A tale of 2 towns: Brookhaven vs Riverhead

[DarkSkies]

Before the Brookhaven meeting the other night I went to both Brookhaven and Riverhead town beaches and took a bunch of pics. I had to see for myself what the differences were, and try to see if the story the Brookhaven officials are feeding to the public had any credibility.

I realize it's the winter season, all the trash is picked up. Someone might say...Well it's not the same, you have to compare it in the summer.

I compared and contrasted 2 towns at the same point in a timeline, sounds relatively scientific to me. As an outsider, I have no stake in fishing either town. The differences I found were appalling to me, and significant enough to merit a thread detailing how I feel the towns are different, with pictures as documentation.

I'll post the pics on the rest of the thread when I get a chance, anyone feels like chiming in in the meantime about these towns, please do.

Going there, and seeing for myself, helped me to understand how politics is a dirty game sometimes. People pass the buck until there is no one to blame, and only then do they accept responsibility. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon13.gif

[Tom Farrell]

The Town of Riverhead is reaping the harvest from the Shoreham Beach closure.

[DarkSkies]

During this past week, I was told negotiations are going on behind the scenes. I think that's great. I didn't start this thread to start more trouble, but I wanted to be honest about what I saw up there. Both beautiful beaches, but why does one seem to have more issues than the other?

As I walked around both places, it occurred to me that it really is an enforcement issue. Brookhaven is bigger than Riverhead, and has a bigger budget. So why does Riverhead have everything under control, and Brookhaven has all these problems with enforcement?

I'm still waiting for the stats, if anyone up there wants to post some of that, be my guest.


Finally some pics :D


Riverhead

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[DarkSkies]

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[DarkSkies]

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If I fished there that would be the rock I would climb on!
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[DarkSkies]

Riverhead
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[DarkSkies]

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[DarkSkies]

Shoreham beach pics
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[DarkSkies]

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[DarkSkies]

Shoreham residential area

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[DarkSkies]

Riverhead access signs


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[DarkSkies]

Graffitti: Riverhead, this is the only graffitti I could find, Polska was probably written by a Polish person, and the other prob by a local teen

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[DarkSkies]

Shoreham beach graffiti. As much as I tried, I couln't find any graffiti written by fishermen. What that tells me is Shoreham is a place for the locals and kids from all over that area to hang out and party, the same thing I did when I was a kid. Kids are the ones who leave broken beer bottles and tire tracks on asphalt, not fishermen.


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[DarkSkies]

What's in Riverhead's trash bins?
People go there to party too, not an enforcement problem, because the penalties for littering are so high people aren't that likely to litter.

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[DarkSkies]

Shoreham trash etc



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Oops! I did find some fisherman trash, took me a long time to find it, though.
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[DarkSkies]

If anyone has any budget comparisons for the towns of Riverhead vs Brookhaven, let's see em.

[eisey]

This sign

[nitestrikes]

This sign


They should get rid of Bonner, she's a complete bs artist. DS, very nice work. :thumbsup:

[surferman]

From how you have been reporting Dark, Shoreham Beach always passes the buck. They want to keep the beaches for the elite non-fishermen. No one takes responsibility. Shoreham should take notes on what Riverhead does

[dogfish]

Nice work, Dark. I would still be willing to paddle my yak over there on a calm day and crap on the beach for ya, let me know.:thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Glad you like the pics, guys. When I first got involved, I had never seen Shoreham Beach, so I didn't have a clue what people were angry about.

Taking these pics helps me bring a better understanding to people who might not have ever heard of these places, or why they're worth fighting for.

[stripercrazy]

wtg Dark.:clapping:

[DarkSkies]

Glad you like the pics, guys. When I first got involved, I had never seen Shoreham Beach, so I didn't have a clue what people were angry about.

Taking these pics helps me bring a better understanding to people who might not have ever heard of these places, or why they're worth fighting for.






Bringing this thread to the top so the OGB can look at the "pretty pictures" I took. :rolleyes: :2flip: :moon:
These "dumb and meaningless" pictures helped to inform and sway public opinion. I want to stay humble about this because there were many of us involved. However, it is pictures like the ones in this thread that help to change the perceptions folks have, or help them understand why they should care about an issue, they often know nothing about......:learn:







**Love ya anyway, you old grouchy barnacle. :laugh: :kiss:
You're getting as bad as my Dad used to be, when he was alive....sometimes I swear he came back to Earth and was reincarnated as you....:thumbsup: :HappyWave:

[DarkSkies]

I thought this was important for anyone wanting to learn about beach access and attempted restrictions, to see that there are all sorts of sneaky ways for towns to accomplish this. Your access may be constitutionally protected....but if a town really doesn't like or want fishermen around....they can do us in with severe parking restrictions and beach fees.....

I did this comparison a few years back, to illustrate the differences in town policy, based upon attitude of the taxpayers living there....
The most recent access battle that comes to mind for these statements, is Amagansett, specifically "truck beach".
I'll try to write more about it when I get a chance....or someone here feel free to post a separate thread.....


It seemed to me that in access issues, different economic classes have different perceptions about whether fishermen should be allowed....or not....
If you want to get mad at elitist homeowners who think they own every grain of sand.....that's your right....I feel the same way....
But if you folks want to win a battle....sometimes it's good to look at different areas....and try to understand their position, strategies, game plan, and political maneuverings, as a way to learn to deal with other towns in the future....
Thanks for reading.....:HappyWave: