A Long Island community’s two-year effort to incorporate as a village ends Thursday. East Quogue will vote on whether to form its own local government.
Towns in New York are made up of villages, which have their own mayor and laws, and hamlets, which are subject to the laws and elected officials of the town they’re in.
The East Quogue Village Exploratory Committee says if they incorporate as a village, they can control land use in their community. Co-chair Karen Kooi explains the committee’s goal:
“100% local representation. It is high time that we, the residents, make decisions for and about East Quogue. A local village government would focus on issues important to the community,” said committee co-chair Karen Kooi.
She says village operations would cost residents up to $50 dollars per year.
“But is that not worth every penny to be able to decide what the future of East Quogue will look like?”
Opponents are skeptical that taxes can be kept low long-term.
The village of Mastic Beach incorporated in 2010 and dissolved six years later due to spending problems and political infighting.
If East Quogue votes yes, they will be the first to incorporate since Mastic Beach.
