Southampton Town Police are beginning a major push to rein in speeding and improve safety along County Road 39 that will employ new strategies and technologies, like car-tracking drones, teams of police officers stalking speeders and the use of “pace cars” to train motorists to drive slower. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that as complaints have mounted from residents of neighborhoods that spur off County Road 39 about the daily fears for their safety while running basic errands, Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan said that he has been searching for strategies on how to make the road safer. Speeding in the hours between the morning and evening “trade parade” is at the top of the list, since it drives much of the dangers of turning into and off the roadway for residents and the employees and patrons of hundreds of businesses. County Road 39 is the highway that runs through Southampton between Hampton Bays and Water Mill. “That road, when you get beyond the rush-hour times, it is a wide road, and drivers can see far ahead of them, so it gives them the sense that they can go fast. But people need to take into consideration that people have to be able to get out of businesses and side streets, and when everyone is going fast, it makes that very dangerous,” Kiernan said this week.

***

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday issued a public notice describing a new plan for "emergency maintenance dredging" at Montauk Inlet this winter, but Montauk fishing interests are concerned that a start date for the work still wasn’t clear as of yesterday. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that the Monday notice said the Army Corps has "received the needed emergency declaration" to start the work after finding there were "no adverse impacts" to any relevant endangered species in the channel. Up to 10,500 cubic yards of sand expected to be dredged from the inlet will be placed just west of the inlet, the project plan states.

"The dredging and placement west of the west jetty is currently anticipated to occur during the winter of 2025, subject to the availability of funds," the notice states, while also discussing public comment periods and a possible public hearing before work can begin.

Newsday has reported that at least five commercial fishing boats that are based in Montauk have had to offload fish and station in Rhode Island because of the dangers of shoaling at Montauk Inlet.

Montauk fishermen and their advocates say the work is already months late, as ships loaded with fish and ice have been hitting shoals and clogging the inlet as they pass to and from, particularly at low tide.

"What are you waiting for, gang?" Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, said Tuesday, adding the state’s largest fishing port has already lost around $100,000 in revenue because of the problem.

***

Sound Aircraft Services at East Hampton Airport is hosting a program for young people to learn about becoming a pilot. The “Guide for Aspiring Aviators and Their Families” is scheduled for tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the airport, 173 Daniels Hole Road in Wainscott. As reported on 27east.com, the program will touch on local training options, and a panel of experts, including East Hampton Town Airport director and former United Airlines Captain James Brundige, and ex-FAA regulator turned flight instructor Lou Cusimano will answer questions. Those who wish to attend should email fbo@soundaircraftservices.com. East Hampton Town Airport is in Wainscott with over 7 acres of ramp, new pilots lounge, and separate passenger waiting area.

***

Democratic legislators are suing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman claiming that the Long Island Republican illegally created a tax-payer-funded militia — allegations his office quickly slammed as bogus. Shane Galvin reports in THE NY POST that a lawsuit filed in Nassau County Supreme Court by Democrats Debra Mule and Scott Davis and the Free and Fair Litigation group names Blakeman, Nassau County, and county sheriff Anthony LaRocco as defendants alleging they created an illegal and redundant “militia” by starting an emergency “special deputies” program of civilians last year. “New York State law does not authorize defendants to create a taxpayer-funded militia,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants’ militia is illegal and represents a substantial and ongoing waste of public funds,” it later adds. The so-called “militia” refers to the “provisional emergency special deputy sheriffs” program Blakeman established on March 17, 2024. The program deputizes volunteer citizens who are licensed to carry firearms to assist local law enforcement agencies during emergencies. The civilian members would be expected to help protect critical infrastructure in Nassau County in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other emergency. Nassau County swore in its first 26 citizen members on Dec. 31. Many of the members are retired from the military, police departments, or other emergency service organizations. They’re not paid unless they are deployed. The lawsuit claims the program includes expenses that qualify as illegal spending of taxpayer money — including shelling out funds for background checks, conducting random drug screening, providing training, and the $150-a-day stipend when they are activated. The suit further claims that Blakeman’s office intended to keep the details of the program secret and has refused to comply with Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests. But Blakeman’s office said the lawsuit slanders the gracious volunteers and called the legal action needless and shameful.

***

Amid uncertainty over changes in national spending, a state official said this week that New York’s ability to help struggling residents who depend on certain federally-funded safety net programs could be hindered.

That was the message from Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara Guinn to Island Harvest Food Bank leaders on Tuesday. The visit was designed to highlight Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget items to serve residents in need even as President Donald Trump's administration tries to freeze and revamp federal spending. Tiffany Cusaac-Smith reports in NEWSDAY that a preliminary look at a proposed House budget would add a work requirement to access food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Guinn said. If enacted, she said, the move would be administratively burdensome and slow access to the program formerly called food stamps.

Officials, she said, are also concerned about the possible elimination of broad-based categorical eligibility. For example, people who receive cash assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families could also be eligible for food assistance benefits. The loss of that category would reduce the number of people who could get SNAP benefits, she said.

And although the state has been focused on building its financial reserves, she said it could not cover a long-term loss of funding.

"The level of federal investment in safety-net related services is not something that state budgets can make up in the long-term," Guinn said.

At Island Harvest, any potential cuts to funding are concerning, said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. On Long Island, the food bank supports more than 220,000 people who are food insecure and gets 11% of its income from the federal government. The remainder comes from grants from corporate foundations, individuals and local communities, she said.

***

The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce presents Harborfrost this Saturday throughout Sag Harbor Village, with ice carving demonstrations, live music, community and family activities, AND a Grucci Fireworks display off Long Wharf at 5:45 p.m. Saturday evening.

As part of the annual HarborFrost activities this Saturday, you are invited to join Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt Saturday morning for a fun walk for kids of all ages along the StoryWalk Trail in Sag Harbor (about 30 minutes). The more adventurous can continue on for another half hour to see Long Pond and learn about the amazing Long Pond Greenbelt. Meet at the bleachers at Mashashimuet Park on the corner of Main Street and Jermain Avenue in Sag Harbor at 10 a.m. this coming Saturday.

For more info contact leader: Dai Dayton, 631-745-0689.

*The StoryWalk Trail was made possible through a grant from the Sag Harbor Partnership.

***

Southampton Town Police are beginning a major push to rein in speeding and improve safety along County Road 39 in Southampton which will employ new strategies and technologies, like car-tracking drones, teams of police officers stalking speeders and the use of “pace cars” to train motorists to drive slower. Michael Wright reports on 27east.com that after announcing the safety initiative last week, the department has already deployed enforcement teams to work the roadway each day after the morning rush-hour and enforce speed limits and has posted a digital speed monitoring sign on a utility pole near Saaz restaurant that indicates the speeds cars approaching it are traveling. But pulling over a speeder on a four-lane roadway with no shoulder and a nearly constant stream of cars in every lane that can grind to a halt with any interruption in the flow poses some substantial safety challenges of its own. To address the dangers, police will employ several novel strategies to try and collar speeders without creating a hazard to themselves or other drivers. Officers will use business driveways and side streets to pull cars over, pos...