UPDATE: A public hearing has been scheduled on Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. to address this redistricting issue with Assemblyman Dan Losquadro and other North Fork elected officials at the W.H. Rogers Legislative Office Building in Hauppauge.

This story is rife with mistakes. First, of all, the re-districting proposal is not "Fred Thiele's". It is the proposal of the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. The public hearing referred to in the update is the Task Force's Long Island hearing, one of nine being held across the State to hear the public on the entire redistricting plan.....not just the 1st Assembly District.
The East End is too large for just one district and not large enough for two. The North Fork does not have sufficient population to have its own district. In redistricting, the issue was whether Southold and Shelter Island should be in an East End District or a Brookhaven District. Similarly, the issue is whether the Shirley, Mastic and Mastic Beach community (William Floyd School District) should be divided in half or kept whole in a Brookhaven district. The Task Force put Southold and Shelter Island in the East End and Mastic, Mastic Beach, and Shirley in Brookhaven. Does Southold really have more in common with Brookhaven than Shelter Island, Southampton, and East Hampton? BTW, Southold and Shelter Island were with the South Fork in the State Assembly for more than 200 years until it was divided in 1980 to create better districts for the west end.

Fred -- I have clarified the origins of the proposal. Thanks for your comments.

I wonder how the North Fork would feel about their representative in Albany simultaneously representing the South Fork Village of Sag Harbor as Village Attorney?

It is not about the men, the proposed change of law would strengthen the position of the East End, reconcile the differences and build on the common interests of the North anf South Forks. This is not about Peconic County it is about an improved Suffolk County.

bs- i agree i would rather be rep.'d by an east ender who is voted on by east enders that one who might be swayed by the bkhvn machine. i have worked with thiele and found him to be focused and not influenced by emotions of political adjendas. and to RB far better than a "up-islander" who rep.'s their interests.

ft, you consider Dan Losquadro an up islander?

Assemblyman Thiele's spirited defense of the proposed redistricting of the 1st Assembly district which would separate Southold Town "again" from its historical ties with Riverhead Town. I use "again" as Riverhead was once Southold's western hamlets.

Theile asks does Southold have more in common with Brookhaven than the South side towns of Southampton and Easthampton? The answer, to many of us raised on the North Fork, is Yes. We are bound by our agricultural, maritime and blue collar ties which run along Suffolk's north shore. Assemblyman Thiele should also be cognizant that portions of the present 2nd Assembly District which would remain in the 2nd AD are part of The Suffolk County Legislature's 1st Legislative District which recognizes Southold's ties to Riverhead and the blue collar area of the 2nd AD note not its more affluent NYC influenced Southampton and Easthampton townships.

Assemblyman Theile should note he would be no longer representing the 2nd AD but possibly the 1st AD and we in the 1st AD have our own perspective of our shared history.

Southold Town doesn't need Fred Theile. Why are the public forums held up island and not locally in each North Fork Town and Village. Thiele only wants more power, The lines could be drawn differently, next step will be to redraw the county legislative district. Good Bye Edd Romaine, that really would be a loss. I think a flyer to each voter explaining what's happening should be sent out. What are we Texas?

Mr. Thiele seems to be defending the proposal, but wants no responsibility for its creation, but doesn't state an alternative, but doesn't say he opposes it, but doesn't say it's a good idea...whew! Wait, let me guess. He's a career politician. That explains it.

he would rather have the "people" have a say and then choose i am for east end representation rather than 1/4 west and 3/4 east...

Sorry Fred It won't work, find a real job.

ws - nihilism here we come

Well now that we know Mr. Thiele is here reading and responding, allow me to ask two simple questions.

1- In 2004, the East Hampton town board prohibited Cross Sound ferry from operating in their town. After the recent conclusion of seven years of taxpayer funded litigation, East Hampton won their case, no ferries. Southolders were in favor of an expansion of service onto the south fork, as it would relieve traffic here, as well as through Shelter Island, also soon to also be part of your district.

Mr. Thiele, what is your position on this matter? How will you work to address our concerns in Southold and Shelter Island on this issue? And will you speak out in favor of expansion of ferry service to the South Fork, if only for the purposes of mitigating traffic, pollution, and unnecessary vehicle miles, on the North Fork and Shelter Island. Many of us feel as though your highly funded connections in the South Fork used their influence to get what they want, at the direct expense of the North Fork.

2- One word: Helicopters.
They go to the South Fork, and overfly the North Fork at low altitudes, and high speeds. They service the South Fork, at the expense of the North Fork. Notwithstanding the recent FAA minimum altitudes, which will not matter, as they are ether in departure ascent or arrival descent as they transit the North Fork, what is your position on this issue? Will you work to mitigate the problem, and address our concerns?

We await your responses.

our pastor at sacred heart here says this issue best ' on the south shore small raw fish is called Sushi on the working north fork we call it BAIT'.. there is no way we have anything in common with the hamptons .. this is another consolidation of power by albany and its cronies....good luck stopping this from happening

and "up-west" chum and fert'lizer. better with so. fork than with bkhvn... but that said no. fo from orient to shoreham as one --- montauk to shirley as one and i dont like a rep who goes indep then runs dem .

having had the distinct pleasure of living in crookhaven we will lose our identity to the crook crats that STILL RUN TOWN GOVT same place
just different names on the office doors

exactly why - thiele is better tnan a westerner but best is no. fo sep and so. fo seperate -- are we will ing to pay for ir ????? ziedler, jay,powel,malk sleeping at board meetings it was fun to watch but you got a lot for your $$$

As a full time resident of Southold, I am in total favor of the proposed revised district.
It makes total sense to have Southold and Shelter Island in the same assembly district as East Hampton and Southampton towns. The issues in these (4) towns ARE often the same, and the local residents of these (4) towns have more in common than some VERY narrow minded people think. Riverhead Town does have many issues that are different than the other (4) towns and it should be in a different district.

ken when we all merge to one district its going to be the 'golden rule'[ he that has the gold makes the rules]... first thing you will hear is the sound of endless helicopters taking the rich to weekend, then you hear police sirens when all the homeless, shelterless people get gentrified and sent here and are taken in, the next sound you will here[groans] is the locals being 'squeezed' like oranges for every last of income they have due to increased taxe.s and cost of living.. please give me an example of 4 issues that are the same for ALL

I would just like to point out that although we know he reads and comments on this forum, Mr. Thiele has completely failed to address issues noted above. Interesting, because in effect, Mr. Thiele is being appointed as our new elected official, even though we have not elected him. Therefore, this time around he gets to dodge the issues we bring up, and not address any of our concerns. In effect, he is being deposited upon us, to rule, without any input from the citizenry. So this time, he has the luxury of not replying, not addressing, and, in effect, completely ignoring our concerns. Mr. Thiele is not even giving us the time of day here, he is just silently smiling, as his realm expands.
Fine, be that way. Just note that come the next election round, we are going to remind you of this very forum, and your behavior in not responding to our concerns.

I Think We Should Wait For The Reality Rather Than Ponder Something That Has Not Happened. He In The Past Did His Due Diligence In Representing The So. Fork (His District). I Can’t Believe People Are Condemning Him For His Positions When Representing Interests Of The So. Fork. If He “Killed” The Ferry More Power To Him. That Is What He Is Elected For. Would He Work As Hard For Our (No. Fork) Interests I Think So. I Was Involved With Him When I Was In Brookhaven (Not His District) And Asked Him For Support For Ed Romaine – He Reviewed The Request – And Backed The (Then) Proposal. Let The Rhetoric Begin When It Is A Reality And Deal In Facts Not Hearsay. HE WILL WHEN IT COMES TIME INVESTIGATE / AND PRESENT HIS POSITION AND THEN WE CAN (VOTE) DESIDE.