Celebrate suffrage
Aug. 26 is the 106th anniversary of the Constitution’s 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The struggle to obtain that fundamental freedom took 72 years. It is hard enough to imagine a country where it was against the law for women to vote; even harder to imagine the arguments used to justify it and the people who voiced them.
We seldom think of what it took: countless articles and speeches; marches and civil disobedience; suffering of vicious verbal attacks, mob violence and official brutality. The first vigils outside the gates of the White House, with banners known as “Silent Sentinels,” led to harsh imprisonment and force feeding, the same barbarity inflicted by the British on hunger strikers in Northern Ireland and by the U.S. on prisoners in Guantanamo.
A few films and TV documentaries have captured the human drama. The League of Women Voters recently showed a video of the premiere of Andrea Ramsey’s “Suffrage Cantata” at the Westhampton Library and provided a very useful full transcript. A different powerful performance can be seen on youtube at youtu.be/cG9Q6-UnYb4.
The play “Failure is Impossible” was first performed Aug. 26, 1995, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 19th amendment and can be read at archives.gov/education/lessons/woman-suffrage/script.html It would add to Riverhead’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of independence if a local theater group staged it.
Opposition to the current mass deportation of immigrants is the current expression of the spirit for justice of the suffragists. Their unfinished business can be seen in Riverhead today in the disproportionately small number of women on appointed town boards and committees.
John McAuliff
08.26.2026 News
United Riverhead Terminal to receive over $6M in assessment reductions for seven tax years
By Ana Borruto
John McAuliff of Roanoke Landing criticized the lack of transparency in the United Terminal lawsuit at last Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, saying the settlement number should have been presented to the public “from the get-go.”
“I found it a little bizarre that we can’t get the numbers of how much was involved in the legal settlement that we’re all going to have to pay for, and exactly what it covers,” Mr. McAuliff said. “That ought to have been in the first piece of paper, not hidden behind some kind of legal process that is not explained.”
Misuse of public funds
The Riverhead Town Board misappropriated at least $207,000 of
taxpayers’ funds for its share of a law suit that was inherently partisan. It joined with seven other Republican
controlled political entities to attempt to reverse in Federal court a New Y
ork State law that ended odd year elections of local governments. Republican Party committees are lead
plaintiffs without paying anything toward the $1.656 million to date in legal
fees and costs
On June 10th, as reported by Denise Civiletti in the
Riverhead Local, Riverhead and the other towns simultaneously withdrew from the
case. Withdrawal was never discussed
publicly by the Town Board. We await an
explanation from the Town Attorney about whether his action was legally,
politically or morally motivated.
Both parties surround their positions with noble rhetoric
about democracy and participation but have an obvious political self-interest. Democrats who control the State
government believe accurately that they do better when more people vote in even
year elections. Republicans prefer that fewer of the right people vote, a persistent
goal of the Trump Administration.
One can be on
either side of the election date issue but recognize the institutionalized
corruption of misuse of public funds. Riverhead
should insist that the presumably Republican law firm (Brewer, Attorneys &
Counselors) should fully reimburse the town.
Or we should bill the Republican town committee for the $207,000. At least registered Democrats and
Independents ought to get a rebate on our taxes.
John McAuliff
Riverhead Watch
For short video on same topic by County Legislator Greg Doroski , click here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JVfP9aiXT/
BusinessPeconic River Hotel parking fight raises questions for Riverhead Town SquareBy Ana Borruto
Roanoke Landing resident John McAuliff, who urged the Town Board to reconsider the hotel, responded to Ms. Waski’s comments on the low attendance.
“The reason they’re not here, frankly, is because they think it’s useless,” Mr. McAuliff said. “They’ll write you letters, they’ll sign petitions, but they don’t think you’re at all prepared to listen to an alternative viewpoint about the hotel.”
The EPCAL opportunity
Riverhead’s legal victory over the Ghermezians on the EPCAL contract is very welcome. Now that the town has regained control, the challenge for Supervisor Halpin is how to bring the greatest long-term benefit to the whole community. As a participant in EPCAL Watch, I offer these thoughts.
The supervisor should create a transparent and democratic process that supports wide participation in determining the future use of a unique community resource with multi-generational impact. He should invite the advice of economic and social planners in universities, professional associations and the private sector who might want to publicly contribute perspectives on how to best use EPCAL, and establish an open process for citizens of Riverhead to make their own suggestions and describe their dreams. We can learn from each other right away through online exchanges, which can lay the ground for a two-day in person forum with plenary brainstorming discussions and breakout groups to perfect shared interests.
It would be a mistake to assume that the best use is simply to recreate the manufacturing jobs of Grumman Aviation. We must not wait for the next ski tower or drone scheme to arrive; no more Petrocelli-style projects launched behind the scenes and presented as a fait accompli. Personally, I hope that any aviation use is forever off the table.
The one thousand non-developable acres need to be permanently sequestered and protected for environmental reasons. Ideas I’ve heard so far for the 600 developable acres include: returning them to descendants of the farmers from whom the Navy took them; a regional cultural/performance center; a sports hub; a permanent race track; a wind farm; mixed-use agriculture integrated with solar farms; a Shinnecock casino; expansion of manufacturing enterprises already in the Industrial core; a plant to build modular housing; data centers; parkland with hiking paths and campgrounds; use of the rail spur for a distribution center. No doubt many more, as good or better, are out there. The best may come from mutual stimulation and discussion.
The advisory group that worked with Mr. Hubbard and department heads should publish the parameters and procedures they developed for EPCAL proposals. Letters to the editor like this one about the best way to move forward can start the ball rolling.
John McAuliff
Riverhead Watch
What’s the plan?
A three-to-two majority of the Riverhead Town Board has renewed the effort to grab the Long Island Science Center’s property on East Main Street. After I pushed for clarification at the meeting, it was acknowledged that a hearing must be held and a new resolution adopted before exercising eminent domain and spending more money in court.
However, board members Ken Rothwell, Joann Waski and Denise Merrifield and planning director Dawn Thomas did not answer my question about whether they already have a replacement project in mind. Given the scathing criticism of the current building’s condition, its demolition may be contemplated.
Is this another instance of the inside dealing that brought us Joe Petrocelli’s domineering hotel/condo project on the east side of the Square?
As I attended the bittersweet Forward Frame farewell reception at East End Arts on Saturday, the sun streamed through the west-facing windows of the 1840s Davis-Corwin House, past the early stages of Petrocelli’s construction. That natural light will never be seen again after his massive five-story building is erected.
Is it a hopeless dream to think of the construction halted to allow a green lawn from Main Street to the amphitheater and the river, like Mitchell Park in Greenport? If the board majority is determined to destroy the Science Center building, Petrocelli’s hotel should go there. It will not overshadow as much The Suffolk theater or hide the 19th century arts council buildings, which should frame the east side of Town Square.
John McAuliff
Riverhead Watch
Hotel vs. open lawn
People of Riverhead who want to save the Town Square park from a boxy hotel face a serious challenge. Our new supervisor has apparently concluded it can’t be done. Jerry Halpin cites the legal cost of breaking contracts with Joe Petrocelli and opposition from incumbent board members. This echoes how the Republican majority frustrated former supervisor Laura Jens-Smith’s desire to cancel the disastrous EPCAL contract with the Ghermezians.
Petrocelli’s demolition of the building that housed Craft’d allows him to begin pile driving for his hotel/condo. But it also reveals an opportunity to create more green space between The Suffolk theater and the river. Imagine that Riverhead truly opens the intended vista instead of allowing another intrusive five-story building.
Envision how The Suffolk theater can avoid being overshadowed. Picture how the historic buildings of East End Arts can frame the east side of the park rather than be obscured between the hotel and Heatherwood. Will a lawn leading down to the new amphitheater surpass the feel of Greenport’s Mitchell Park and carousel?
Acceding to a hotel for profit was a political decision to benefit the private interest of a campaign donor. Enough pressure from the community can restore the land to public benefit. Supervisor Halpin needs to hear that one reason we voted for him was to undo the damage of his predecessor. Incumbent Town Board members must recognize that selling off half the Town Square park never had public support.
Civic minded attorneys: Can you help find a way out of Petrocelli’s contracts? Everyone: Walk by the space, then write the supervisor and Town Board at Townclerk@townofriverheadny.gov
John McAuliff
Craft’D is missed
We went to Craft’D Tavern for its final high-energy night. It was full with a very diverse clientele.
Sean Kenna created a vital, authentic and successful small business loved and enjoyed by the Riverhead community. It was destroyed by a Town Board that preferred to reward its biggest donor, Joe Petrocelli, so he could make more money from a five-story luxury hotel for tourists plus condominiums. The looming commercial choice they made for the Town Square park can be seen at tinyurl.com/RiverheadTS.
Petrocelli will rush to employ his wrecking ball next month, demolishing Craft’D and the historic inlaid floor in the Swezey’s office on the second floor. However, construction won’t start until the new year. Supervisor Tim Hubbard told the last Town Board meeting that even if the majority changes in the Nov. 4 election, nothing can be done to save the Town Square park.
Hopefully Jerry Halpin, Kevin Shea and Mark Woolley can prove him, Bob Kern and Ken Rothwell wrong and bring back an expanded Craft’D in a building that balances and complements the Long Island Science Center on the opposite side of the park.
Mr. Hubbard has been less than transparent in this process, claiming in one board meeting that he was trying to find Sean a similar downtown space at the same price. When challenged with Sean’s statement that the alternative would cost three times as much, Hubbard denied at a subsequent board meeting that he had said anything about cost.
Still unresolved is whether the transfer of land that was obtained with town funds for use as a public park can be sold for the profit of a private developer without authorization by the state Legislature.
John McAuliff and Mary McDonnell
People of the Year2023 Person of the Year: John McAuliffBy Chris Francescanihttps://riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com/2024/01/118601/2023-person-of-the-year-john-mcauliff/
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