I’m all for a just resolution of the dispute regarding the proper development of the Westwoods property that recognizes the legitimate interests of the Shinnecock Nation, the neighbors adjacent to the Westwoods property and the Hampton Bays community.
However, the letter recently sent out of the blue by the U.S. Department of the Interior simply regarding recording the property in a government database goes further [“U.S. Department of Interior Says Westwoods Is ‘Aboriginal’ Shinnecock Land, but Southampton Town Will Press Lawsuit,” 27east.com, January 2].
In coming down heavily on the side of the Shinnecock in its stated rationale in the last month of a Democratic administration, by an agency whose chain of command involved in communicating and receiving this decision are members of indigenous tribes, it appears highly suspect as being political and improper in nature. Its statement of facts and conclusions directly contradict the finding of a U.S. District Court in 2007.
It is particularly surprising that the letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs has come out shortly after the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding the “Chevron deference,” in which the Supreme Court ruled that courts rather than federal agencies should be where disputes are ultimately resolved, which would indicate that the bureau should have respected the courts in this matter.
The Town of Southampton and the State of New York, which both were involved in the 2007 case, both have important interests in this regard and need to appeal or adjudicate this matter vigorously, and Congressman Nick LaLota should be seeking an investigation of how and why this has transpired.
Ron Schaefer
Hampton Bays
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