Dear Editor,
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s recent decision to appeal a unanimous Appellate Court decision is threatening water quality protection for Long Island. The court decision said that taking money from Suffolk’s Drinking Water Protection Program without voter approval at referendum is “Illegal, null and void.”
Voters have authorized a quarter-cent in sales tax to protect drinking water and surface water six times. Each time, the referendum has stated that the program can only be altered by another referendum. Steve Bellone helped put a proposition on the November ballot requiring this and it passed two-to-one.
By appealing, Bellone is now saying that he believes government has the right to raid money from a fund dedicated to protecting water quality! How can we trust Steve Bellone to protect water if he doesn’t think money earmarked for that purpose is off limits?
Sincerely,
Richard Amper
Executive Director
Long Island Pine Barrens Society
Phone: 631-369-3300
