Letters

The Shinnecock continue to build their gas station on Westwoods, as government officials responsible for oversight sit on their hands and do nothing. Southampton Town’s Department of Public Safety issued a stop-work order in August, but the town has not enforced it. They also have refused to enforce zoning laws. Despite having the authority, they choose not to use it.

Concerned neighbors have reached out to New York State, Suffolk County and the Environmental Protection Agency. We have contacted Governor Kathy Hochul, Marie Therese Dominguez (commissioner of the State Department of Transportation), Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Lisa Garcia (head of the EPA’s Region 2), U.S. Representative Nick LaLota, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and others. None of them has provided any information on the development, and instead they point us to someone else, who in turn points us to someone else.

The question of what oversight is required of our elected officials hinges in part on the nature of the ownership of Westwoods by the Shinnecock. But what has the government done to find the answer? When the town finally did hire a lawyer to provide advice on Indian land use law, seven months after development began, one town councilperson voted against doing so. It seems he doesn’t even want to know what his rights and responsibilities are.

Isn’t the environment, Peconic Estuary, aquifer and the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Hampton Bays important enough for these government officials to do their job?

The Shinnecock have said that next they plan to build a hotel and conference center at Westwoods. Do they have a right to do this?

The answer is that, thanks to government inaction, we simply don’t know. And we should all want to know.

Diana Adams

Hampton Bays