It is clear that North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena has unilaterally and stealthily acted to doom the Stepping Stones Lighthouse, a historic landmark dating from 1875 that is iconic to the Great Neck Peninsula and is included on the National Registry of Historic Places.

How you ask? By getting Councilmember Veronica Lurvey to agree to pull from the Aug. 4 agenda the board’s approval of a time-sensitive contract – that was accepted back in May. It called for an expert contractor, Terry Marine, to finish the botched construction of a pier, dock and ramp, necessary to do the repairs in order to save it from eroding, possibly collapsing for another winter.

DeSena seems to have used as her excuse to Lurvey that she was “unfamiliar” with the lighthouse “project,” but that would be irresponsible for an actual town supervisor. The Town has been the steward of the lighthouse for 14 years, going back to the Jon Kaiman administration – basically making a pledge to the federal government to preserve, conserve, maintain and restore the historic lighthouse.

This endeavor has been actively supported with in a “public-private partnership” with the Great Neck Historical Society, which has done years of fund-raising and massively time-consuming efforts to save the lighthouse and make it available to the public, as other historic lighthouses are. (Full disclosure: I am a board member of the Historical Society and a member of the Lighthouse committee.)

Why do I think DeSena is unilaterally out to destroy the lighthouse as if she were wielding the wrecking ball herself? Because I would bet that she can’t simply refuse to accept the contract – that is up to the board, and the board has consistently supported preservation of the Lighthouse.

Why do I think DeSena is actively sabotaging the lighthouse? In the statement supplied by her personal spokesperson (as distinct from the town’s spokesperson), Brian Devine, charged that the “project” does not warrant the expense because Stepping Stones Lighthouse “has no historical connection or public benefit” – a huge insult to the residents of Great Neck Peninsula who cherish the lighthouse, one of its few remaining historic landmarks.

“The supervisor and members of her staff visited Steppingstone Lighthouse in late July,” Devine wrote in reply to emailed questions. “Unfortunately, the lighthouse has deteriorated into a decrepit and dilapidated state.” (Notably, she did not bother to “visit” with anyone from the historical society.)

“As a result of over a decade’s worth of neglect and empty promises by previous administrations, we are at the point where the deterioration is so extensive, there is simply no way to accurately estimate exactly how much money this project would cost Town taxpayers. Let’s not forget that this restoration was initially supposed to be entirely privately funded, utilizing ‘minimal’ taxpayer money on a project that has no public benefit and no historical connection to the Town. Authorizing this spending now would be a reckless and irresponsible use of taxpayer money, as starting down this road currently has no end in sight.”

As for public benefit, the goal is to reopen the lighthouse for visits – as so many historic lighthouses have done – including Stepping Stones’ sister lighthouse, the Hudson-Athens further up the Hudson, which has been preserved and is open to visits – to the delight, edification and economic benefit of community. Just about every other place where there are historic lighthouses, they are valued and beloved by their community, a point of pride, a link to the past, a tangible part of heritage. Indeed, Discover Long Island, the tourism bureau includes our Stepping Stones Lighthouse on its list of “Legendary Long Island Lighthouses” (www.discoverlongisland.com/legendary-lighthouses-long-island/)

Just ask Pam Setchell, who helmed the successful Save the Huntington Harbor Lighthouse effort, and now this absolute treasure, which dates from 1857, is enjoyed by the community (weekend tours June-September). Thank goodness, she has shared her expertise with Great Neck Historical Society’s Lighthouse Committee.

Just a bit of context: The cost of this contract to build the pier in order to do the restoration work more easily, safely, and at less cost is almost 100% paid for out of grants already awarded the town – $465,000 out of the $547,000 in the contract – but will only be paid once the work is done. (The town should sue Atlantic Coast Dock Construction for the $284,431 it paid for the botched job.)

But because the town is the steward – vs. a private, nonprofit foundation such as Huntington Harbor Lighthouse – the costs are geometrically more. Huntington, beginning in 1985-7 when it applied to take it over from the federal government, was able to restore it within five years for $2.2 million.

The notion that the Town Board needs additional time to “analyze” the cost-benefits of preserving the lighthouse or to “raise public awareness” about the Lighthouse, or to question public support is an absolute insult after 14 years.

“It is not the ‘public awareness’ that needs to be raised, but that of the Town Board, supervisor and relevant employees,” said an obviously frustrated Alice Kasten, the former president of the Great Neck Historical Society and active member of the Lighthouse committee. “The Great Neck Historical Society has raised significant monies – we paid for a feasibility study, and have other funds in the bank earmarked for the Lighthouse [an estimated $120,000]…The Great Neck Park District employees have helped to patch parts of the Lighthouse…

“It is the Town Board, supervisor, and employees that need to be on board. The Town has been the steward of the Lighthouse for many years. During that time literally nothing helpful has been done for the Lighthouse. The Historical Society was ready to get out there and physically work on the structure, but the Town would not permit it. From what I understand, various employees in high places feel personally negatively about the lighthouse, and have been delaying progress. The supervisor should be the driving force behind the restoration, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. We need the Town to understand its responsibility toward this important structure and move quickly before it is too late,” Kasten stated.

Historic preservation brings enormous benefits to a community – especially one as fractured as the Great Neck Peninsula and the Town of North Hempstead. Such iconic landmarks are unifying, remind people of a common heritage, are a source of pride, and yes, have economic benefits, as well.

“Preservation enhances real estate values and fosters local businesses, keeping historic main streets and downtowns economically viable,” the National Park Service states at its site. “Heritage tourism is a real economic force.” (www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservation/economic-impacts.htm#)

For far, far too long, the Town has been derelict in its responsibility. Worried about the cost? The Town has even been lackadaisical in applying for grants that such a historic landmark should receive, especially the annual New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation grant program (https://parks.ny.gov/grants/).

But DeSena also needs to calculate the cost of demolishing the lighthouse, in light of what has already been spent, especially since it may run afoul of federal law protecting historic landmarks.

“The preservation of the lighthouse is an endeavor that has been approved by the Town Board time and time again, money has been borrowed, grant funds have been accepted and in some cases reimbursed. We can’t just walk away,” Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey said. “I recognize how deeply connected this lighthouse is to the Town and its historic significance. This is a project that has genuine value for our community. When you approach it from this perspective, you have to believe that a path forward can be found.”

It’s time for the supervisor and the board to designate a point person, organize what needs to be done, and finally save the lighthouse.