Brookhaven bans fishing at Shoreham Beach!

[rpsurf5]

All,

Just wanted to let everyone know the New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing, other groups and individuals are still working on this issue.

Stay tuned ....

John

[surferman]

Thanks, rpsurf. I was just talking to a good friend of mine the other day about this. Appreciate the update.

[nitestrikes]

Thanks

[BassBuddah]

Thanks for the update.

Bump for the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/shorehamban/

[strikezone31]

thanks RP

[crosseyedbass]

Thanks for the update.

Bump for the petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/shorehamban/

I signed it, keep up the good work, rp.

[rpsurf5]

Interesting article in Newsday today. Too bad the Town Board has banned fishing at Shoreham Beach in spite of the law and PTD.

Stay tuned ....

<<Newsday 2/22/09


NEWSDAY Feb 22 2009

Michael R. Ebert
February 22, 2009

At Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, there is a playground and nearby is a sign that reads "private beach ahead." I have heard mothers scold children who crossed that apparent property line, but I believe that either the state or the Town of Brookhaven owns the beach within a few feet of the high tide mark and anyone can stroll the beach within that parameter. Can you check the law?

- Barbara Ludwig-Cull, Port Jefferson Station

OUR reader is correct. In New York State, the public may walk along underwater lands and the "foreshore" - the stretch of beach subject to the ebb and flow of the tides - of privately owned beaches without penalty.

The principle is outlined in the Public Trust Doctrine, a common-law legal precedent that says states hold legal title to lands under tidewater and to navigable waterways in trust for the public's benefit.

"It's actually an issue that comes up a lot," said Steven Resler, a coastal resource specialist for the Department of State's coastal management program. "Traditionally, the 'seaweed line' has been interpreted as the boundary between private property and public trust lands."

According to the law, when the foreshore is covered by the tides the public may use the water for "boating, bathing, fishing, recreation and other lawful purposes," Resler said. When the tide is out, the public may pass and repass over the foreshore as a means of access to reach the water for these purposes, and may also lounge and recline on foreshore lands.

At Cedar Beach, the Crest Hollow Beach Owners Association owns the "upland" - the stretch of beach above the seaweed line - but the public has the right to "traverse the foreshore," Resler said.

Town spokesman Kevin Molloy said similar privately owned beaches exist in Mastic Beach and Rocky Point.
>>
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[DarkSkies]

Good post RP. Our rights seem to mean less and less these days.

[rockhopper]

We need to keep sticking up for our rights. Don't let "other people" do all the work it's important to get involved.

[nitestrikes]

It's good that it is still in the news, and not pushed to the side. We all have to stand up for what is right.

[rpsurf5]

I sent the below letter to two of the local papers, The North Shore Sun printed it in todays edition and it is also in The Times Beacon Record. Both papers censored it a bit in a different way. They took out this section:

<<The areas and nation’s economy has crumbled underneath the feet of the politicians who are elected to lead this area and country. Every day the politicians reach into our pockets one more time to help bail out another company and add more to the government that has already failed us. We pay tremendously high taxes to live in Brookhaven Town and Long Island to use such resources as parks and beaches. Yet as our jobs are lost, as our 401ks disappear, one of the things we enjoy most, a day on the beach with our fellow fisherman and children has been taken away from us by the Town of Brookhaven Town Board. >>


Here is the whole letter I wrote :

<<As the winter starts coming to an end, fisherman across Brookhaven Town and Long Island ready themselves for the upcoming fishing season at the area beaches. Fisherman have been fishing at Shoreham beach for years, but because of the fishing ban instituted last year at the Town of Brookhaven Shoreham Beach by the Town Board, as it stands now , people will not be fishing there this year. In spite of thousands of letters, emails, phone calls, efforts from fishing organizations, swimming organizations, local business groups and meetings with members of the Brookhaven town board, the town board still has not lifted the fishing ban at Shoreham Beach.

The Public Trust Doctrine guarantees people their rights to the beaches. The ban of fishing at Shoreham Beach violates the Public Trust Doctrine. New York State recognizes the PTD and promotes beach access in New York. New Jersey, Connecticut and other states also recognize this and have programs to promote access to the beaches via the Public Trust Doctrine. Why does the Town of Brookhaven not recognize the Public Trust Doctrine? With the economy in dire straits, do the residents of Brookhaven want the town to use their hard earned tax dollars to fight a legal battle over the rights of people to access Shoreham Beach? The town could be spending taxpayers own money to keep them off the beaches they pay taxes for!

As businesses across Long Island suffer, local businesses suffer also due to this fishing ban. Rocky Point Fishing Stop has been a responsible business in Rocky Point for 35 years, surviving a fire, reduced beach access and down swings in the economy. Now as their business suffers due to this fishing ban at Shoreham Beach, they contemplate going out of business or moving out of the town of Brookhaven. Employees at Rocky Point Fishing Stop are losing their jobs or are having their hours reduced. I thought the current movement in the country is to create jobs and stimulate the economy, not run responsible businesses out of business or out of town.

The people who use the beaches and live in the area deserve clean, trouble free beaches. If there are people who are not using the beaches responsibly and breaking the law, then I am all for enforcing the laws and penalizing the offenders. But to single out fisherman and ban fishing at these beaches is analogous to banning driving because some people are speeding or running red lights. Brookhaven Town recently used tax payer money to hire Park Rangers. If there are law enforcement issues at Shoreham Beach, assign the officers to this beach to enforce the laws.

The areas and nation’s economy has crumbled underneath the feet of the politicians who are elected to lead this area and country. Every day the politicians reach into our pockets one more time to help bail out another company and add more to the government that has already failed us. We pay tremendously high taxes to live in Brookhaven Town and Long Island to use such resources as parks and beaches. Yet as our jobs are lost, as our 401ks disappear, one of the things we enjoy most, a day on the beach with our fellow fisherman and children has been taken away from us by the Town of Brookhaven Town Board.

This ban cannot be allowed to stand. Fisherman and non-fisherman alike who live in such places as Shoreham, Rocky Point, all of Brookhaven town, Long Island and beyond are standing up for their rights and will continue to fight until the ban is lifted. Hopefully the politicians soon realize the wants and rights of their constituents and lift this ban.

John Russell
Long Island, New York>>

[DarkSkies]

I sent the below letter to two of the local papers, The North Shore Sun printed it in todays edition and it is also in The Times Beacon Record. Both papers censored it a bit in a different way. They took out this section:

<<The areas and nation’s economy has crumbled underneath the feet of the politicians who are elected to lead this area and country. Every day the politicians reach into our pockets one more time to help bail out another company and add more to the government that has already failed us. We pay tremendously high taxes to live in Brookhaven Town and Long Island to use such resources as parks and beaches. Yet as our jobs are lost, as our 401ks disappear, one of the things we enjoy most, a day on the beach with our fellow fisherman and children has been taken away from us by the Town of Brookhaven Town Board. >>

I bet one of the lawyers or editors had them take that out, or they deemed it too inflammatory. I found that the most emphatic part of your letter, but papers always censor anyway for "space" reasons.What is it we hear all the time about newspapers championing freedom of speech? It's interesting that both papers didn't like that part.


That was a well thought and written letter, John. There's anger and passion about not fishing there, I saw that when I went up there to that meeting. The property owners up there don't care about any of that. But people will pay attention to a well thought-out and clearly written letter.

It may not move mountains, but it's enough to sway some public opinion and maybe get some more people involved in supporting this. Fantastic letter, great job keepin it in the spotlight, man.

[BassBuddah]

Very nice, RP.

[stripercrazy]

Way to go, John!

[nitestrikes]

for RP, great letter.

[williehookem]

That is an amazing letter. Let's hope now more people will listen.

[rpsurf5]

Mark Lesko and Tim Mazzei will be guest speakers at the Next Meeting of the Rocky Point Civic Association. The meeting is March 5 @ 7:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall and open to public.

These are the two candidates for the Special Election on March 31, 2009 for Brookhaven Town Supervisor.

If you are a Brookhaven resident, try to attend the meeting and have your voice heard.

[7deadlyplugs]

Mark Lesko and Tim Mazzei will be guest speakers at the Next Meeting of the Rocky Point Civic Association. The meeting is March 5 @ 7:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall and open to public.

These are the two candidates for the Special Election on March 31, 2009 for Brookhaven Town Supervisor.

If you are a Brookhaven resident, try to attend the meeting and have your voice heard.

bump for a good cause, the meeting is tonite. rpsurf that was a great letter you wrote. Now we need some action on this.

[eisey]

It was good to actually see Jane Bonner. She was really getting upset. She said she is trying to work out a solution, but I still enjoyed giving her my two cents. Good to see you BassBudda, Rpsurf, Frankiesurf, DarkSkies. I would guess about half the people who showed up were fishermen

[rpsurf5]

Great work guys, I couldnt make it , but Tom Farrel who is the secretary for the New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing was there and spoke. He filled me in on all the details.

Jane Bonner is trying to cover her butt, she is not working on a solution, the only solution she understands is the possibility of her getting voted out of office.

Almost 1/2 the people there were fisherman, that is awesome !!

The next one of these meetings is March 18th in Shoreham. We really need to push hard to have a strong turnout. Lets make 75% of the people there be fisherman. When I found out exactly where, will let everyone know.