Meeting Minutes
January 16, 2004 Meeting
Over 70 brave souls attended the "first annual coldest night of the year" meeting of the Long Island Chapter of Surfrider Foundation. The Gin Lane Restaurant in Water Mill provided a warm and friendly location for the January 16 meeting.
Photo: Jay Levine, Chapter Secretary, Congressman Tim Bishop, Eugene Alper, Chapter Chairman, Jac Citera, Chapter Treasurer
Congressman Tim Bishop was the featured speaker and by the conclusion of his remarks it was clear that Surfrider has a friend in Congress. Mr. Bishop has a strong environmental agenda and has co-sponsored two pieces of important environmental legislation:
- One bill would ban the dumping of dredge spoils in Long Island Sound.
- The second bill, entitled "Raw Sewage Community Right to Know Act" requires immediate reporting of leaks at sewage treatment facilities.
Mr. Bishop was successful in his quest to be appointed to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This committee oversees the activities of the Army Corps of Engineers. Since Mr. Bishop opposes shore hardening structures such as sea walls, his voice on the committee is important. After hearing comments from several Surfrider members about threats posed by the Army Corps of Engineers, he urged the Long Island Chapter to prepare a briefing for Mr. Alex Goldenberg who is on Mr. Bishop's congressional staff in Washington, DC. He suggested that the briefing should address Surfrider's concerns and positions related to Army Corps of Engineer projects and proposals.
During the question and answer session, Mr. Bishop addressed several topics of importance to Long Island, including:
- Proposed wind farm seven miles off the coast of Jones Beach.
- Several Army Corps of Engineer projects.
- Dredging projects at Mattituck, Moriches, and Shinnecock.
- Dunehampton.
Mr. Bishop's comments about Dunehampton were especially concise. He called the proposal a "travesty" and called for local pressure to preserve beach access and avoid development of an "elite community".
The Congressman concluded his remarks by telling Surfrider that the current administration in Washington, DC is the most anti-environmental administration of the past 100 years. He indicated that corporate interests consistently take precedence over environmental issues. You can learn more about Congressman Bishop by visiting his web site at http://wwwc.house.gov/timbishop/
Eugene Alper, Chapter Chair, led a discussion of other topics.
- Montauk Light. The Army Corps of Engineers is developing a plan to extend the armament at the lighthouse an additional 30 feet into the ocean, destroying two surf breaks. A public hearing will be scheduled in several months to address this proposal. Check www.surfriderli.org periodically for up-dates.
- Turtle Cove. A new gate to restrict vehicular access to the beach has been erected. Those using Turtle Cove will now have to park at the Lighthouse parking lot and walk across the street. (Eugene claims he can walk from the parking lot to the beach in one minute and 38 seconds, so this should not be a hardship to anyone and the parking restriction makes environmental sense. One last thing, our newly elected Town Board has a much more favorable position towards preserving this nature preserve. To contact them see the issues page on our website.
- Camp Hero State Park. A compromise proposal regarding surfing access since surfing has always been prohibited. The proposal will prohibit surfing only after 11:00 AM during September, October, and November. Eugene feels this is a critical victory and an importnat first step in obtaining full access for surfers at Camp Hero. A $25 surfing permit will likely be required and he urged all surfers to be friendly and polite when encountering fishermen on the beach.
- Western Long Island. Surfrider can best address the needs of western Long Island through a dedicated Western Long Island Chapter of Surfrider. 20 individuals signed a list and offered to form the core of a new chapter.
- Movie Night. Michael Halsband is planning the next Surf Movie Night which is expected to feature "Dolphin Glide" a film by George Greenough.
- Education Committee and Fund Raising Committee. A dozen Surfrider members agreed to serve on these two new committees.
- NYC Chapter Fundraiser. March 10 is the date for a Manhattan fundraising event sponsored by the New York City Chapter of Surfrider.
- Next Meeting: April 23. The Long Island Chapter will hold its Spring Meeting on April 23 at a location to be determined. The featured speaker will be Assemblyman Fred Thiele. Discussion topics will include beach fill, Ditch Plains sign, progress report on west L.I. chapter, and updates on all of our issues.
- Check www.surfriderli.org for details.
Meeting Minutes January 16, 2004 Meeting Over 70 brave souls attended the "first annual coldest night of the year" meeting of the Long Island Chapter of Surfrider Foundation. The Gin Lane Restaurant in Water Mill provided a warm and friendly location for the January 16 meeting.
Photo: Jay Levine, Chapter Secretary, Congressman Tim Bishop, Eugene Alper, Chapter Chairman, Jac Citera, Chapter Treasurer Congressman Tim Bishop was the featured speaker and by the conclusion of his remarks it was clear that Surfrider has a friend in Congress. Mr. Bishop has a strong environmental agenda and has co-sponsored two pieces of important environmental legislation:
Mr. Bishop was successful in his quest to be appointed to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This committee oversees the activities of the Army Corps of Engineers. Since Mr. Bishop opposes shore hardening structures such as sea walls, his voice on the committee is important. After hearing comments from several Surfrider members about threats posed by the Army Corps of Engineers, he urged the Long Island Chapter to prepare a briefing for Mr. Alex Goldenberg who is on Mr. Bishop's congressional staff in Washington, DC. He suggested that the briefing should address Surfrider's concerns and positions related to Army Corps of Engineer projects and proposals. During the question and answer session, Mr. Bishop addressed several topics of importance to Long Island, including:
Mr. Bishop's comments about Dunehampton were especially concise. He called the proposal a "travesty" and called for local pressure to preserve beach access and avoid development of an "elite community". The Congressman concluded his remarks by telling Surfrider that the current administration in Washington, DC is the most anti-environmental administration of the past 100 years. He indicated that corporate interests consistently take precedence over environmental issues. You can learn more about Congressman Bishop by visiting his web site at http://wwwc.house.gov/timbishop/ Eugene Alper, Chapter Chair, led a discussion of other topics.
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