Riverhead, NY– All 18 member of
the Suffolk County Legislature today signed onto a letter requesting theDistrict Attorney seek full restitution for future findings of guilt in cases
involving illegal dumping. The letter, whichwas authored by Parks Committee Chairwoman Kara Hahn, comes on the same day
legislators approved Introductory Resolution 1627-2017, a bill authorizing$750,000 to remove toxic and hazardous materials illegally dumped within West
Hills County Park in 2016.
Acting“out of deference to our taxpayers” who “have already invested mightily” to
preserve these public lands, the reads as follows:
Dear DistrictAttorney Spota,
We all have
been shocked, saddened and dismayed by the repeated discoveries of illegallydumped material within our protected lands over these past three years. The degradation of these majestic treasures
by individuals and corporations solely motivated by greed defiles thecommitment that we have made to their protection and to our residents’ health
and quality of life. However, beyond thephysical and environmental damages caused by illegal dumping, there is the financial
impact to local governments and its taxpayers who must bear the costs ofremediation.
Out of
deference to our taxpayers, we request that for all future findings of guilt incases involving illegal dumping, your office’s plea bargain agreements and
sentencing recommendations also includefull restitution for the guilty party to pay all cleanup and remediation
costs.
As a County wehave worked to increase penalties for illegal dumping, now allowing for
sentences of both incarceration and fines for convictions of specific offenses. Despite this, and other initiatives,
however, more can and must be done to protect the public from having to fundcleanup efforts on land, that in some circumstances they have already invested
mightily to preserve. Wherever possibleit should be the perpetrators of these crimes who are held financially
responsible, not those who have entrusted government with the awesomeresponsibility of protecting our public lands.
We know you and the prosecutors within your
office are equally offended by the contempt shown to all of us by thosechoosing to illegally dump upon our open spaces and are committing to seeking
their full prosecutions. We continue tothank you for this and are equally as committed to ensuring those who desecrate
public lands are held to account.