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.

[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


Riverhead

[DarkSkies]

[DarkSkies]

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

[DarkSkies]

Riverhead

[DarkSkies]

[DarkSkies]

Shoreham beach pics

[DarkSkies]

[DarkSkies]

Shoreham residential area

[DarkSkies]

Riverhead access signs

[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

[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.

[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.

[DarkSkies]

Shoreham trash etc










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

[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.

[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.