Dear Editor,
Riverhead residents have been reading about contaminated groundwater in Calverton for years. At this point, we’re drowning in headlines about who is to blame. What I want to hear more about is who is actually doing something to fix it.
I found Senator Schumer’s recent press conference in Riverhead completely disingenuous. I was equally puzzled to see his name attached to coverage of a subsequent community meeting he didn’t even attend.
The headlines and Schumer’s whole approach to our problem also leave the impression that nothing will happen until 2039. That isn’t the whole story. The Navy has explained that the longer timeline reflects additional PFAS sites added to its investigation, while interim treatment of contaminated groundwater is already underway.
None of that means the Navy should get a pass. The contamination is serious, the cleanup has taken far too long, and residents deserve transparency and urgency. But after years of talking about this problem, I’m less interested in another press conference or community complaint session. I want to know what someone has actually done that made a difference for families dealing with contaminated drinking water.
From what I’ve seen, Congressman Nick LaLota has delivered.
LaLota secured $2.25 million to extend public water to 28 Calverton homes relying on private wells affected or threatened by contamination. That money has already been approved and the project is moving forward. He has also secured $3.25 million for Calverton remediation in the House’s FY27 defense appropriations bill.
Those are real numbers and real steps toward solving a problem this community has lived with for decades.
There is still a long way to go, but Congress has two Houses. The House has put $3.25 million for Calverton cleanup on the table. Now Riverhead needs the Senate to help get it across the finish line.
I hope Senator Schumer turns the noise he brought to our community into action in the Senate.
And when the time comes for his vote, I hope you’ll write about it.
Chrisopher Beattie
Wading River
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