Friday, March 15, 2013

Political cartoons have a long history of influencing public opinion.  Current examples can be seen at a exhibit of contemporary anti-war cartoons from around the world in a New Haven show at the Gateway Community College. Seven finalists had their work shown last night at the opening reception. They were chosen from over 500 artists who entered the competition.

The exhibit is on view until March 22^nd, when it moves to UN Headquarters in New York City.

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The Connecticut Legislature’s Public Safety Committee heard testimony Thursday from a predominantly pro-gun crowd during an all-day hearing on about a dozen proposed gun control bills. Despite continuing bipartisan talks between leaders on emergency certified gun legislations, the Public Safety Committee has moved forward with its own legislation. The committee has until March 21 to move legislation out of the committee. Much of the opposition was directed at S.B. 1076, a broad piece of legislation, which includes many of the proposals under consideration by legislative leaders. It includes language that would expand the number of guns prohibited under the state’s assault weapons ban.

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Bridgeport’s gun buyback program continues this Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Community Services Division, 1395 Sylvan Avenue.

The program has taken more than 730 firearms off the streets since December 2012.

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The Port Jefferson School Board is moving ahead to blocking high-school seniors from leaving the school campus during lunch hours. If enacted, the new policy would become ineffective on July 1^st, restricting incoming seniors to the campus during normal school hours. Students have protested the policy, even offering alternative scenarios, while administrators seek to move proactively before a student tragedy.

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When Hurricane Sandy swept ashore in Long Island in October, the historic storm significantly altered the shoreline along Suffolk County's south shore and left a breach at Old Inlet on Fire Island.

Now, county officials are blaming the breach for the increase in flooding experienced by residents in many communities that touch the Great South Bay. During a press conference held at Shorefront Park in Patchogue Village Wednesday, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and other county, town and village officials called for the breach to be repaired.

Bellone also acknowledged that there is a debate over whether or not sealing the breach is the right answer, and representatives from nature organizations came to the conference with concerns that this is a mis-diagnosis.

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Southold Town could be one step closer toward mitigating long-term disaster after future storms. The Town board agreed to move forward with a new federal program that would prove proactive in mitigating damage after natural disasters by embracing a proactive approach.  In February, representatives of the National Disaster Recovery Framework, a new program under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, met with the Southold Town board at a work session to discuss the initiative.

The program would pull together federal agencies to work together in a collaborative effort, focusing not only on disaster recovery - but on projects that can shore up infrastructure to prevent future storm damage.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said he has been working with FEMA officials on a regular basis since the recovery efforts after Hurricane Irene.   Currently, FEMA funding exists in the form of direct reimbursement for costs associated with the damage caused by disasters such as Superstorm Sandy.
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In Water Mill in Southampton Town severe erosion has caused beach to disappear and a steel bulkhead constructed in front of seven ocean front homes to lean in to the sea.this week. 

Sand was washed away beyond the bulkhead exposing junk autos placed there in the 1960s to control erosion.  Southampton Town Trustee Fred Havemeyer told the Southampton Press that water washes away the sand in front of the wall and then swings in to wash out the beach beyond. Havemeyer said “that’s why we don’t want hard structures on the beach".
Nevertheless, additional bulkheads are being constructed on the ocean in nearby Southampton Village.