In light of recent controversial developments in Smithtown, the community has been understandably confused and even outraged at the prospects of some of these projects, chief among them being the Kings Park rail yard.
For those not in Smithtown, the rail yard is a proposed project that is currently not before the Smithtown Town Council. The Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent federal agency, approved the construction of a 5,000-foot rail off the main line for commercial use. The construction of the rail yard itself has not been approved or vetted by various organizations under whose purview the proposal falls. The rail yard is seen as a viable solution to offset the closure of the Brookhaven landfill, slated for the end of this year. The alternative to shipping construction debris and ash off Long Island, besides via rail, is by trucking it off, which is assumed by many to be an unwanted burden on the already-clogged roadways of Suffolk County.
That said, the residents of Smithtown, namely Kings Park and Fort Salonga, have been petrified of the idea of a rail yard in their community. While understandable, many community members have fallen prey to online rumors and unreliable information that have spurred much more outrage than was probably necessary. This isn’t to say residents didn’t act within their rights – all did, except for one who insinuated that the Town Council is intentionally trying to harm children with construction of the rail yard – but rather, more accurate information would have provided residents with a better starting point in how to address the problem.
Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) took the liberty of interacting with speakers during Tuesday’s board meeting to address these concerns head-on, a relatively unusual approach given that speakers are given three minutes to address the Council before the next speaker is called to the microphone.
Unorthodox as it was, residents were elated to have their concerns addressed and some said they “felt better” about the rail yard after Supervisor Wehrheim set the record straight on the status of the project and allayed fears about federal government oversight.
Wehrheim referenced the former administration’s take on board meetings, which he equated to chaotic screaming matches where nothing was accomplished. He quipped that he “broke his own three-minute rule,” but felt it was necessary to address concerns of the public.
We think Wehrheim’s interaction with the public in this way could serve as a turning point in the rhetoric surrounding the rail yard. We commend the actions from the Supervisor and hope that the community will consult with Town Hall on these matters as these projects progress.
Kudos to Supervisor Wehrheim
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