There are two kinds of problems in government: the kind that require resources and the kind that require a decision.
The collapsed dam linking Brookhaven and Smithtown falls squarely into the second category. The heavy rains that washed out the structure last August turned a scenic pond into a mudflat and severed a transportation link.
The fix isn’t a mystery. The money isn’t a mystery. The only mystery is why it hasn’t started.
FEMA will pay for roughly 75% of the reconstruction. That’s not speculation; it’s the standard formula for federal disaster reimbursement. The remaining share can be split between the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, and any other willing partners. Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) have made clear they are ready to move forward under that arrangement.
The catch is one that doesn’t cost a dime: the property owner at the time of loss must sign the FEMA application. Without that, there is no reimbursement, no shovels in the ground, and no restored pond.
Instead of a signature, we’ve seen proposals that would make a Wall Street banker blush. First, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO) suggested dividing the bill eight ways among government entities and nonprofits, each kicking in about $540,000. That plan depended on multiple agencies stretching their legal authority to spend taxpayer dollars on private property. Then came a new plan: WMHO would put up $1 million, and residents would be encouraged to pressure the Town and County for the rest.
Both ideas share one fatal flaw — they walk away from guaranteed federal funding in favor of speculative, patchwork fundraising. That’s not fiscal responsibility; that’s gambling with taxpayer money.
Meanwhile, the community lives with the consequences: detoured traffic, a damaged historic site, and a pond that has gone from postcard beauty to vacant-lot blight. Businesses lose foot traffic, emergency services lose time, and residents lose patience. Every week that passes without action is another week of compounding costs — financial and otherwise.
The Town has offered solutions to remove obstacles. They’ve proposed taking a quit claim deed to relieve insurance concerns. They’ve offered to share un-reimbursable costs. They’ve even opened the door to state involvement, if necessary, though that path would be slower and more complicated.
The sticking point remains the same: no signature, no FEMA funds.
Some disputes are about competing visions. This isn’t one of them. There is no alternative “vision” that makes bypassing a 75% reimbursement rational. The only alternative to cooperation is a drawn-out legal fight, higher costs, and a project that should be in progress still sitting idle.
The issue isn’t at Town Hall — it’s at the signature line. Panico’s position is simple: take the federal money, fix the dam, and restore the link between two towns. Anything else is needless delay at the public’s expense.
The arithmetic is clear. The choice is clear. And the responsibility for inaction is just as clear.
Raheem Soto
Publisher, Messenger Papers
