Letters

I’ve been struggling with the hostilities expressed over the Shinnecock Nation’s development of their Westwood’s area travel plaza, which include some insulting “I know best” recommendations from some members of our community about what the Nation should do instead to improve their economic circumstances. I also acknowledge the difference between tribal sovereignty and the Nation doing whatever they want.

Therefore, I’m hoping negotiations will take place to achieve conflict resolution, and an optimal solution for all Indigenous and non-indigenous constituents — aka our community — without having to embark on a drawn out and costly lawsuit.

A successful negotiation would mean each party gets something in exchange for giving something the other wants with the understanding that there is no solid formula for determining what is acceptable to give up and at what price.

I sincerely do not want to come across as one of those “I know best” people I previously referred to. However, knowing I don’t know what I don’t know, could negotiations, albeit all complex, somehow include some version of the following?

Because the Nation has clearly stated the development of the travel plaza is being constructed per all requisite environmental and safety measures, all plans are shared with the Town Board to address and resolve any related concerns.

The town supports the development of the travel plaza and partners with the Nation and other requisite jurisdictions, inclusive of the Department of Transportation, to secure ingress and egress from Sunrise Highway.

With the support of the town, and a commitment by the DOT and/or other authorities allowing ingress/egress, the Shinnecock remove the two existing monuments and relocate one to the travel plaza site. This would provide requisite signage and continued ad revenue.

An agreement is made ceasing further development of the Westwood’s property based on a signed, sealed, and delivered location for an alternate area for the Shinnecock to develop. Albeit, on this last point, I acknowledge it would be a big leap of faith by the Shinnecock Nation given what looked to be a win-win opportunity to develop a shared revenue casino location in an area other than their territory failed to come to fruition, while Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino succeeded.

Dispute resolution is not easy, but I trust all persons focus on long-term relationships rather than short-term gains.

Margaret Friedlander

Hampton Bays