Rocky Point - Shoreham beaches - No access !! Call to arms

[rpsurf5]

All,

Tom Farrell and Stan Hentschel from Rocky Point Fishing Stop were on News 12 TV yesterday in Rocky Point. As most know , there has been an ongoing fight there on access. Last year we got Shoreham Beach reopened, but things have taken a step backwards this year, the beach is only up Friday to Sunday from 4th of July to Labor day. This is completely unacceptable.

The fight has spread to Rocky Point. The homeowners associations are under the mistaken and incredibly selfish opinion that they own the beaches and we are not allowed on them. There is an illegal fence at the end of a public road (Broadway) that is blocking access to the beach.

Linda Albo is the President of the North Shore Beach Property Owners said we were welcome to use the beach, but would have to pay $250 to join her private home association !!!! Imagine that, paying the local homeowners to get access to beaches that are legally ours !!

The Brookhaven town council has completely ignored all of this, calls have been made, letters have been sent, but not a word from them. There is a lot of suspicious doings at these beaches as far as structures, blocked access, no permits , etc , etc. Yet the town has completely ignored what is possibly illegal behavior.

The picture below says it all, that is at the end of Broadway which is a public road. An illegal fence has been erected which blocks access, they have even installed greased pipes under the fence to stop people from going under it!!!

Stay tuned, a rally somewhere to protest these wrongdoings and the town doing nothing about it may be in the works. We will need everyones support.

[tony44]

That fence is more formidable that the one protecting our borders! What BS!

[tony44]

One more thing. This county is more and more becoming a police state. The rules and list of no-no's is growing by the day. My days here are numbered. Between all the people with the tuff-guy attitudes, the outrageous tax burden and the utter disdain for the American CITIZEN, I can't wait for my kid to finish high school so we can get the F outta here!

[toyota]

that is a kick in the balls...i think its time to stop writing letters and take some kind of other action..obviously all the hard work you guys have fought for the past couple of years has now been ignored..

[likwid]

Between all the people with the tuff-guy attitudes, the outrageous tax burden and the utter disdain for the American CITIZEN, I can't wait for my kid to finish high school so we can get the F outta here!

 

Thats all of Long Island these days. Well said.

[126andy]

All,

 

Tom Farrell and Stan Hentschel from Rocky Point Fishing Stop were on News 12 TV yesterday in Rocky Point. As most know , there has been an ongoing fight there on access. Last year we got Shoreham Beach reopened, but things have taken a step backwards this year, the beach is only up Friday to Sunday from 4th of July to Labor day. This is completely unacceptable.

 

The fight has spread to Rocky Point. The homeowners associations are under the mistaken and incredibly selfish opinion that they own the beaches and we are not allowed on them. There is an illegal fence at the end of a public road (Broadway) that is blocking access to the beach.

 

Linda Albo is the President of the North Shore Beach Property Owners said we were welcome to use the beach, but would have to pay $250 to join her private home association !!!! Imagine that, paying the local homeowners to get access to beaches that are legally ours !!

 

Wouldn't this be considered extortion?

 

The Brookhaven town council has completely ignored all of this, calls have been made, letters have been sent, but not a word from them. There is a lot of suspicious doings at these beaches as far as structures, blocked access, no permits , etc , etc. Yet the town has completely ignored what is possibly illegal behavior.

 

The picture below says it all, that is at the end of Broadway which is a public road. An illegal fence has been erected which blocks access, they have even installed greased pipes under the fence to stop people from going under it!!!

 

I wonder if it was taken down if a Police report would be taken since it was an illegal fence to start with? If it was taken down and someone started to put up another if they could receive fines and or arrest for erecting an illegal blockade.

 

Something to think about and consider.

[rpsurf5]

I have sent the following letter to Linda Albo. I encourage others to do the same.

 

<<Linda Albo

President

North Shore Beach Property Association of Rocky Point, NY

P.O. Box 601

Rocky Point NY 11778

 

Dear Ms. Albo:

As a citizen, taxpayer, fisherman, beachgoer and someone who grew up fishing the beaches of Rocky Point, I am disgusted and appalled by your organization's stance on beach access for the general public and your recent comments on News 12. The North Shore Beach Property Association of Rocky Point may own the beach above the high tide mark, but they certainly do not own the beach below the high tide mark. The Public Trust Doctrine which was around long before the NSBPOA was established in 1928 and will be around long after the NSBPOA, gives the general public rights to access the beach below the high tide mark. This is in place to give all citizens access to the beach, just not a select few who live near the beach. Your stance that citizens who want legal access to their beaches can only get it by paying your private association $250 to join is appalling. We already have legal access to these beaches and you can't legally stop anyone from using these beaches.

 

First of all, there is a zero percent chance of myself or anyone I know paying your organization $250 to access what is legally ours to begin with. Aside from that, what about people who can't afford this fee? What about the elderly, the handicapped, families with kids who just want to enjoy a day at the beach but can't afford $250? The economy is terrible, unemployment is at a record high, but you have the nerve to make a flippant remark that per day the cost is less than a box of worms. $250 might be affordable to wealthy beachfront homeowners, but people who can't afford this are being discriminated against.

 

I am aware of fences that have been erected at the end of Broadway and Friendship Drive. These fences are not legal and are blocking access by the general public to public beaches from public roads. Worse yet, the fence at Broadway now has greased pipes underneath it. Not only is this further blocking legal access, but it is danger to the health and safety of the public.

 

The fisherman are stewards of the beach. We very much value beaches and do everything we can do to keep them clean and safe. Whatever we bring on the beach, we take off and more. We organize and participate in beach cleanups. We are an extra set of eyes on the beach and when we see illegal activity we report it. Fishing gives kids a productive activity to do and promotes respect for our natural resources. Generations of kids are being deprived of learning how to fish and instead resort to less desirable activities which can be harmful to their well being and the general public's well being. I grew up fishing the beaches of Rocky Point, at that time my family couldn't afford $250 so I can go and fish, thankfully back then it wasn't required. I have fond memories of getting on my bike and going fishing, a lot of what I learned back then has made me a respectable, law abiding productive citizens. Many kids who now are like me back then are being deprived the same experiences and life lessons that I received.

 

Feel free to distribute this letter to your board of directors and your membership. Are they aware of the actions of the NSBPOA and your stance on beach access? Do they agree with it? Are they aware that there is possible illegal activity by the NSBPOA? I believe your stance is morally and socially wrong; how about your members? The beaches are for everyone, not just a select few. Is your membership happy about keeping people off of public beaches? What about the effect reduced beach access is having on the local economy? People who come to the beaches spend money locally. As access is taken away, so is money to the local economy. If local businesses fail and people leave the area, Rocky Point will become a ghost town and property values will fall. Are they ready to legally defend themselves from criminal and civil penalties if it is found that the NSBPOA is breaking the law, violating the rights of the public and discriminating against segments of the population?

 

I have friends, family, fellow fisherman, fellow club members, and fellow beachgoers who live in Brookhaven and beyond and will not let our rights be violated. I am aware that fisherman and citizens alike have tried to work with local politicians and the NSBPOA to resolve this situation, but it has fallen on deaf ears. Fishermen are an extremely dedicated group with a tremendous amount of resolve. We fish all hours of the day and night. We brave cold, heat, wind, snow and rain to do what we love to do. We have many sleepless nights, we walk miles as we fish, we deal with locals who try to restrict our access. There are thousands of us locally and millions of us nationally. The same determination and resolve we use when we fish, will be used to defend our rights to access the beaches; that I can guarantee you. It is a shame that it has come to this, but we will not let our rights be violated any more. I urge you to work with local fishing and non fishing groups to come to a resolution. Myself and many others will pursue every legal, social and political option to rectify these situations and will never stop fighting to protect our rights.

 

 

Sincerely,

John E. Russell

>>

[CB900SS]

I grew up in Sound Beach, and fished those waters throughout my childhood. I saw the channel 12 story, and it really bothered me. I live on the south shore now, but recently started fishing beaches in that area again. I just can't imagine what these people are thinking!

 

How can I help?

[tony44]

One more thing. This county is more and more becoming a police state. The rules and list of no-no's is growing by the day. My days here are numbered. Between all the people with the tuff-guy attitudes, the outrageous tax burden and the utter disdain for the American CITIZEN, I can't wait for my kid to finish high school so we can get the F outta here!

 

One MORE thing...the TRAFFIC!!!!!!! Holy s*#t!!!!!

[rpsurf5]

I grew up in Sound Beach, and fished those waters throughout my childhood. I saw the channel 12 story, and it really bothered me. I live on the south shore now, but recently started fishing beaches in that area again. I just can't imagine what these people are thinking!

 

How can I help?

 

Write letters, make phone calls, tell your friends and family. When there is a rally show up and bring 10 people with you. There are far more of us then them, if we come out in numbers, the powers that be will have no choice but to do what is right.

 

So many of us spend some much fishing related time, if we all just spent a small amount of that time we wouldnt have to worry about homeowners associations and politicians violating our rights.

[charloots]

That illegal fence still being intact saddens me. Where's the passion? Long live Edward Abbey and the Monkey Wrench Gang

[rpsurf5]

That illegal fence still being intact saddens me. Where's the passion? Long live Edward Abbey and the Monkey Wrench Gang

 

There are also security cameras down there illegally erected on power lines.

[JD 57]

that is a kick in the balls...i think its time to stop writing letters and take some kind of other action..obviously all the hard work you guys have fought for the past couple of years has now been ignored..

 

That's what they want us to do Will........got to play this by the book.I think Tom & his crew are on the right track.

Thanks for the hard work guys & gal !!!!! n Next step IMO is to take these people to court....they are in clear violation of breaking federal law & so is the town of Brookhaven for letting this continue.The town is well aware of what has been going on !!

[charloots]

There are also security cameras down there illegally erected on power lines.

 

That's why they make camo.

[geeh]

Keep us posted on the rally. I'll be there. I don't fish that area but blocking access is wrong in my book.