Greetings!

I am angry that the irresponsible behavior of people visiting the Pines over the Fourth of July weekend, as well as partying on the beach and in private homes, caused our residents to feel unsafe and unwelcome in our own community.

We all, in our own particular way, treasure our island paradise. Going forward, FIPPOA, with the assistance of the police, will take every step we can to ensure that our special place remains protected.

FIPPOA is acting swiftly and decisively to stop parties on the beach and in the houses that threaten our safety. 

The behavior that we witnessed this past weekend is not acceptable during an epidemic. It endangers the health and well-being of everyone in the Pines and gives the perception, unfairly, that the Pines is unsafe. These reckless events drew a very negative reaction from Governor Cuomo, who has done a great job of managing the virus in New York State. Videos of the house parties, extensively circulated on social media, also drew condemnation from across the country and the world. These activities are being investigated by the police.

While the Pines is traditionally slower after the July 4th holiday, and the negative press attached to the large party on the beach may help prevent other such parties from occurring, the police will be ready. FIPPOA will be, too.
 
The police will:
  • Have a patrol car on the beach at all times during this upcoming weekend and will be out on foot to prevent any gatherings from occurring
  • Vigorously enforce applicable ordinances at house parties, particularly noise
  • Patrol the walks late at night and go to houses where they hear loud noise in an attempt to stop parties before they begin
  • Videotape parties with a view to further enforcement
  • Enforce social distancing and mask requirements at all times

FIPPOA has:
  • Reached out to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and coordinated with local officials to secure their assistance and protection
  • Created a flyer for distribution at the Sayville Ferry, at each house, and at local businesses before the weekend that appeals to the higher senses of owners and renters about responsible choices that affect ourselves and our community; we ask all residents and visitors to avoid behavior that causes their neighbors to feel that their health is being jeopardized or that in any way tarnishes the Pines
  • Cancelled the Pines Party to avoid any possibility of repeating the July 4th weekend
  • Alerted the police to be extra vigilant during Pines Party weekend in the event that there is an influx of visitors
  • Added additional signage to the harbor to enforce mask wearing and social distancing

You can:
  • Report loud parties on the beach or house parties to 911 or 852-COPS
  • At the same time, report the address (and the owner’s name, if known) to FIPPOA by email to [email protected]
  • The police will follow up with the owner or renter with the information that he or she is recklessly endangering the health and welfare of the community; the owner or renter will be liable

In addition, starting this Friday, July 10th Daniel Nardicio has put together The COVID Destroyers to greet people at the harbor to infiltrate beach parties, encourage social distancing, and educate visitors about how to protect themselves and others while still having fun. 

The Pines is Our Community
Despite all the mayhem that occurred this weekend, the Pines is still our community. We came out intact. As many of you may have seen, we made a big effort to get our message across to our community and to larger world via the media that residents of the Pines stand together. We will not tolerate the behavior that we witnessed over the weekend. The partygoers who flagrantly violated health and safety guidelines, as well as the Governor’s executive orders, were not the residents who have been so diligently following the measures set forth by our public officials. We are a community of resilient, considerate, and compassionate people who care about each other and take our social responsibilities seriously. Some of this coverage was included on CBS , NBC , Fox , Long Island News 12 , Gothamist , Huffington Post , and The Advocate . 
Best,
Jay
Jay Pagano