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Open letter to County Executive Steve Levy:
Long Island
Advance January 31, 2008
As
you know, the issues surrounding the existence of the
Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range in Yaphank are myriad
and controversial. Because you are also a voting member
of the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy
Commission, the government agency that oversees
protection of the Pine Barrens, we feel that this
represents a blatant conflict of interest and as such we
respectfully request that you recuse yourself from
acting in any voting or decision making capacity. It is
no secret, Mr. Levy, that you have demonstrated support
for this facility and have consistently sided with
others who also support its existence. The Pine Barrens
Commission needs to be able to render decisions in a
fair and unbiased manner. We feel that your openly
pro-range stance, your administrative actions
facilitating its reopening, coupled with the disregard
you have demonstrated towards the concerns of the
community it effects and the sensitive environment in
which it exists, make it impossible for you to act in
the impartial and objective manner which should be the
foremost responsibility of any member of the commission.
Recusing yourself from any debate, opinion, balloting or
referenda in regard to this issue is the only way we
feel that a truly fair and unbiased decision can be
rendered by the commission. We trust that you will agree
and step aside in the interest of fairness.
Johan
McConnell, president
South
Yaphank Civic Association
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