Rally Planned To Protest PSEG's 'Monster Poles'

EASTPORT, NY — Community members are planning a large rally Wednesday to protest PSEG's "monster poles" and demand that the cables be buried.

The rally will take place Wednesday at 6:30 pm opposite Eastport's PSEG's substation at the corner of Eastport Manor Road and Montauk Highway.

Speakers expected to attend include New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Suffolk County Legislators Al Krupski and Bridget Fleming, Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, Brookhaven Councilman Dan Panico and Southampton Town Board members, the release said.

"The rally will demonstrate publicly the concerns, resolve and commitment of the local communities to have the 'Monster Poles' removed. It will show support for the Towns of Southampton and Brookhaven bringing to a successful completion the legal proceedings against PSEG LI and LIPA, which the Suffolk County Legislature recently voted to support," organizers said.

Added Roy Reynolds, EMPOA president: "By being at the protest rally, residents will show PSEG, LIPA and the rest of Albany that this is an issue that will not go away until the Monster Poles are gone."

The event is sponsored by local civic organizations including the East Moriches Property Owners Association, the Eastport Green Project, and the Moriches Bay Civic Association.

"PSEG has a pattern of planning projects that will impact communities, barely giving notice of them, skirting environmental protections, and rapidly completing projects before local officials and residents know what is happening and can respond," organizers said. "The current problem directly affects the communities of Eastport, East Moriches, Center Moriches, Riverside, Speonk and Remsenburg, but PSEG is planning projects for other areas. All Suffolk County residents should be concerned about the same thing happening to them and support the protest."

When asked for comment, PSEG media representative Elizabeth Flagler responded: "PSEG Long Island is committed to delivering safe and reliable electric power. The Riverhead to Eastport reconductoring project was completed to enhance the system’s ability to withstand extreme weather and provide for the area’s growing energy demand. Infrastructure projects, like this one, enable PSEG Long Island to continue to live up to our commitment of providing our customers with safe, reliable and resilient electric service."

Patch courtesy photo.