Bellport defends itself against claims of discrimination over access to Fire Island beach

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The Village of Bellport is firing back after Town of Brookhaven claims they're not allowing Brookhaven residents, specifically minorities -- access to Ho Hum Beach on Fire Island. According to a 2018 resolution, Supervisor Dan Panico explained to News 12 that residents of the Town of Brookhaven are allowed to use the beach only accessible by boat. Currently, the only option is a ferry that is for Bellport Village residents only. Supervisor Panico told News 12 that he has met with the village about the issue before but continues to experience hurdles when it comes to figuring out a way to get access to Brookhaven residents. Recently, Panico says he took matters into his own hands, chartering water taxis for residents, something he explained that he will continue to do for the duration of the summer. The Village of Bellport Mayor Maureen Veitch sent News 12 the following statement: "Supervisor Panico has asserted that the Village of Bellport does not welcome non-residents to its beach, and I want to set the record straight. Panico chooses media stunts over coordinating with Village leadership and has not responded to my attempts to reach him to meet and work out a path forward. The Bellport ferry, docks and beach facilities are paid for and maintained by the village residents via additional taxes and fees. We routinely welcome non-resident guests to the beach in a planned and safe manner, such as the 40 members of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Bellport Area who visited the beach last week. We regularly create opportunities for non-residents to use the beach in a coordinated and safe way. Bellport’s limited docks are not set up to accommodate commercial taxi companies. When the Supervisor paid to bring water taxis to Bellport docks this past Sunday without notifying the Village in advance, he did not know that we had a paddleboard event that morning and young sailors out on the bay nearby. Panico is putting politics over people and safety. With beaches like Great Gun Marina, Smith Point and Davis Park within a few miles, it’s baffling that this is the issue the Supervisor chooses to spend all his time on – when there are urgent issues facing the residents of Brookhaven Town such as closing the landfill, jobs, housing, and the restoration of the north shore after the recent storms to name a few." At a news conference organized by the Town of Brookhaven Tuesday, residents who live in surrounding minority communities but do not pay Village of Bellport taxes said the situation feels like discrimination. “It feels like 1956, it feels like 1963,” said Wilkens Young. “That’s what I’m starting to feel like and that’s why I’m upset. I’ve got grandkids, I’ve got great-grandkids and I want them to have the same opportunities that I had once I left.” Supervisor Panico says Brookhaven is working with legal counsel on the matter. "