Another wetlands parcel has been added to the South Shore conservation area on the Mastic Peninsula, land off Riviera Drive that has been inundated with flooding.
“We have reached terms on the buyout of the property that includes an elevated and incomplete structure on Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach,” announced Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico. “We will take down the structure and clean up the property to restore the wetlands.”
Few may know that this property is owned by Larry Sloman, aka Ratso, a well-known author whose works include Mike Tyson’s autobiography and the script for Howard Stern’s movie “Private Parts,” Panico noted. He also appeared for a brief cameo in Adam Sandler’s film, “Uncut Gems.”
“We are grateful to him and his wife for reaching terms on the sale of this property so that we may continue our planned wetland restoration work in this area of Riviera Drive, a road that is now constantly underwater due to sea level rise,” the Supervisor said. “That certainly wasn’t the case when I grew up in Mastic Beach, but because of the work we have done to continually acquire hundreds of such parcels in the Mastic-Shirley conservation area, we will leave an unspoiled and meaningful environmental legacy for future generations to come.”
“Once again the town has taken the initiative to preserve environmentally sensitive lands to help protect our environment,” said Steve Brown, a member of the Brookhaven Open Space and Farmland Preservation Committee, which recommended the acquisition. “These wetlands are critical for water quality and providing habitat for a healthy ecosystem. The town has been very active in preserving lands along the South Shore waterfront.”