The topics of historical figures, displays, and even the teaching of history itself continue to generate fierce discussion in social and political circles.
The New York City Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee is drafting legislation sponsored by Councilwoman Sandy Nurse (D-Cypress Hills). The bill would require the city’s Public Design Commission to publish a plan to remove works – including statues – that “depict a person who owned enslaved persons or directly benefited economically from slavery, or who participated in systemic crimes against indigenous peoples or other crimes against humanity.”
The bill stipulates that if the Commission does not vote to remove a statue or monument, then the city would be required to install an “explanatory plaque,” explaining the sins of the depicted historical figure.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation would have to consult with the Department of Transportation to install said plaques on sidewalks or other public spaces that are adjacent to schools.
The bill has sixteen co-sponsors.
Such figures in the rotation include George Washington, the leader of the Revolution and the first President of the United States; Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence; Peter Stuyvesant, the colonial officer who served as the last Dutch director-general of New Netherland, which would later become New York; and Christopher Columbus, and Italian explorer credited with discovery and development of untouched parts of the New World.
In response to New York City’s plan to remove historical figures, monuments, and items, Brookhaven Town Supervisor and County Executive candidate (R-Center Moriches) penned a letter to New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) voicing his interest in having the removed pieces transferred to Brookhaven.
“I didn’t want to comment on whether that [removing the statues] was right or wrong because that’s a decision of the city, but if you are going to do that, we’ll take the statues,” said Romaine.
“We look at their accomplishments, what they did for their time and how they contributed to the long arc of history,” he said. “And we would welcome having those statues.”
Not only would Romaine welcome the statues, but he says the Town of Brookhaven will gladly pay for the transfer of the statues from New York to various parks in Brookhaven.
Romaine joined FOX News network for a conversation on the topic.
“I guess people want to forget or rewrite history,” said Romaine. He then explained the significance of the figures under scrutiny.
“George Washington led our troops for eight years in the Revolution, some of the darkest hours [in our nation’s history]; we would not have a country today if not for his leadership. Thomas Jefferson wrote our Declaration of Independence. Christopher Columbus lived over 500 years ago, but he was brave enough to sail west and discover a new constituent,” said Romaine.
Romaine then posed a question that many opponents of the removal state: “Every human being has flaws, but should we apply today’s standards to people who lived more than 500 years ago?”
Romaine continued: “I am prepared to move these statues to the Town of Brookhaven. We have about twenty-five parks where they can go. Port Jefferson would be a great place to put Thomas Jefferson’s statue. We can take George Washington to Setauket, where he visited Roe Tavern and met with the Cupler Spy Ring who helped him spy on the British during the Revolution. We have a lot of Italian-Americans and members of the Knights of Columbus in Brookhaven and they would welcome the opportunity to maintain a statue to Christopher Columbus.”
Councilwoman Nurse, the sponsor of the bill, insists the bill aims to “correct” history rather than “cancel it.” She says that this bill allows for the “reckoning with the historical injustices that continue to haunt our cities.”
Romaine’s letter to Mayor Adams highlights his interest in relocating the statues to Brookhaven if they are removed by the Commission. He highlighted Long Island’s history dating back to the Revolution and that the Town of Brookhaven will remove and transport the statues at its own cost.
In the letter, Romaine said: “How the actions of these men and women who made our country great are interpreted by today’s standards, we know the importance of empowering our residents by sharing their stories and allowing them to for their own opinions, rather than censoring their stories or trying to remove them from the public eye.”
In the FOX News interview, Romaine said that while Mayor Adams has not yet responded to the letter, he remains “very hopeful” that he will receive one.
“There are people who want to forget history because they don’t like it or because it doesn’t fit in with their narrative in what history should be today,” said Romaine. “These people lived some time ago. We want to remember them for their flaws and their accomplishments. We want to remember what history teaches us. And if we start trying to decide how we should edit history, we make a terrible mistake.”
FOX showed one New Yorker who supported the removal, saying that he would “rather see a statue there that maybe reflects loving everyone or something like that.”
Another New Yorker said: “I think if it’s a work depicting someone actively being enslaved, it seems like an obvious thing to remove.”
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” said Romain in closing. “We’re Americans after all, but our opinion is that the figures a part of history, and we want to remember their accomplishments and their service. Obviously, Brookhaven being seventy miles east of New York City has a different point of view. I don’t want to denigrate other points of view; we just don’t agree that the statues should be removed, and we want to act on that.”
When asked if the residents of Brookhaven support the move, Romaine said: “Absolutely!”
The bill and its entailed actions will continue to be discussed by the New York City Council and other involved parties within the city government.
