To the Editor:
The recent allegations involving racial remarks and retaliation within the Riverhead Central School District reinforce exactly why I advocated for a more proactive Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force.
During my tenure as chairperson of the task force, I pushed for stronger community engagement, preventive education, greater accountability, and the ability to address concerns before they escalated into serious incidents.
Unfortunately, I frequently encountered resistance to that vision, particularly from Town Board Liaison Denise Merrifield. In my experience, her approach placed too much emphasis on control rather than collaboration, limiting the task force’s ability to operate independently and effectively.
The Town Board’s liaison should serve as a bridge between the task force and town government, not dictate its direction or discourage proactive initiatives.
Riverhead deserves an Anti-Bias Task Force empowered to take meaningful action, engage the community, and address discrimination before it becomes another headline.
We need leadership that encourages solutions, not leadership that controls the conversation.
Mark McLaughlin
Former chairperson, Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force
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