Zeldin Announces Initiative to Create New Zip Codes on East End

Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, C – NY-1) announced an initiative he launched to create new zip codes on the East End alongside local elected officials and members of the community at the Crohan Community Center in Southampton on Wednesday.

Zeldin’s initiative would create new zip codes for the hamlets of Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton, in the Town of Southampton.

The hamlets each currently share the same zip code, 11901, with the nearby Town of Riverhead which creates a number of issues in the local community.

“This is a serious concern for residents on the East End of Long Island. I have been very well aware of this issue since several years before entering Congress and I am honored to lead the effort for the community to hopefully achieve a positive solution,” Zeldin said.

Research conducted by local residents found that there are currently 18 identical street names and 32 similar street names shared in the Southampton hamlets and Riverhead Town, according to a press release from Zeldin’s office.

This has caused confusion for postal carriers and has led to mail and packages being delivered to the wrong address or not at all, sometimes being routed as far away as Flanders, New Jersey, according to the release.

On Wednesday, Zeldin wrote a letter to the Postmaster officially requesting that the hamlets of Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton, each be assigned with their own new, unique zip codes, possibly 11902, 11903, and 11904, respectively, to make them distinguishable from each other and from Riverhead Town.

In addition, the zip codes also cause major problems for police, first responders, and other emergency personnel, who may arrive at the wrong address due to these shared street names with the same zip code, according to Zeldin.

“For close to 20 years, the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton communities have requested an independent zip code not only to enhance their sense of identity but to ensure the safe and timely arrival of important mail and packages,” Southampton Town Councilwoman Christine Scalera said, “As the Town of Southampton is actively engaged in revitalizing this area, a zip code also provides the benefit of enhancing the sense of community as a hamlet within the Town.”