The 12th Assembly District spans nearly sixty miles of shoreline – from the Village of Laurel Hollow to the Town of Smithtown – and with that shoreline comes serious infrastructure responsibility. Coastal communities face constant pressure from aging systems, storm impacts and environmental regulations.
Meeting those challenges requires coordinated planning, reliable funding and strong partnerships with many stakeholders. Stormwater management, sewer upgrades, roadway elevation, bulkhead repair and waterfront revitalization are not optional – they are essential investments in resilience, economic stability and long-term viability. Properly planned and built infrastructure improves water quality, supports local businesses and enhances our quality of life.
Strategic, Long-Term Planning
Over the past three terms, I have worked closely with local, county, state and federal partners – along with private-sector stakeholders – to advance long-range plans in Asharoken, Halesite, Northport and Cold Spring Harbor. The goal is simple: deliver improvements that are resilient, environmentally responsible and built for future generations.
The Asharoken Sea Wall, Northport Dredge Project and, in particular, Halesite Harbor Walk in Huntington are strong examples of poor design, aging infrastructure and neglect that have created an opportunity to rebuild them with modern engineering and landscape architectural design.
Critical stormwater upgrades reduce runoff pollution and improve harbor water quality. Coordination with the NYS Department of Transportation, County DPW and the Town Highway Department is needed to address runoff from corridors like New York Avenue and Route 25A. This integrated approach ensures that environmental protection and economic development move forward together, creating opportunities for contractors experienced in marine construction, drainage systems and roadway improvements.
Moreover, this waterfront and harbor area, historically inaccessible, fragmented and underutilized, is being reconnected through linked parks, improved pedestrian access and expanded public waterfront space. The project supports tourism and small businesses while addressing aging bulkheads and deteriorating shoreline conditions.
Securing Funding to Move Projects Forward
Planning alone does not deliver infrastructure – funding does. My office has been working with my elected colleagues and staff to actively pursue county, state, federal and public-private grants, enabling municipalities to advance improvements without overburdening taxpayers.
In Asharoken, we have been working closely with Mayor Greg Letica, Town Supervisor Ed Smyth, NYS Senator Mario Mattera, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Army Corps, the community and others to remove and rebuild the deteriorating Sea Wall before it fails and strands over 2,000 Eatons Neck residents from the mainland.
In Huntington, Supervisor Ed Smyth, Councilwoman Theresa Mari, multiple Town agencies, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi, NYS Senator Mario Mattera and Congressman Nick LaLota are working with our office to revitalize four Town-owned properties: Halesite Marina Park, Halesite Park, Mill Dam Road and the American Legion Hall site. Plans include a new waterfront esplanade to expand public access, with $400,000 from SC Legislator Stephanie Bontempi and an Assembly SAM Grant have already secured for the American Legion improvements.
The Town is also advancing a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) and collaborating with Cornell Cooperative Extension on mapping and stormwater strategies for the north shore. These efforts guide future capital projects, improve the shoreline and protect marine ecosystems.
Northport is also pursuing its own LWRP, and has hired a civil engineering firm, to design a waterfront esplanade from the Woodbine Avenue municipal parking lot to Seymour’s Boat Yard, relocating parking from the shoreline to strengthen resilience. Since I took office, we have been working with all five layers of government to dredge Northport Harbor, which is long overdue having been last dredged in 1965, sixty years ago.
Finally, in Cold Spring Harbor, plans are designed to restore Firemen’s Park with a naturalized shoreline and new waterfront trail.
Collaboration Drives Results
Infrastructure development at this scale cannot succeed in isolation. It requires coordination among elected officials, agencies, planners, engineers, landscape architects and the community stakeholders.
As State representative for Assembly District 12, my role is to bring the stakeholders together, secure resources and move projects from planning to construction. Prioritizing resilient design, strategic funding and strong collaboration ensures our coastal communities remain vibrant, competitive and prepared for generations to come.