Bob Fredericks, President of the Hay Beach Association, wrote the following Letter to the Editor (Shelter Island Reporter).

Demand  enforcement!
To the Editor:
I would like to make three points on the issue of short-term rentals (STR). First, earlier this summer, the Town Board presented a “clarification of language” on the STR law passed last year by a vote of four to one.This clarification indicated, among other things, penalties for those who did not abide by the law. The audience for this reading and hearing was huge with the great majority for the law passed last year and its enforcement. The problem then, and now, was that there is no enforcement of the law on the books.Arthur Bloom, who works five to seven hours a week, is indicated as the clerk in charge of keeping track of STRs, but he is not, according to Town Attorney Robert DeStefano Jr., responsible for enforcement. A law without enforcement is futile.
Second, Town Supervisor Gary Gerth has been quoted (in the New York Post and elsewhere) as stating he wishes to remove all restrictions on STR’s and will propose that in the fall. Again, the great majority of people who attended the last meeting on the “clarification” of the rules want and demand enforcement of the law and penalties on the books.

It is not surprising that only 12 to 18 owners actually registered this year as renters. They know there is no enforcement of the law.

Third, and finally, it is Supervisor Gerth who declared publicly that allowing owners to rent was a “moral issue” implying that those who sought to restrict renters from breaking the law were themselves immoral persons. What is moral about a new supervisor, as soon as he is elected, appointing his campaign manager as the new town attorney — Bob DeStefano, Jr. — who was also the leader of the Republican Party on Shelter Island?

The people of Shelter Island should demand that laws on the books be enforced and they should let Mr. Gerth and Mr. DeStefano know that they do not want the current laws abolished.

BOB FREDERICKS, Shelter Island

(end of letter)

Fredericks, a retiree, spends over half the year in Florida, a few months on Shelter Island, and complains about lack of enforcement of the STR Law. As President of a Housing Association (Hay Beach Association), shouldn't his position at the very least be impartial or neutral? We know of over 40 families who rent their homes in the summer season in Hay Beach. Are the interests of these 40+ families properly represented by their housing association?

We want no enforcement, no registering, no licensing, and a FULL REPEAL OF THE STR LAW! We support wise Gary Gerth (SI Supervisor) and intelligent Jim Dougherty (Previous SI Supervisor) who both backed a repeal of this terrible law that harms so many Shelter Islanders. Most elitist snobs don't care about other people - working families raising children and taking care of elderly parents or the disabled don't mean anything to them - unless of course, it interferes with their dinner reservation on a Saturday night (direct quote from a Ram Island resident who opposes STRS and finds them a nuisance to his dinner plans). Reject these elitist snobs who want to turn Shelter Island into their own private retirement community! Shelter Island is not a private club with HOA laws - and never will be. Fredericks states in his letter that "the people of Shelter Island should demand that laws on the books be enforced". Does this arrogant, misinformed person think he speaks for all Shelter Islanders? 886 signers on the petition want this law REPEALED!

Have you donated to the legal fund to protect your property rights on Shelter Island? You may do so visibly or anonymously - we protect the privacy of all contributors.
Please send your check (made out to Michelle D'Arcambal) to:

D'Arcambal, Ousley & Cuyler Burke
40 Fulton Street, Suite 1005
New York, NY 10038

Thank you for standing up for the island's property rights - don't let this Town Board compromise your right to rent your home. You own the deed - you have the right!

#saveshelterisland

This petition is nearing 900 supporters - thank you Shelter Island! Keep on sharing our message.