Online Petition Urges County To Nix Beach Twilight Fees

An online petition urging residents to help fight the county's new has surfaced on Care2thepetitionsite.com

The petition, created by Mastic Beach resident Estelle Albertina, has garnered 282 signatures since it was posted on Monday.

The petition carries a plea for 1,000 signatures to help in a united fight to stop the county from charging $4 twilight parking fees at  between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

It reads, "Families are already having a difficult time finding affordable entertainment. Now the one inexpensive summer past time has been taken away from us. Where does it end? These fees are wrong and unfair to an already struggling community!"

Those signing the petition agreed.

Anne McDaniel wrote, "It is bad enough most people can not afford to spend money on any entertainment. Now you want to charge to enjoy God's beaches? Stop the madness now."

And Carol Ann Zack added: "These fees are just not fair. This is where a lot of families go after a hard day at work. Now we have to pay for something that should be free. Living in the area and having to deal with all the traffic that the summer time brings. It is just not right."

The petition does not address, however, West Hampton Dunes' where the county has also imposed a twilight fee, which the county says was necessary to institute to help defray the increase costs associated with its beaches.

Last week, Suffolk County Parks Commissioner Greg Dawson said costs for maintenance, lifeguards and park police add up and the county expects to gain $90,000 from the twilight fees.

Originally, the county had proposed charging fees at it's Hampton Bays  Beach; however, it pulled the beach from the list after an outcry by the the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association.

Will you sign the online petition? Do you agree with the twilight fee? Let us know in the comment section below.