Letters to the editor must be submitted via email and must include the author’s name, address, and daytime phone number so that Bellport.com can confirm the source of the submission. Letters can be up to 500 words in length and should be in good taste, not libelous, and not "Fake News." We expect our readers and their letters to be civil to one another and we expect them to remember that we are all friends and neighbors and to conduct themselves accordingly. If you'd like to submit a Letter to the Editor, send your letter to letters@bellport.com.

Letters are posted as soon as they are received, not just once a week, so check back often!

The purpose of Bellport.com's Letters To The Editor section is to encourage the free exchange of ideas and experiences in our community. However, the decision as to which letters to publish is solely at the discretion of the Editor. While Bellport.com and its staff try to make every effort to see that no libelous statements, inaccurate or misleading opinions or statements, or "Fake News" appears on Bellport.com we wish to make it clear that the opinions expressed in the letters, articles, correspondence, etc. herein are the responsibility of the contributor and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Bellport.com and its staff. Accordingly, Bellport.com and its staff accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any such inaccurate or misleading opinions or statements.

In regards to elections (national, state, local), Bellport.com imposes a 48 hour “Blackout” period before Election Day. In other words, assuming Election Day is on a Tuesday, any letters from the candidates or members of the community that are received after 5:00pm on the Saturday prior to Election Day, will not be published by Bellport.com. We do this in order to prevent last minute claims being made and “Fake News” that don’t give sufficient time for which to respond.

 

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August 3, 2019

South Country Unites at Bellport Day

On Bellport Day, South Country Unites lived up to its mission by taking advantage of this community event to get in touch with our neighbors in a very unique way. We invited everyone to our table to write down the issue that concerns them the most. A few were shy, but most people were happy to share. In doing so, we accomplished many goals: warmly welcoming our neighbors to visit our table, talking to each other face-to-face about political topics in open and non-threatening ways, learning what matters to each individual regardless of whether it affects many or few or was local, state or national in scope. We also served a community need by helping 11 persons register to vote and providing information about early voting, pre-registration of 16-17 year olds and absentee voting.

At the end of the day, we placed each comment into topic headings and tallied the numbers. Seeing the results will be helpful to our group as we assess how to focus our efforts. We also wanted to share some of the results with you, too, so each of you can have a better understanding of what many of your neighbors’ concerns are.

There were over 175 entries; and we hung each page as it was filled, so everyone could see them. Here are the issues that garnered over 10 mentions:

-Climate and Environment  - 26
-President Trump - 18
-Women and Children - 16
-Health Care - 15
-Social Justice and Poverty - 15
-Elections and Democracy - 10

The members of South Country Unites want to thank each of you who took a moment to voice your concerns and hopes with us as we share this village, state, country and world together. Mostly, it was a great day, because it shows that we really can listen to each other in a respectful manner. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

Phyllis Hartmann
Bellport, NY

 

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July 29, 2019

Bellport Day 2019

Bellport Day's street fair was one of the best: the hot summer day combined with food and family activities brought everyone together for this annual celebration. In addition to the local merchants touting their goods, community charities promoting their missions, were the local politicians manning their tables and shaking lots of hands. Making the rounds throughout the day included our newly elected State Senator Monica Martinez (D).

Even Congressman Lee Zeldin (R) showed up at his table where they handed out the promotional flyer “Safeguarding the Environment” as part of his legislative agenda. With no mention of climate change though, the glossy fails to recognize the environmental needs of Long Islanders. It is no wonder Zeldin has a lifetime rating of only 10% with the League of Conservation Voters – it’s just not his key focus area.

What surprised me most was that as the Congressman made his way down Bellport’s Main Street, he was flanked by two plain-clothed Suffolk County police officers looking like suited-up Secret Service. One officer mentioned this level of overtime was needed because of a possible threat and if this is true, I can’t agree more. But then I think about everyone else at Bellport Day and keeping the entire community safe.

Earlier this year, Congressman Zeldin had the opportunity to support milestone legislation making sure guns didn’t end up in the wrong hands (HR 1112 Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019). Zeldin voted no. With the NRA’s backing and more than $55,000 in contributions for his campaigns, Zeldin is clearly in the NRA’s pocket. While our tax dollars provide him with high-quality individual security he feels he needs when visiting Bellport, it appears as if our community security isn’t much of Zeldin’s concern.

Larry Tierney
Brookhaven Hamlet