Jamesport Civic’s candidate forum is not a debate — and it’s not biased.

Dear Residents of the Riverhead Community,

My name is Steve Green, and I’m vice president of the Greater Jamesport Civic Association.  I moderated the last “meet the candidates” forum on Sept. 27, 2023  at the Jamesport Meeting House sponsored by the civic. Tim Hubbard, Denise Merrifield and Joanne Waski participated in the event, as did their challengers.

I am going to moderate this year’s “meet the candidates” night on Sept. 30 at the Jamesport Meeting House that current candidates for supervisor and town council Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Kern and Mr. Rothwell have indicated they will not attend.

I do not want to debate the decision of the incumbent candidates  not to attend the “meet the candidates” night, but as the moderator of the prior event in 2023, I want to address certain statements made by Mr. Hubbard in his Sept. 27 column in RiverheadLOCAL indicating that the 2023 event was biased and that this year’s event will likewise be biased.

Contrary to what Mr. Hubbard states multiple times, the format of the “meet the candidates” night is not a debate.  I pose the same question to each candidate, and each candidate is given the same time to respond.  The questions are intended to cover issues of concern to residents of our community on a broad range of topics.

With respect to the neutrality of the moderator, unlike a debate, there is no follow up from the moderator with respect to the candidates’ responses.  The sole role of the moderator at the event is to pose the questions to the candidates.

Following the 2023 “meet the candidates” night sponsored by the Jamesport Civic, there was not any feedback from the candidates or anyone else indicating that they felt the questions at the 2023 forum were biased or that I was not a neutral moderator — until the recent statements explaining the decision of the incumbent candidates not to attend this year’s event.

To be factual on this issue, attached are the questions that were drawn from and posed to the candidates from both parties at the 2023 “meet the candidates” night.  (See below.) Because of time limitations, not all of the questions were asked of the candidates, but no questions were asked that are not on the attached list. 

If Mr. Hubbard or others would like to share why they feel any of the questions asked of the candidates from both parties evidence bias, I would certainly consider the feedback in framing questions for the September 30 event.

As Mr. Kern and Mr. Rothwell didn’t participate in the 2023 event, they may not be fully informed about the format or the questions posed.  I hope that with a fuller understanding, they may wish to reconsider and attend this year’s “meet the candidates” night at the Jamesport Meeting House on Sept. 30. I also hope that reviewing the questions and understanding the format of the event will allow the community to better judge whether the 2023 event was biased and whether Tuesday’s event will be biased, as Mr. Hubbard stated.

Thank you,

Steve Green

2023 Meet the Candidates Night Questions at Greater Jamesport Civic Association, Jamesport Meeting House – Sept. 27, 2023

Participating: Tim Hubbard (R) and Angela DeVito (D), candidates for supervisor. Joann Waski (R), Denises Merrifield (R),   Renee Suprina (D), and Andrew Leven (D) candidates for council member.

1. Let’s start off by giving the candidates an opportunity to define how they would differentiate themselves from each other.  What would you identify as the two most important issues facing the Town over the next two years where you would address the issues differently from your opponent and what those would be?
2. Let’s step back and take a longer term view.   The Town and its consultants have been working on the new Comprehensive Plan that’s intended to provide a blueprint for the long range vision of the Town.  Would you share your long term vision for the Town of Riverhead?
3. I believe each of the candidates has indicated that maintaining open space and a robust farming economy should be a priority.  With the economic pressures on farming and on potential development of open space, what is the Town in a position to do to support the goals of preserving open space and farming, do you have any specific proposals with respect to this issue?  Would you favor within the Comprehensive Plan adopting zoning changes and design standards to strengthen protection for the rural corridor east of 105?
4. There’s a natural tension between encouraging development and concerns about the stress on infrastructure, school population, parking, water and other resources. Do you feel the board has been striking the correct balance with respect to development?  Would there be any changes that you would look to incorporate going forward?   
5. Do you agree with the Superintendent of Schools that the IDA should stop granting exemptions from payment of school taxes in connection with development projects?   To help understand your thinking about priorities, if through efforts to expand the tax base the Town of Riverhead hypothetically received an additional $5 million dollars in revenue (approximately 5% of the 2023 revenue/tax levy budget) how would you spend it on behalf of the residents?
6. Let’s give you an opportunity to address EPCAL in terms of where we are today.   If the IDA moves the Town’s deal with CAT forward, is that the end of the road for the Town Council’s ability to prevent CAT from obtaining the development rights, in that event how would you propose, if at all, to address concerns that have been raised with respect to the scope of development, use of runways, traffic, environmental concerns and others?  If the IDA doesn’t approve an authorizing resolution, would you support declaring the contract null and void?
7. Let’s look at environmental issues.  A recent study by Moody’s Analytics identified Long Island as the area facing the 4^th highest risk to its physical assets from the effects of climate change, after San Francisco, Cape Coral, Florida and NYC.  Do you believe the Town Council should make identification and implementation of strategies to meet the challenges of climate change a priority?  Can you identify any specific programs that you would support implementing for the Town of Riverhead to deal with threats to the environment, including the right to clean air and water, and to mitigate risks from climate change?
8. We hear from our residents that laws and codes on the books are not being enforced by the Town, whether it be relating to housing, noise, traffic and other issues that affect safety and quality of life.  How can this problem be solved?
9. Do you agree with the Town’s declaration and continuation of a state of emergency regarding asylum seekers preventing hotels, motels and other facilities from providing housing to asylum seekers?  Do you feel Riverhead should play any role in trying to provide housing for asylum seekers if NYC or NYS were willing to cover costs of food and shelter that would otherwise be borne by the Town?
10. There have been concerns expressed by residents that the Town board has not held hearings on certain issues to allow the public to share their opinions with the board and that there has at times been hostility toward residents expressing opinions or raising questions at town meetings?  Do you think this concern is misplaced or do you share the concern?  Are there any changes you would support implementing with respect to this issue? 
11. Candidates Closing Statements