Letters

In a recent letter from Jessica McNerney [“More Than a Stain,” Letters, August 21], she unjustly attacks Maria Moore and the Southampton Town Board for challenging the validity of a letter issued by an official of the U.S. Department of Interior that came down heavily on the side of the Shinnecock Nation with regard to the proper map recording of the Westwoods property, which has longstanding legal implications.

Research would have shown Ms. McNerney that the letter — which was dated January 2 of this year, less than three weeks before the change of administrations, after years of inaction — was signed by Bryan Newland, a political appointee of the Biden administration, who is a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan. The letter was addressed solely to Lisa Goree of the Shinnecock Nation, with no copy sent to the Town of Southampton amid ongoing litigation.

The letter indicated that Mr. Newland had instructed Kimberly Bouchard, the Eastern Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs — who happens to be an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin — to do the retitling of the map records. The letter gave scant background, history and rationale, as well as including a misstatement of facts. Its finding also contradicted the opinions of the courts in recent decades.

Under these very unusual circumstances, Supervisor Moore and the Town Board would have been grossly negligent if they hadn’t challenged the letter, as it would weigh heavily in present and future matters concerning the Westwoods property.

Congressman Nick LaLota also should strongly encourage the current leadership of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to revisit the issuing of the letter under these unusual circumstances to determine its appropriateness. If the letter stands up to a second look and judicial scrutiny, then so be it — but in the meantime, the Town Board is to be commended for doing its due diligence.

Ron Schaefer

Hampton Bays