Nearly a year has passed since historic flooding inflicted severe damage on Long Island, and residents are growing increasingly irate over the lack of progress in repairing the pivotal Harbor Road and adjoining Grist Mill Pond. Despite the passage of ten months, the people of Stony Brook are left with an impassable road, deteriorating pond, and concerns about emergency response accessibility.
The heart of the dispute lies in a property ownership melee between the Town of Brookhaven and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. According to NBC New York, the argument over who holds responsibility for the road has stalled the signing for FEMA disaster funding necessary to begin repairs. Residents, stranded by administrative gridlock, rallied in an effort to spark movement in what has become a bureaucratic standstill. "The road continues to fall apart. The pond is a pit of muddy sludge and we remain disconnected from our Stony Brook neighbors as our main thoroughfare is totally impassable," said rally organizer Beth Zweig.
This stalemate prompted a rally over the weekend, with residents clamoring for officials to take decisive action. Some 300 community members gathered, many expressing their frustration through vivid signs, demanding that elected leaders tackle the crumble of asphalt and dirt that once connected their lives. But beyond logistical challenges, there's a tangible fear regarding public safety. "Ambulances have to get in, fire trucks, police cars," Stony Brook resident Arthur Griffin shared with NBC New York, emphasizing the critical nature of the issue.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico addressed the ownership debate by pointing out past actions by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. "The Town of Brookhaven has paved the road, posted regulatory signs on the road, plows the road," Dr. Richard Rugen, chairman of the foundation, argued, suggesting historical precedent for town maintenance, according to a statement obtained by NBC New York. However, Councilman Jonathan Kornreich assured the rally that regardless of the FEMA funding gap, the town is ready to pay the remaining 25% to move forward with the repairs. "We are willing to pay the other 25% to make sure the owner of the property doesn't have to come out of pocket," Kornreich told those gathered.
The frustration resonates across Long Island, where residents like Joan Farum Montach lament the loss of not only a road but also the community's aesthetics and natural habitat. "It’s shocking to see it like this," Montach told News 12 Long Island. "Nobody’s ever seen it like this. It’s the road and the pond and just the devastation and all the wildlife has left." This sentiment underscores the broader impact of the unresolved issue, beyond mere inconvenience.
A FEMA spokesperson shared with News 12 Long Island that the agency continues to work with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to administer Public Assistance in Suffolk County. However, they also made it clear that while funding the program, it's up to subapplicants to submit projects through the state, which oversees the program’s administration.
