Tropical Storm Debby was passing just west of Long Island, but strong southerlies were pounding the coast, and the waves at Ditch Plain in Montauk were a wild mess, eating away at the shoreline. That was the context for New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul's visit on Friday to the Montauk Downs state golf course, in a room filled with perhaps 100 local politicians and activists, to announce $2.5 million in state funding for a Ditch Plain dune replenishment project.
The project is set to begin this fall and the state money is in addition to $1.75 million already budgeted by East Hampton Town. The first phase of the project saw 5,800 cubic yards of sand deposited at the beach just in time for the summer season. Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez wrote a letter to the governor in April describing the battering the beach received at the hand of three consecutive northeasters in December and January and requested state help.
"I'm here today to continue my commitment to protecting our beaches, our shorelines, and make sure as these threats continue, that we make the investments now so future generations know that we cared, and we made a difference," the governor said. "One storm can wash away everything, that's why we have to build up our resiliency."
The two women seemed to enjoy a rapport, and when the governor announced the supervisor's name to the room, she received a warm applause after which Governor Hochul quipped, "I miss my 14 years on a town board."
The supervisor thanked the governor and said, "This beach is a cornerstone of Montauk's identity." Funding the project, she said, will ensure that future generations could enjoy it as well.
Governor Hochul also took a moment, while at the golf course, to sign legislation to direct the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to designate the marine and coastal areas off Montauk Point as a bird conservation area. With her were State Senator Anthony Palumbo and Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., both sponsors of the bill.
Known as the Montauk shoals, the area includes waters less than 60 feet in depth and within three and a half to four miles of the shoreline. The New York State Bird Conservation Area program was established in 1997; there are 59 such areas in the state.
"As the Senate sponsor of this bill, I felt it not only important to again recognize Montauk Point as an historic location and a symbol of the region's fishing and maritime traditions but to recognize and protect its shoals, which are a critical habitat for tens of thousands of waterfowl and pelagic seabirds," Senator Palumbo said.
"The area regularly supports at least 2,000 birds," said Assemblyman Thiele. "The Montauk Point shoals is threatened by non-point source pollution and other contaminants. Together with ongoing efforts to preserve open space and improve water quality, the designation of this area as the Montauk Point Shoals Bird Conservation Area will help ensure that this critical habitat is protected."
On the way back west, Governor Hochul stopped at the Green at Gardiner's Point, 50 rental apartments at 286 Three Mile Harbor Road, that was developed jointly by the East Hampton Housing Authority and Georgica Green Ventures. There she officially designated East Hampton as the first town on Long Island to be named a "Pro-Housing Community" by the state.
The designation gives the town priority status in the administration of a portion of up to $650 million in New York State discretionary funds.
"The Pro-Housing Community Program, administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal, is now a mandatory requirement for municipalities wishing to apply for specific grant programs," read a press release put out by the supervisor's office. "The certification process involves demonstrating success in promoting housing growth through local zoning codes and housing permit approvals over the past five years."
Including ongoing projects, the town has 647 affordable housing units, making it "by far the leader in created affordable housing per capita on Long Island," according to the press release.
"This project was launched when I first became governor. I'm very proud to see that this is truly a community that believes in creating opportunities not just for the current residents, but for the future residents as well as the children who want to be able to stay here. For so long, they've been priced out," the governor said.
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Correction: An earlier version of this article said that the state was matching East Hampton Town's contribution to the Ditch Plain dune replenishment. That is not the case: The state has pledged $2.5 million, while the town has budgeted $1.75 million.
