Editorial

Riverhead's state of emergency, issued last Tuesday night, is based on rumors, half-truths and lies. That's no way to govern. The order should be rescinded.

Whatever name they give Triple Five’s plan — a hub, a cog, a piece in the logistics and distribution puzzle — it’s still a place with runways where planes carrying cargo — typically 747s which, when fully loaded, weigh 89,000 pounds — would be landing. And it would generate truck traffic here the likes of which we’ve never seen.

With no penalties for violations and no enforcement except by lawsuits in State Supreme Court brought by private citizens, it's no wonder officials often act like complying with these laws are optional. There is a better way, if N.Y. state lawmakers were serious about transparency.

Editorial: A lot of big projects are heading to the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency for "benefits," collectively millions of dollars in tax exemptions. It's important for residents to understand what the IDA does and why. The agency, which lacks transparency, must do a much better job to provide public information to the public, or it does not deserve the public's support.

A lot’s happened since Riverhead adopted its ethics code in 2005. Big developers with money to spend to get what they want have arrived. An ethics code must protect the public against undue influences. Riverhead’s code comes up short. 

People around Riverhead are always telling us they don’t know what they’d do without us here to keep them informed. We appreciate that so much. Unfortunately, too many communities across NY have no local news source reporting on local issues. And the numbers keep shrinking.

The Town Board's last-minute attempt to slip the adoption of a controversial local law onto its meeting agenda Tuesday gave residents one more reason to lose trust in local government.

Riverhead is assessing potential impacts of the proposed Riverhead Logistics Center, a 15-acre 'high-cube' warehouse, as if it’s a traditional storage facility, as opposed to a potential e-commerce fulfillment center — a dreadful mistake that could have irreversible consequences.

Food banks and pantries document the rising needs of low-income households in reports they must file to obtain state funding. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $227 billion executive budget demonstrates that the administration either isn’t paying attention or doesn’t care. RiverheadLOCAL editorial

We weren't surprised by some comments when Riverhead was named to Forbes' “Top 50 Places to Visit in 2023.” May we suggest a reality check? Take a drive. Go for a walk. You live in a beautiful place. Let go of your preconceptions and view it with fresh eyes. Be a tourist in your home town.