Letters

In the July 27 edition, it was reported that the water quality across Long Island had sunk to new lows because of recent heat waves, torrential downpours, and rising levels of carbon dioxide and acidity levels in our sea waters that threaten our marine ecosystem [“Heat and Downpours Send Water Quality Plummeting in Local Bays,” “Ocean Acidification, a Looming Global Disaster, Has Local Roots and Maybe Solutions,” 27east.com, July 26]. The State Ocean Acidification Task Force found that these threats were not just a result of global climate change. Rather, much of the acidification of the waters here on Long Island is locally generated.

This is why it is more important than ever to elect local officials who take this threat seriously and understand that, here on the East End, our coastal waters are our lifeline, both economically and environmentally.

The Shinnecock Nation has long understood this imperative and has been our most conscientious stewards of land and water long before overdevelopment and global warming threatened our water quality. From growing sustainable hemp that promotes land restoration to establishing kelp farms to combat the excessive buildup of nitrogen in our waters caused by leaking septic systems and fertilizers, the Shinnecock are doing their part to mitigate the harms of overdevelopment and overharvesting, restore marine life, and keep our drinking water clean.

The responsibility of a Town Trustee is to protect our shores, bays and lake bottoms and their produce for the benefit of all town residents. Southampton is fortunate to have a member of the Shinnecock Nation running for a position as Town Trustee for the first time.

Rainbow Chavis has devoted her life to protecting the environment for us and future generations. As the owner of Shinnecock Hemp Growers, Rainbow practices restorative growing practices that protect our coastal land and water. Rainbow also works with the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, the first Indigenous-owned kelp farm on the East Coast, to reduce water pollution, as well as Change Hampton, a newly formed organization that promotes education about our watershed and aquifers.

Ms. Chavis previously worked with the Shinnecock shellfish hatchery on the reseeding of the Shinnecock Bay, successfully planting 10,000 clams and oysters. She also studied algae growth at Cornell Cooperative on the North Fork and was an invited guest at the United Nations Water Conference in New York City earlier this year.

Rainbow Chavis grew up swimming and harvesting in Shinnecock Bay and knows well the importance of keeping our waters clean and our marine life healthy. Rainbow has long advocated, and will continue to advocate, for critical measures such as the installation of a better wastewater management system and the upgrading of our septic systems.

Electing Ms. Chavis also will present residents with a valuable opportunity to represent people of Southampton whose voices have historically been underrepresented.

Andrea Klausner

Vice Chair

Southampton Democratic Committee