Greater Patchogue coverage is funded in part by New Village at Patchogue, open-concept rental residences with sleek contemporary design. Click here for a tour.
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.
The first boat pushed off at 10 a.m. today from Bellport.
“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, despite repeated requests from her.
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, in so many words.
Veitch also wrote that the ocean beach has limited capacity, facilities and lifeguard protection that cannot support a large influx of new beachgoers.
“From Great Gun in Center Moriches, to Smith Point and Davis Park, there are nearby beaches with public facilities and infrastructure suited for larger crowds, including parking, safe dockage, bathrooms, snack bars, and more,” she further wrote on Facebook.
But Panico, in a response to Greater Long Island, said he isn’t buying it.
“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, today, Sunday, Veitch told Greater Long Island.
But she also said “through conversation, it’ll be worked out. Monday is a new day.”
The letter below is from Veitch to Panico. It was posted to a village resident Facebook page.
What’s happening
The village issued a notice of violation to the ‘new’ ferry operator on Sunday at Bellport Marina, said Mayor Maureen Veitch. (Credit: Michael White)
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.
“We invited no cameras, press and sought no fanfare,” Panico told Greater Long Island today, Sunday. “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.
But town officials, 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, which the village owns, manages, and on which it allows only village residents and their guests.
To be sure, 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.
Racial components
The overwhelmingly-white village shares a border with the hamlet of North Bellport, which has a large population of black and Hispanic residents.
Panico, who’s from Mastic Beach, 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.
He made this clear in January, when he was sworn in as town supervisor.
“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. “By no means will I allow this to go on.”
He also suggested, according to the report, that the town might contract with its own ferry, which is exactly what the town has done.
“This is important to me. [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.
On Sunday, Panico reiterated his points made in January, telling Greater Long Island the town is “working to provide access for those, especially children, 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.
“Mr. Neal and I spoke about this issue while playing chess at our Juneteenth Celebration, with Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, 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. Just this week, over 40 children, 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. The bus leaves the middle school, which is in the village, 15 minutes before each beach outing.
On the racism charges, Veitch told Greater Long Island, “I’m not sure what he’s talking about when he talks about that,” referring to Panico. “Racism is a thing, there’s no doubt, 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, and limited septic.”
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. “They put this thing out on Friday, I don’t think that many people signed up for it. If I live on Long Island, I want affordable housing, jobs, education, and I want that [Brookhaven Town] dump to go away.
“That’s what I want. I don’t want a ferry ride. 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. (Michael White)
