory apartment North Bellport's $4.5 million grant was one of three awarded to Long Island communities earlier this year as part of the state's New York Forward economic development initiative Brookhaven Councilman Michael Loguercio said the proposals included "some wonderful projects that are giving people exactly what they’re asking for It’s going to bring in jobs," he said "It’s going to keep people from leaving there." Morgo said the North Bellport committee will decide on Oct 28 which proposal to submit to state officials He said the state grant is intended to act as a "catalyst" for economic development acknowledging that $4.5 million likely would fund only a small project Tuesday's meeting will include presentations on each of the proposals Separate discussions will focus on plans for Robert Rowley Park as well as on sidewalk and lighting improvements who co-chairs the Greater Bellport Coalition with Crawford "If they had more benches and more trees A 44-year-old Bellport woman was driving a 2007 GMC Envoy northbound on Post Avenue when she apparently suffered a medical event and the vehicle struck a bicyclist crossing the road just before 2 p.m. was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue in critical condition and the woman was also taken to the hospital Two passengers in the GMC were not injured The vehicle was impounded for a safety check Fifth Squad detectives in Patchogue are investigating The North Bellport crash was the first of three serious crashes over about 15 hours in eastern Suffolk County. A 41-year-old Shirley man was seriously hurt in a two-car crash in North Patchogue at around 12:35 a.m. Police are also investigating a hit-and-run crash in Bohemia Anyone with information about the North Bellport crash is asked to call 631-854-8552 2025 at 5:48 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Chinese food delivery man was robbed in North Bellport on Feb NY — A Chinese food delivery man was robbed in North Bellport on Feb The man was approached at a location on Montauk Highway by two males one of whom waiving what appeared to be a gun at around 9 p.m. 2025 at 3:46 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Arson detectives are investigating a fire that broke out at a home in North Bellport on Tuesday afternoon NY — Arson detectives are investigating a fire that broke out at a home in North Bellport on Tuesday afternoon It started at the Brookhaven Avenue home at around 2 p.m. Further details were not immediately available NY — A brush fire broke out in North Bellport Thursday night It started in a wooded area on Montauk Highway and Doane Avenue by Dunkin at around 9 p.m. A tract of land just south of the Boys & Girls Club in North Bellport will soon give way to 32 new single-family homes — each with a legal one-bedroom accessory apartment Each home will be sold to first-time homebuyers through the Long Island Housing Partnership Community Land Trust program.  “Back when I was president of the Housing Partnership no one believed that North Bellport would be revitalized overnight,” said Jim Morgo the state-appointed co-chair of the New York Forward North Bellport Local Planning Committee under Town Supervisor [Dan] Panico’s administration it is clearly committed to continue making North Bellport the best community it can be.” — tap to read their full story — North Bellport is one of two Long Island neighborhoods previously granted $4.5 million for downtown improvements through the state’s New York Forward Initiative for revitalization purposes that’s helping in the building efforts “The Ecke Avenue development creatively combines affordable home ownership and rental options,” Morgo said The new homes will be going up on Ecke Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Montauk Highway on parcels that have been over the years acquired by the Housing Partnership through purchase or with the help of town condemnation They are expected to be completed sometimes in 2027 The efforts come as a partnership between the state which are combining resources and grant money to undertake the project “The people of North Bellport have a friend supporter and advocate in their town supervisor,” Panico said “I have made it a priority to help create a better tomorrow and better future for the communities in Brookhaven that have faced substantial issues for far too long This new housing will complement our past and future efforts and will be by no means our last Whether it be true transit-oriented development and revitalization in the area we are making real differences for the people.” Brookhaven Town Councilman Michael Loguercio said the development will provide for affordable homes and help create jobs which he said is all “paramount as we strive to find ways for residents to live and work in the community that they wish to remain in and not have to move out of state just because their own neighborhood has become unaffordable.” The Housing Partnership is currently preparing a budget as the project’s cost is not yet known along with an RFP (request for proposals) for potential developers The goal is to have shovels in the ground in the fall of 2025 Top: Stock photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash Tap here to see what’s happening Every product is independently selected by editors Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission not really part of Fire Island but also separate because of this very literal gatekeeping Anyone can technically get to Ho-Hum by boat but only village residents and their guests are allowed on the ferry that goes there every day which happened to include Bellport mayor Maureen Veitch Veitch said she was “taken aback” by Panico’s statements during which Black residents stood behind him with signs that read “Ho-Hum for Everyone.” Mayor Veitch released a statement condemning the stunt and saying Panico was “obsessed” with Bellport Panico has promised to continue to fight Bellport in the courts Some villagers said Bellport needed to get with the times; others argued that they have access to the beach because they pay the higher taxes to maintain it One user continually speculated whether Panico was simply trying to add Ho-Hum as an “amenity” in his plot to increase housing development in Brookhaven Another Bellport resident called it “pure communism.” And still another put it all on Panico: “We are under attack by a rogue politician.” Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York 2024 at 9:24 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}No charges were filed in the crash NY — A Bellport woman died after she was struck by a tractor-trailer on the Sunrise Highway early Tuesday the incident took place in the westbound lane of the Sunrise Highway was walking in the right lane of westbound Sunrise Highway when she was struck by a 2015 Kenworth tractor-trailer She was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue Motor Carrier Safety Section officers performed a safety check of the Kenworth at the scene Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552 A third man has been arrested and charged with rape in the widely publicized disappearance of a 14-year-old Patchogue girl, who was found earlier this month on a boat docked in Islip, according to a Newsday report of Bellport is alleged to have picked up the teen outside her home about 5 p.m 9 and brought her to an abandoned house on Doane Avenue in North Bellport where prosecutors claim he sexually assaulted her over the next 24 hours Newsday courts reporter Grant Parpan wrote that Assistant Suffolk County District Attorney Cory Neunzig told District Court Judge Steven Weissbard at Harrell’s Jan 18 arraignment that the defendant is alleged to have parted ways with the girl about 5 p.m His arrest was based on a sworn written statement that the teen gave police The girl’s father had said publicly that she was recorded by surveillance cameras knocking on room doors at a motel near Long Island MacArthur Airport in the early morning hours of Dec Though authorities have not confirmed that information Editor’s note: In an effort to protect the girl’s privacy as the story surrounding her disappearance develops Greater Long Island is only identifying the youth as a 14-year-old girl from Patchogue Harrell is the third person to be charged in connection with the teen’s disappearance which ended when she was found on a boat docked in Islip on Jan was arrested the day after the girl was found on his 56-foot boat Prosecutors allege he had sex with the teen hours before her discovery denied the charges and stated that his client has cooperated with Suffolk police detectives since being first questioned by authorities on Dec Judge Weissbard set bail at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond with Harrell facing potentially 5 to 25 years in prison if convicted Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the circumstances surrounding the teen’s disappearance continue to be examined by local authorities Top photo: GLI file photo (Credit: Mike White) Brookhaven is allowing all town residents to visit Ho-Hum Beach on Fire Island — where for years only Bellport Village residents were allowed — in a bid to reverse a policy town officials said discriminates against minorities who live in neighboring communities The town on Sunday morning launched a free water taxi service — surprising village officials and upending decades of Bellport's exclusive use of the Fire Island beach The first town taxi departed Sunday from the same Bellport marina where the village runs ferries for its residents But the move outraged Bellport Mayor Maureen Veitch who said she was not consulted about Brookhaven's decision Tensions between town and village officials have been high since January, when Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico urged Bellport officials to open Ho-Hum Beach to all town residents. The village's rules were "absurd," he said, because they block residents of minority communities such as North Bellport from enjoying the beach prompting the launch of the 25-seat water taxi Panico said Tuesday at a news conference at town hall in Farmingville it was the middle of August," Panico said About a dozen town residents stood behind him holding signs with slogans such as "Free the Beach" and "Ho Hum for Everyone." Ho-Hum is reachable only by a village-operated ferry Only village residents or summer renters can ride the ferry to Ho-Hum Beach in a letter to village residents she shared with Newsday called the town's plan "misguided." She said the beach lacks sewer capacity and has only one lifeguard chair She also said it was unsafe for Brookhaven to launch water taxis from a sea wall at the village marina saying the wall "is really not safe for any boat." "I’m just puzzled about this as a solution," Veitch told Newsday "I’m not quite sure what the motivations are." Veitch said she was not sure what legal recourse the village had to stop the town boat trips Opening the beach to non-village residents can narrow at least some of the racial and economic divides in what Panico in January described as "one of the most de facto segregated communities on Long Island." Panico said the town had "annexed" Ho-Hum in 2018 The agreement allowed the village to retain control over the beach while opening it to all town residents "The town is not looking to invade the village," Panico said The Village of Bellport is affluent and mostly white whereas the hamlet of North Bellport is home to a much larger Black and Hispanic population Bellport's population of 1,844 is 97.5% white Census' 2022 American Community Survey The median household income in the village is $131,719 North Bellport's 10,530 residents are 64.1% white The median household income in 2022 was $89,026 who lives in Bellport but outside the village said she drives "two or three towns away" to visit other beaches even though she lives less than a mile from the Bellport marina "It was always a question in the back of my head why we don't have access," Grier-Key said in an interview "I'm disappointed in [the village's] response I'm disappointed in their exclusivity." The town water taxi can carry 25 passengers per trip as part of a pilot program to gauge interest in the service The town will pay $2,600 a day to provide four daily trips to and from the beach But Veitch said Brookhaven should direct its residents to other town beaches or to Smith Point County Park in Shirley Ho-Hum may not be able to handle additional visitors we’re not going to have the opportunity to put in a new septic [tank] there," she said "The facilities are just not ideal." People board the water taxi to Ho Hum Beach Passengers are expected to take a Brookhaven Town shuttle to the Bellport marina where they will board a town-chartered water taxi Shop windows along South Country Road in downtown Bellport are filled with T-shirts and trinkets bearing the name of Ho Hum Beach Village residents refer to the wind-swept stretch of Fire Island as But over the summer, Ho Hum's bucolic image was rattled when it became the focus of a turf war over who should have access to the 16-acre beach: Bellport Village residents or everyone in Brookhaven Town Town officials say Bellport's rules effectively bar most town residents from going to Ho Hum Beach and only allow village residents and their summer renters But Bellport officials say they are simply protecting the beach as a haven for village residents whose taxes pay for its upkeep hinges on complex legal issues involving land rights and equal access claims The issue may ultimately be decided in state or federal court said New York University School of Law Professor Roderick M who specializes in local government law and land use regulations Bellport has a "plausible argument" that its residents should receive preference at the beach but courts are more likely to side with the town They’re always trying to do it with beaches," Hills said You can’t discriminate against nonresidents.' "  Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said it is "troubling" to him that residents of neighboring North Bellport cannot visit Ho Hum via a ferry that departs less than 10 minutes from their homes Bellport's population of 1,844 is 95.7% white Census Bureau's 2022 American Community Survey North Bellport's 10,530 residents are 64.1% white Those figures tally more than 100% because respondents are allowed to identify with more than one racial or ethnic group Bellport Mayor Maureen Veitch has said the village needs to curb beach access because it has limited sewage capacity Veitch said she was considering a way to allow nonresidents to visit the beach on days when there are fewer crowds "I always like to keep an open mind and an open dialogue," she said "I think that’s smart for the town [and] smart for the village." Ho Hum Beach has been a bureaucratic paradox since 1963 when Bellport bought the property for $25,000 from Hattie Toffel of Lawrence and her business partner but the beach is outside the village's boundaries Ho Hum is located on the Fire Island National Seashore which includes all beach property on Fire Island along with the 613-acre William Floyd Estate in Mastic Beach That means Ho Hum is a public beach that should be open to anyone "It is open to everyone," said Alexcy Romero superintendent of Fire Island National Seashore a 26-mile stretch of seashore that the National Park Service manages He declined to comment on the dispute but said Ho Hum is "a national park Legal experts say Ho Hum should be accessible to all because It is part of the federal government's $2.1 billion plan to replenish the dunes and beaches from Fire Island to Montauk Point That's notable, experts say, because Title VI of the 1964 federal Civil Rights Act bars discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin at facilities that receive federal funding. Facilities can lose their federal funding if they violate the law according to the Department of Justice's website the Republican-controlled Town of Brookhaven hired former federal prosecutor and ex-Supervisor Mark Lesko said the town is "exploring all of our options."  The town is paying Lesko $350 per hour with no cap on his pay Lesko said the town has asked state Attorney General Letitia James to review the beach access issue said the office is "reviewing" the request Brookhaven officials say they are on solid footing for several reasons citing the federal parkland issue and a 2018 town agreement that requires the beach to be open to all town residents the town annexed — or transferred — Ho Hum to village control to resolve questions over whether Bellport could patrol its beach Bellport officials were unsure whether their code enforcement officers could patrol the beach because it was outside the village's boundary said he asked Brookhaven to help resolve the issue He had hoped to avoid calling in Suffolk County police to respond to issues at Ho Hum The town board passed a resolution in September 2018 formally placing Ho Hum in the village's legal jurisdiction, town records show. The state annexation law allows towns to attach uninhabited properties to neighboring villages when the property is otherwise outside the village's boundaries The town law also contained language that "assured" town residents would have "the continued use and benefit" of the beach That means the beach must be open to all town residents Fell said he "never saw" the beach access language and "didn't even know it existed." "It wasn’t the intention of the village of Bellport to open it up to [non-village] residents," he said "It was the intention of the village of Bellport to [have the town annex the beach] so we didn’t have to get Suffolk County police involved."  Panico, who was a town councilman in 2018, said he "insisted" on adding the language to the agreement. For years, he said he was concerned that North Bellport residents had effectively been barred from the beach Bellport officials concede that anyone can go to Ho Hum But the only ferry that goes there — the 47-seat Whalehouse Point — is owned by the village which restricts ridership to village residents their guests and summer residents bearing a village-issued summer pass The passes cost $525 per summer for up to two adults and three children and can be used at the village-owned golf and tennis club Bellport residents should have nearly exclusive access to the ferry The village spent $214,506 last year to operate the beach and ferry "You have to be a village resident" to use the ferry the staff over at the beach — fully funded by village taxpayers .. I’m not allowed to give taxpayers’ amenities away Town officials say the Bellport policy discriminates against North Bellport residents who live a short drive down Station Road to the ferry dock They can't go to Ho Hum unless a village resident has invited them Town officials say it's unreasonable to expect Brookhaven residents to walk to Ho Hum from other Fire Island destinations There are no cars or paved roads on Fire Island Town residents could pilot their own boats to Ho Hum but it's unlikely they'd be allowed to dock at the village marina there The ferry restrictions could violate federal civil rights laws Hills cited the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause which bars discrimination in transportation Brewington said the ferry restrictions are "ominously similar" to Robert Moses building low overpasses on the Southern and Northern State parkways that prevented buses carrying minorities from reaching Long Island parks "That creates an interesting dilemma with regard to the potential for limiting transit," Brewington said "It may actually raise a question of putting limitations on people’s ability to engage in free travel from one place to another in the United States." The controversy reached a boiling point on Aug 25 when Brookhaven chartered a water taxi to take up to 25 passengers per trip to and from the beach a total of $10,400 for five trips on four days in August and September Bellport officials responded by issuing three tickets to H2O Limo for allegedly using the village's marinas in Bellport and Ho Hum without a permit Brookhaven officials referred questions to H2O Limo which did not respond to requests for comment Bellport officials have declined to comment on potential penalties or when the company is due in court Some think Brookhaven and Bellport should negotiate a compromise Brookhaven NAACP president Georgette Grier-Key rejected the idea of charging higher ferry rates to non-village residents should be treated the same as the village's taxpayers "Why would that be fair to us when we’re already Brookhaven Town residents and we pay taxes?" Grier-Key said "I don’t think we should be penalized We should pay exactly what the village residents pay ." Town officials say Bellport is effectively barring town residents from accessing Ho Hum Beach Bellport officials say they are protecting the beach for village residents who pay taxes to maintain it but it is outside the village's boundaries which is managed by the National Park Service Bellport Village spent $214,506 last year to operate the beach and ferry 2024 at 8:31 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}One person was hurt when a vehicle struck a tree on Sunrise Highway in North Bellport on Thursday afternoon NY — One person was hurt when a vehicle struck a tree on Sunrise Highway in North Bellport on Thursday afternoon The crash took place on the westbound side of the highway at Horseblock Road at around 1:40 p.m. The person sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Long Island Community Hospital by South Country Ambulance Update: Town to pursue ‘all legal options’ to get non-village residents to Ho Hum Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico is following through on his inauguration promise to open up access to Ho Hum Beach on Fire Island to non-Bellport Village residents But Bellport Mayor Maureen Veitch is not pleased calling the town’s surprise move to start running its own ferry boats from Bellport Marina to the barrier beach “unconscionable,” in a letter she sent to Panico “Your plan creates a clear public safety issue,” Veitch wrote in the letter posted publicly to a village resident Facebook group She also said Panico made no effort to reach out to the village on the matter Many commenters in that same Facebook group insisted that since village taxes go toward maintaining the marina and beach those should thus remain village assets not subject to town interference or open to non-taxpayers Veitch also wrote that the ocean beach has limited capacity facilities and lifeguard protection that cannot support a large influx of new beachgoers there are nearby beaches with public facilities and infrastructure suited for larger crowds and more,” she further wrote on Facebook “Many of the arguments I have heard in opposition to this limited program are frankly quite absurd,” Panico said “We look forward to working to clear up that issue this week.” Village code enforcers issued a notice of violation to the town-contracted ferry operator, H20 Limo But she also said “through conversation It was posted to a village resident Facebook page The village issued a notice of violation to the ‘new’ ferry operator on Sunday at Bellport Marina Brookhaven Town has scheduled free ferries open to non-village residents on Aug. 25 and 27, and Sept. 1 and 8, with a total of seven round-trip runs over the course of the four days, according to this Instagram post published Friday Through the program, H20 Limo pulls a multi-passenger boat up along a dock at the Bellport Marina. The boat has space enough for 25 passengers, who must register ahead of time on the town website press and sought no fanfare,” Panico told Greater Long Island today “This limited program was simply about working to help other human beings enjoy this island who have a right to do so.” Other village residents posting to the Facebook group said Panico was “grandstanding” and seeking attention The stretch of Fire Island known as Ho Hum Beach — locally many also refer to it as Bellport Beach — was annexed by the village in 2018 This came at the village’s request and it was a move made possible by a Brookhaven Town Board resolution including Panico — who is in his first term as supervisor — have since argued the measure provided a stipulation that the beach be open to all town residents And in theory it is — or could be — but the only realistic way to access the secluded beach is via the Whalehouse Point ferry and on which it allows only village residents and their guests the village website currently reads that the beach “is only accessible by the Ferry and private boat and is open to residents and their guests,” which would imply non-village residents are not exactly welcome on the sand The overwhelmingly-white village shares a border with the hamlet of North Bellport which has a large population of black and Hispanic residents has been very public in his assertions that there is a racial component at play in keeping the village’s neighbors away from the beach “What I also find absurd is that the children of North Bellport do not have an easy means to which they can get to the barrier island,” he said, as reported by The Suffolk County News “I can’t imagine being a child … walking down to the Village of Bellport and not being able to get on the ferry “They are one of the most segregated communities on Long Island,” he added noting that he had hoped to work with the village in partnership to find a way for North Bellport residents to obtain access to the beach that the town might contract with its own ferry [The people of North Bellport] might not look like me or some of you in regards to skin tone—but we must be better as a community,” he had said Panico reiterated his points made in January telling Greater Long Island the town is “working to provide access for those who may have never enjoyed the simple pleasure of making a sandcastle on the beach.” He also said he pushed forward with his decision to open beach access to non-village residents after speaking with Jason Neal who is Black and who coaches the Bellport Chess Club Neal has been heavily involved in the North Bellport community for decades Neal and I spoke about this issue while playing chess at our Juneteenth Celebration about how he and others in his community might not even feel comfortable heading over because they feel unwanted,” Panico said “That’s not the Bellport Village I know and the unfortunate actions by some are in no way indicative of the good people who reside there,” Panico continued “The town and village have always worked well together The town provides lifeguards at Ho Hum and when the village needed help with new solar panels for the bathrooms and artesian well I immediately got on the phone with Chris Hahn from PSEG to try and help out.” Veitch stated on behalf of the village that “we routinely welcome non-resident guests to Ho Hum beach in collaboration with various groups chaperones and parents from the Boys and Girls Club [located in North Bellport] visited Ho Hum and had a great time “Meanwhile our neighbors at CEED [an environmental learning center in Brookhaven Hamlet] regularly schedule outings to Ho Hum that are safe educational and well attended for those who want to visit the beach as our guests,” she added She also questioned why town tax dollars are being used to support such efforts as the town also pays for a jitney bus to meet beachgoers at Bellport Middle School on Kreamer Street for ground transportation to the Bellport Marina “I’m not sure what he’s talking about when he talks about that,” referring to Panico but I think you’ll have to rely on him [to elaborate].” “It’s not about racism,” she added about the village’s ferry and beach policies “It’s an incorporated village.” She noted that while the village does open its kids’ summer camp golf club and tennis club to non-residents “the ferry is tricky because it’s so small.” “The capacity is limited and [Ho Hum Beach] has a small facility for restrooms She also said the village pays nearly $80,000 a year to the town for lifeguard coverage which includes a $4,000 administrative charge “But here’s what’s curious,” she continued I don’t think that many people signed up for it and I want that [Brookhaven Town] dump to go away I think we should collectively focus on what the actual needs and wants are for the residents of Long Island and Brookhaven Town.” Top: Passengers board the village’s Whalehouse Point ferryboat en route to Ho Hum Beach Sunday Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Long Island woman is facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly striking another woman with her car The Miracle Plaza parking lot on Montauk Highway in Bellport was indicted on multiple charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday in connection with an incident at North Bellport’s Miracle Plaza on Montauk Highway Mistretta was sitting in her driver’s seat when she got into an argument with a woman standing next to the passenger side at around 3:30 a.m Earlier Report: Coram Resident Intentionally Strikes Woman With Minivan In North Bellport, Police Say she got out of her car and got into a physical fight with the woman The victim was taken to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue with lacerations to her skull She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count 2025 at 8:52 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Medford woman was arrested after a search of the ground and air at a Mastic neighborhood where a swiped car was found on Monday morning NY — A Medford woman was arrested after a search of the ground and air in a Mastic neighborhood where a swiped car was found on Monday morning The scenario first unfolded at around 6:40 a.m at a home on Doane Avenue in North Bellport where a 2009 Toyota Corolla left running in the driveway was stolen The sedan was located a short time later without the driver on Poospatuck Lane in Mastic and patrol officers searched on the ground and the department's helicopter searched from overhead before finding Danielle Magee nearby Magee was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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Police at the scene of the incident at  Eastern Suffolk BOCES in North Bellport on June 24 A Brooklyn man was arrested Thursday in the hit-and-run crash that seriously injured two Eastern Suffolk BOCES employees in the parking lot of the North Bellport campus last month Following an investigation by detectives in the Fifth Squad was charged with two counts of first-degree assault aides at the Bellport Academic Center on Martha Avenue The two injured employees were taken to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue was treated for injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening Police said at the time that they were investigating the intent of the crash and could not say whether it was accidental or targeted McLorrain is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Friday Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS Bellport Village purchased a stretch of Fire Island across Bellport Bay for $25,000 remained outside of the land considered part of the incorporated Village of Bellport for 55 years explained Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico when the Town Board unanimously passed a resolution that allowed the village to annex the beach as part of its borders that the Town Board of the Town of Brookhaven hereby finds that the annexation of the aforesaid territory is in the overall public interest to the extent that the continued use and benefit of the subject property for the residents of the Town of Brookhaven is assured and the maintenance and responsibility for said property is assured by the Village of Bellport.” It was that language that Panico posted on an easel during a press conference at Brookhaven Town Hall on Tuesday in Farmingville Panico publicly said he was determined to open the beach to non-village residents of the town when the town started running its own water taxi from Bellport Marina to usher non-residents to the beach only villagers and their guests were allowed on the village ferry — the only realistic way to reach the barrier island The town’s contracted water taxi operation which holds 25 passengers and had scheduled two round-trip runs to Ho Hum that day was swiftly issued a notice of violation by village code enforcement the Town Board and the Town of Brookhaven is not looking to invade the Village of Bellport,” he said at Tuesday’s press conference All we simply asked for was a handful of dates for a program for the people of North Bellport (outside the village) to go over and enjoy the beauty of Long Island.” For her part, Bellport Village Mayor Maureen Veitch told Greater Long Island on Sunday — the day the notice of violation was issued — that unlike with the village golf club and tennis club the ferry is restricted solely to residents and their guests because it’s small with a limited capacity and because the utilities at Ho Hum Beach are not designed for large amounts of people and mentioned other ocean beach options for non-village residents to enjoy and more,” she said in a message posted to a Facebook group for village residents Veitch could not be reached on Tuesday via call or text message for updated responses, and Greater Long Island waited more than two hours before publishing this story without her remarks. But she issued this statement, in part, to News 12 Long Island: “Supervisor Panico has asserted that the Village of Bellport does not welcome non-residents to its beach Panico chooses media stunts over coordinating with village leadership and has not responded to my attempts to reach him to meet and work out a path forward docks and beach facilities are paid for and maintained by the village residents via additional taxes and fees We routinely welcome non-resident guests to the beach in a planned and safe manner such as the 40 members of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Bellport Area who visited the beach last week We regularly create opportunities for non-residents to use the beach in a coordinated and safe way “Bellport’s limited docks are not set up to accommodate commercial taxi companies When the Supervisor paid to bring water taxis to Bellport docks this past Sunday without notifying the village in advance he did not know that we had a paddleboard event that morning and young sailors out on the bay nearby Panico is putting politics over people and safety” Panico described all the reasons he’s been given from the village for not allowing small groups of non-residents to enjoy Ho Hum Beach as “absurd.” He also reiterated his charge that there’s a racial component to keeping the beach for village residents while emphasizing he called the press conference only after learning that a village trustee was loading up the town’s website with bogus water taxi registrations to thwart town efforts to bring non-residents to the beach he invited members of the minority communities of North Bellport — immediately north of the predominantly white village — to speak at the press event They stood behind him with signs that read “Ho Hum for Everyone” and “Free Our Beach.” “We have the right to go over [to the beach],” Panico said “We only simply sought to bring two handfuls of people over for a limited program a village trustee took it upon themself to go and undermine the program they feel it was done for a specific reason.” Among the people behind him was Tracy Todd Hunter of Patchogue who grew up in the Bellport area and currently serves as the president of the Brookhaven Town Branch of the NAACP “We stand behind the Town of Brookhaven in this fight to end this designed land-lock to people who look like me,” he said “We plan on doing everything in our power to put an end to this exclusion and hold everyone accountable we hope to participate in forthcoming talks on how we can achieve equity “I’m not sure what [Panico] is talking about when he talks about that but I think you’ll have to rely on him [to elaborate].” “It’s not about racism,” she added about the village’s ferry and beach policies I’m going to say something,” said Mark Burks who told Greater Long Island he and other Black people are not comfortable in Bellport Village He lives five houses north of the village border It’s also a village that some Black residents a lifelong Bellport-area resident who lives just five houses north of the village border says isn’t friendly to people of color pointing to the Ruth African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church which sits smack on the border of the village and North Bellport “We’ve been to Patchogue Village [to the west]; we have no problems there And then the Bellport police come driving around.” “It’s only fair,” he said of opening the beach to non-village residents “We all live in the Town of Brookhaven.” He also said he wasn’t concerned about speaking up I’m going to say something,” he said The town has retained former federal prosecutor and town supervisor Mark Lesko as legal representation Panico said he’s hopeful the town and village could work things out “the town is going to pursue all of its legal options to ensure that town residents have access to Ho Hum Beach,” Lekso said at Tuesday’s press conference He said it’s clear the Town Board’s resolution “has been violated.” “The town will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the rights of its residents including potentially filing a lawsuit,” Lesko said “Lastly we’re going to refer this matter to [New York] Attorney General Tish James for her review We believe that the village’s actions here violate substantial rights of the town’s residents and that the attorney general should examine what’s happened here to determine whether there have been any constitutional rights violations.” Check back at greaterlongisland.com for any updates Top: Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico at Town Hall on Tuesday A former student has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Brookhaven in connection with her recent cancer diagnosis Skye Dodge, 19, of East Patchogue, blames her thyroid cancer on toxic conditions at the Brookhaven Landfill Long Intermediate School in North Bellport Dodge attended the school from 2014 to 2016 The landfill stores ash from incinerators and waste from construction sites. Federal and state regulators have cited the company Covanta that uses the landfill for violating emissions and odor regulations Newsday reports the town has not found any connection between emissions from the landfill and adverse health effects trucks haul tons of waste from across Long Island through her 13-block neighborhood to be disposed of at the more than 160-acre Brookhaven Landfill Thomas led a march of two dozen Brookhaven Town residents and their children down Montauk Highway to urge the Town of Brookhaven to “close and clean up” the landfill in Yaphank Residents of North Bellport encouraged their community of color to join them at an Earth Day rally organized at Robert Rowley Park to talk about “environmental racism” in their neighborhood “We just want people to know here that the landfill’s existence is causing major health crises in our community,” said Thomas standing in front of a banner that read: “Dump the Dump.” said she has not always had the place to voice her concerns about the environmental and health impact of raising a family in this community She created that space for herself with the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group (BLARG) which she co-founded in 2020 amid a racial reckoning in the U.S The group calls for the immediate closure of the landfill — since 1990 one of only two remaining facilities on Long Island — and public engagement in regional planning for waste management in a way that unburdens communities of color like hers which will help inform planning by local governments which has been operating on an expired local waste management plan since 2009 Town officials were absent from the community’s Earth Day celebration and could not be reached for comment over the weekend clean water and we know that will only happen in this community when we step up,” said Abena Asare While the rally at the park grew to about 75 people Thomas and other demonstrators reflected on why some neighbors looked on from behind their screen doors and on the challenges that make environmental justice difficult to discuss within this community “I see about 75-80% Caucasians in front of me out here to fight for North Bellport injustices,” said Devon Toney you're gonna see nothing but African Americans sprinkled with some Hispanics.” said policies and practices on Long Island have historically disadvantaged communities of color by fostering distrust in civic engagement or making it difficult to participate in direct action heavy truck traffic and nearby industrial properties can create an environment where residents feel disconnected with their neighborhood She also points to health concerns including “low life expectancy rates due to high rates of cancer Nearly 30 lawsuits have been filed challenging the environmental and health impacts of the Brookhaven Landfill — the latest by the mother of a teenager who died from cancer believed to have been caused by exposure to landfill emissions while attending Frank P Fitzgerald also blames such exposure for 35 additional cancer cases in connection with the school since 1995 as well as health impacts to institutions within a mile of the landfill including a Suffolk County homeless shelter and Yaphank Correctional Facility “They're not keeping us safe in our community They're not keeping us safe in our schools and they're not keeping us safe at the jails,” Fitzgerald said In 2019, the state Department of Health issued a report finding no evidence of a cancer cluster in relation to the landfill’s proximity to Frank P In addition to environmental impacts on community health police misconduct and a lack of representation of racial diversity in local government make it difficult to create change in communities of color “We need to learn how to teach the culture — rewire our brain That's when we become a new person,” said Toney the founder of AIN’T (All Included N’ Treated) which advocates for social and economic mobility “Because the people who we look at now,” he said referring to the crowd of “white allies” in the park standing up for the community of color “that's not even the people we want to represent.” BLARG and other community groups are calling for the Town of Brookhaven to offer more ways to engage the public with additional hearings at varying times of day for people to attend around busy work schedules They also want more transparency in its plans for the landfill especially about the federal and state infrastructure and climate funding it could receive to help close the facility “We are here today standing in solidarity with all of these groups that isn't community,” Brookhaven NAACP President Georgette Grier-Key “We want you to remember to tell a friend to tell a friend that Black people the BIPOC community cares about our environment,” Grier-Key added and we care about the future of our children which includes having a viable place to live “I call it the garbage beltway,” Fitzgerald said drawing a perimeter around her community: down Montauk Highway It is overdeveloped in warehousing and trucks,” she said And then you have the pollution from the landfill … We're boxed in in this community.” the Town Board also approved additional funding to spend over $2 million in its next budget to manage greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill Town Waste Management Commissioner Christine Fetten has said that Brookhaven follows state and federal requirements for monitoring the air and groundwater testing from its landfill the town launched a contest to incentivize waste reduction A handful of winners would receive composting tumblers for home-use Fitzgerald, who helps to organize a composting program at North Bellport’s Chris Hobson and Bill Neal Memorial Community Garden said this was a lackluster response considering the town is over a decade behind on local waste management planning “We need real composting to be happening curbside and accessible to communities,” she said because at this present moment [...] we need the municipality to fund that.” The North Bellport composting program begins this season on Saturday The North Bellport community has opposed a proposed warehouse initiated by Ares Management Corp a major international real estate corporation The developer has approached the Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA) with a request for a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) arrangement the IDA delayed a motion on the PILOT proposal last month citing concerns that the developer had provided misleading information to the community the developer said during a Brookhaven Town Planning Board meeting in July that the warehouse would generate property taxes rather than needing the requested tax break The planning board approved Ares’ proposal to construct a warehouse at the southeast corner of Station Road and the Long Island Rail Road in Yaphank despite nearby North Bellport residents being concerned of the impact the development would have on their neighborhoods — and that these tax breaks have historically taken crucial property tax revenue away from their school district The full town board did not need to weigh in on the proposal IDA attorney Annette Eaderesto told the board on Oct 23 that she is worried the local civic groups and the school district were deceived so we have to have another public meeting?” asked Mitch Pally the CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute and a member of the IDA it’s really not in the purview of the planning board,” Eaderesto said “But they brought it up at the selling point of why they should approve that,” Eaderesto said school district officials and state lawmakers are taking a stand against IDA school tax exemptions In Riverhead its Board of Education wants the Riverhead IDA to be dissolved for “defunding their school district.” There are concerns over the impact of IDA’s tax exemptions on the school district with legislators considering bills to address these issues regarding revenue loss A bill in New York is also looking to ban IDAs from granting exemptions on school property taxes. New York schools lose more than any other state to corporate tax breaks — at least $1.8 billion in 2021, according to an analysis by the watchdog group Good Jobs First the South Country Central School District recently made over $2 million significant budget cuts “Will the BOE speak out against this exemption application to support fully funding for our children’s education?” Kerim Odekon wrote to the South Country Central School District on Oct Odekon blames the school district’s poor performance, in part, on a lack of funding due to corporate tax breaks. According to the data shared on Oct one-in-10 Black and Hispanic students passed the New York state math assessment for grades 3-8 Nearly 23% of Black students and 18% of Hispanic students passed the English Language Arts exam the average pass rate on state assessments for students enrolled in schools is 40% The Board of Education blames low participation in the state exams especially due to the large number of parents opting their children out of state exams post-pandemic more third graders (77%) took the math test compared to eighth graders (23%) “The South Country [Board of Education] has a golden opportunity,” he said “to convey its opposition to the IDA application extension for unnecessary property tax exemptions which defund our school district.” School Superintendent Antonio Santana said in a statement that he acknowledges the proposed warehouse distribution building within the district’s boundaries The school district is asking the IDA to reconsider the potential financial impact on the school district and its stakeholders its students or taxpayers may be achieved through this project the district requested the IDA’s assistance in obtaining such benefit,” Santana said The district is also concerned with the environmental impact of the project requesting information regarding omissions traffic and other potential adverse effects located nearby at the Northeast corner of Sunrise Highway and Station Road would include three buildings totaling 523,100-square-feet are supposed to be incorporated into the applicant's draft environmental impact statement that is required by state law for most new development eventually the logistics center is expected to support daily truck traffic Odekon is a member of the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group which has called on the school district to address similar concerns about the impact of emissions on students attending Frank P The facility is saddled in between industrial properties which has been cited for several air and water emissions in recent years Several lawsuits seek to close the Yaphank-based landfill and relocate the school — the latest from the mother of a teenager who died from cancer last year after alleged exposure to toxic emissions The school district does not comment on pending litigation told the IDA that they did not want to suggest that they would withdraw their application He emphasized that they rely on tax breaks to make the project possible “The commentary that I heard at the meeting today was that because of something we said about our taxes at our planning board public hearing that the PILOT we had applied for as part of our IDA application is in question,” Isser said “That was not our intention at all for what we testified to at our hearing.” Pally said the problem is that is not what the community heard “It gives the impression that you were paying full taxes because that’s what somebody said at the hearing you’re not because you applied for a PILOT if we grant the PILOT,” Pally said The IDA will make a decision regarding the extension of the developer’s application at its upcoming board meeting scheduled for Nov This story was updated to clarify that there are two warehouse projects proposed by Ares Management Corp in different stages of the approval process in the Town of Brookhaven; both are located near North Bellport Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who struck and injured two Eastern Suffolk BOCES employees Monday morning in the parking lot of the North Bellport campus The pedestrians are aides at the Bellport Academic Center at 350 Martha Ave. according to a statement from Eastern Suffolk BOCES chief operating officer David Wicks Police said the incident was reported in a 911 call at 8:36 a.m Police said the two employees were taken to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue was treated for injuries that police said were not life-threatening Police said they were investigating the intent of the crash and could not say whether it was accidental or targeted “Our thoughts are with our injured staff members and their families during this difficult time,” Wicks said Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS (8477) Complete your personal information for a more tailored experience for the best life sciences journalism in the industry By Nicholas St. FleurMay 22 The area of North Bellport on Long Island sits in the shadows of a massive landfill This predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood also has the lowest life expectancy on Long Island as well as the second-highest rates of asthma in Suffolk County Environmental activists do not think this is a coincidence and for decades they have waged a battle to shut down the Brookhaven Landfill which they believe is making their community sick about 720,000 tons of construction and demolition waste and about 350,000 tons of incinerator ash from across Long Island is dumped into the Brookhaven Landfill It’s a revenue source for the local government but a burden to the many people who live with its permeating odor and potentially dangerous health effects The town of Brookhaven had promised to close the landfill in 2024 but the community is skeptical and is fighting to shut it down now Some are also demanding remediation for the harm they say it has caused to the people of North Bellport the “father of environmental justice,” who calls the situation in North Bellport “a textbook case of environmental racism.” A transcript of this episode is available here To read more on some of the topics discussed in the episode: J.D. Allen has been doing some great coverage of the landfill:  Here are some other stories about North Bellport and the Brookhaven Landfill: This podcast was made possible with support from the Commonwealth Fund Nicholas St. Fleur covered the intersection of race, medicine, and the life sciences. He hosted STAT's health equity podcast, Color Code To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine 2024 at 10:42 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}New York State Secretary of State NY — The Town of Brookhaven was recently awarded $4.5 million from the state to help construct affordable housing in a mixed-use development that is accessible to the Long Island Rail Road in North Bellport which comes from the New York State Moving Downtown Forward will be used to “overcome inequities" and "strengthen" the community through the development of new affordable housing close and accessible to the LIRR station the creation of a mixed-use business district including both fresh food and financial establishments as well as building façade improvements and streetscape enhancements to improve pedestrian safety Kathy Hochul has committed $100 million each for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward with the state investing a combined total of $1 billion in both since their inception Supervisor Dan Panico traveled to Melville last year on the town's behalf for the North Bellport revitalization project and presented it before a state Empire State Development panel "Our commitment to ensuring land use remains locally controlled to our communities and to the people of North Bellport is long-standing and steadfast," he said "I believe the Governor has learned that local land use control is essential and trust that she recognizes the Brookhaven Town Board is committed to community supported revitalization and has the legitimacy to lead on this issue." and all those who saw the wisdom of investing in Brookhaven," he said whose council district includes North Bellport and is a tremendous help in moving forward with our promise to revitalize the area and help the good folks of North Bellport to live and work close to home." Thank you to Governor Hochul for her assistance and we look forward to working together on many more projects in Brookhaven town especially within the 4th Council District," he said Patch has reached out to the offices of Hochul and Romaine for comment "It is a process that began when I was supervisor and now Supervisor Panico will continue to fight for more funding from the state and federal governments to improve every community in the Town of Brookhaven," he said North Bellport was one of five communities Hochul said that through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward the state is investing in New York’s downtowns which are "the heartbeat of our communities." Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola will have the tools they need to reimagine their downtowns to enhance the quality of life for residents and spur economic opportunity throughout their communities," she said environmentalists and community groups want New York Attorney General Letita James to launch an independent investigation of waste company Covanta dumping toxic ash into the Brookhaven landfill A Newsday investigation of an ongoing whistleblower lawsuit showed that for several years Covanta Hempstead employees were uncertain that the waste they burned into ash for electricity was nonhazardous before sending it to the Brookhaven landfill It also showed the waste-to-energy facility’s state monitor omitted negative information from inspections “This thing has been 50 years in the making,” said Monique Fitzgerald co-founder of the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group “They could have closed this down when they said they was Because the community never wanted it here.” Her community formed the community group in 2020 to call on the Town of Brookhaven for the closure of the landfill it operates The landfill is scheduled to stop accepting construction and demolition debris by the end of 2024 but will continue to accept ash deposits for a few years until capacity is reached Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Panico had said he expects the closure to be in 2028 but the town has not responded to freedom of information requests to verify the facility’s capacity after seeing Covanta’s internal conversations obtained by Newsday Fitzgerald and her community in North Bellport which has a predominantly Black and Latino population again called for the immediate criminal investigation and closure of the landfill “We want results,” echoed the few dozen community members and their children behind her Brookhaven NAACP President Georgette Grier-Key said Covanta “We should not be doing their jobs,” Grier-Key said fire them all because nobody's doing their jobs The state monitor assigned to Covanta Hempstead has since died the commissioner of the state Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) said while he “can’t yet speak to what happened during prior administrations,” his department is investigating the Brookhaven landfill and Covanta facility “We are taking seriously information from a decade ago or more as it comes to light during the ongoing litigation,” he said “We will take action to address any violations we find.” The state agency has an ongoing investigation into allegations of improper ash mixing and disposal of ash by Covanta Seggos credits his department for requiring both facilities to overhaul its ash handling and disposal to prevent odor and other offsite impacts to meet air quality and solid waste standards “There is no way that they can investigate themselves," Grier-Key said “They thought that we would go away and this would be swept under the rug.” “They are the ones that are the conspirators and they need to do something about covering each other's mess up,” she added the executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment said the North Bellport community has wrongfully shouldered the responsibility of documenting potentially toxic fumes and ash emitting from the transport and landfilling of waste “It was a serious situation that was completely and totally ignored by the DEC,” Esposito said nor Covanta Hempstead and its New Jersey-based parent company The company previously denied that any of the ash was proven to be hazardous “This is our lives,” Nicole Jean Christian the chair of environmental justice at the Brookhaven NAACP “Climate change and environmental justice are civil rights.” Smithtown-Kings Park to Receive $10 Million from Downtown Revitalization Initiative; Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola to Receive $4.5 Million Each from NY Forward Program Downtown Revitalization Investments are a Critical Part of the State's Comprehensive Economic Development and Community Growth Strategy $100 Million NY Forward Program Builds on Momentum of the Successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative to Support a More Equitable Downtown Recovery for New York’s Smaller and Rural Communities Traducción al español Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Smithtown-Kings Park as the Long Island winner of the seventh round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative as well as Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola as this year’s Long Island region NY Forward winners For Round 7 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative each of the state's 10 economic development regions are being awarded $10 million to make for a total state commitment of $100 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods Building on the momentum of the successful Downtown Revitalization Initiative the $100 million NY Forward program adopts the same "Plan-then-Act" strategy as the DRI which couples strategic planning with immediate project implementation to support a more equitable downtown resurgence for New York's smaller and rural communities With the Governor’s commitment this year of $100 million each for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward the State has now invested a combined total of $1 billion in both programs since their inception “Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward we are investing in New York’s downtowns – the heartbeat of our communities,” Governor Hochul said and spur economic opportunity throughout their communities.” $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award for Smithtown-Kings Park The Town of Smithtown has already taken significant steps toward revitalizing Kings Park that will support Governor Hochul’s housing and economic development goals and catalyze future transformation through the DRI The Town has begun to make zoning changes in the DRI designated area that will allow for 300 more housing units and enable future development And the Town has applied for a Pro-Housing Community designation from the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal the County has begun construction on a sewer expansion project in the DRI area of Kings Park through $20 million state grant managed by the Environmental Facilities Corporation to support the Town’s vision to create a walkable mixed-use business district centered around the LIRR station with access to restaurants community space and new diverse housing opportunities Smithtown-Kings Park has been awarded $10 million in state funding and investments to revitalize its downtown neighborhood and generate new opportunities for long-term growth following the local planning process which were Long Island’s winners in the first six rounds of the DRI Smithtown-Kings Park will begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize its downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant A Local Planning Committee made up of municipal representatives community leaders and other stakeholders will lead the effort supported by a team of private sector experts and state planners The Strategic Investment Plan will examine local assets and opportunities to identify economic development and community projects that align with each community's vision for downtown revitalization and that are poised for implementation The Strategic Investment Plan will guide the investment of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will advance the community's vision for its downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state's $10 million investment Plans for the DRI's seventh round will be complete in 2024 $4.5 Million NY Forward Awards for Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola The Town of Brookhaven will use public/private partnerships to overcome inequities and strengthen the community through the development of new affordable housing close and accessible to the LIRR station; creation of a mixed-use business district which will include both fresh food and financial establishments; building façade improvements; and streetscape enhancements to improve pedestrian safety The Village of Mineola has taken significant steps toward reinvigorating its downtown in preparation for this NY Forward award The Village has engaged in thoughtful planning and supportive zoning changes to attract new businesses and people to the downtown which has helped create over 1,400 housing units during the last decade the Village will build on these important prior efforts by creating more public spaces in the downtown; developing vacant parcels into mixed-use buildings; and completing placemaking and pedestrian improvements Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola will now begin the process of developing a Strategic Investment Plan to revitalize their downtowns The Strategic Investment Plan will examine local assets and opportunities to identify projects that align with each community's vision and that are poised for implementation Funding will be awarded for selected projects from the Strategic Investment Plan that have the greatest potential to jumpstart revitalization and generate new opportunities for long-term growth We are investing in New York’s downtowns – the heartbeat of our communities” “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward programs are proving to be incredibly transformational for so many New York communities looking to reinvigorate and energize their downtowns These awards will provide the jumpstart needed to drive their revitalization efforts forward and improve their communities economically and socially The Department of State looks forward to working with you and seeing your progress “The Downtown Revitalization Initiative will breathe new life into downtown Smithtown-Kings Park by enhancing housing and job opportunities while transforming the area into a transit-oriented hub that will catalyze economic prosperity NY Forward mirrors our DRI efforts by rejuvenating smaller rural downtowns like Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola through strategic investments in affordable housing holistic plans for inclusive growth that will make a positive difference in the lives of Long Island residents and businesses.” Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said “Today’s announcement shows what can happen when our partners at the local level are willing to do the careful planning required to effectively boost the supply of housing Through NY Forward and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative Governor Hochul continues to demonstrate that New York is rewarding communities that are serious about expanding housing and economic opportunities in the areas where people want to live and work Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola now have access to the type of funding that helps turn goals into reality We applaud these communities for developing plans that will benefit New Yorkers far into the future and help make progress addressing the State’s housing shortage on Long Island and beyond.” President & CEO at Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Dr President of Farmingdale State College said “The $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative will ignite suburban renewal in Smithtown-Kings Park unlocking its potential as an innovative economic hub with new housing amenities and infrastructure centered on walkability and transit access the NY Forward award marks a transformative opportunity for Brookhaven-North Bellport and Mineola to revitalize their communities Brookhaven-North Bellport will begin an ambitious planning process for transformation and revitalization of its business district Mineola will use the funding to fully implement and enhance existing plans These strategic investments will further equitable development across Long Island for generations to come.” “I’m thrilled to see the Village of Mineola awarded $4.5 million in funding through the NY Forward program This investment underscores New York State’s commitment to revitalizing our downtown communities on Long Island I thank Governor Hochul for bringing us towards a prosperous future for Mineola and its residents.” “This taxpayer funded grant is the culmination of the hard work of Town of Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim and the Town Board Their work will benefit our region for years by building the local economy creating jobs and enhancing the lives of everyone who resides here Combined with their successful work to bring sewers to Smithtown they have set up the area for a great future and I thank them on behalf of our residents.” “The Smithtown and Kings Park downtowns will not only be revitalized with the help of this grant but will must be able to meet the needs and desires of a changing economy and society the Kings Park and Smithtown downtowns will move boldly Good things are happening in Kings Park and Smithtown and I want to thank Governor Hochul for helping us get to where we need to be for a brighter future.” “I thank the Governor for her continued commitment to Suffolk County This funding is vital to the ongoing downtown revitalization efforts in both Kings Park and North Bellport and will help create jobs and jumpstart local economic growth in our communities.” “This is a historic moment for the hamlet of Kings Park and the people of Smithtown It is the culmination of years of community-based planning working together with dedicated planning and environmental experts I want to thank Governor Hochul for recognizing our unwavering commitment in building a vibrant “The Village of Mineola has been leading the way in downtown revitalization and transit-oriented development for nearly two decades Mineola has served as an example to other communities as to how you can both meet housing demands on Long Island while still protecting a suburban quality of life This award not only validates the work that the Village has been doing for the last 20 years but it also prepares us for the next 20 years It will help the village better prepare its infrastructure for the continued growth and development of our downtown The village is grateful to Governor Hochul and her staff and all those that saw the Village of Mineola as a worthy recipient of this award This award will be put to good use for the continued growth and development of Mineola’s downtown.” “My administration has made the redevelopment of North Bellport a priority and we are deeply appreciative of the Governor’s commitment to this mutual goal We must work to lift up our communities and the people who reside within them and this grant will take us a step closer to realizing the bright future that North Bellport so rightfully deserves.” The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council conducted a thorough and competitive review process of proposals submitted from communities throughout the region and considered all criteria below before recommending these communities as nominees: About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative The Downtown Revitalization Initiative was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all ten regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development the DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to achieving the State's bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles NY Forward is a central component of the State's economic development policy The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the State’s revitalization efforts Both programs are creating a critical mass of vibrant downtowns in every region of the State that is enhancing economic development quality of life and socio-economic diversity NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by the DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative complementary and readily implementable projects NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities The Strategic Investment Plans and projects are driven by a Local Planning Committee which conducts extensive community outreach and engagement The Department of State also provides expansive technical assistance and capacity-building webinars — featuring staff experts and peers from DRI communities —which are geared toward supporting communities that may have less resources and capacity than larger