Press Statement: Suffolk County Legislature United in Asking President to Preserve Plum Island

Southold, NY—All 18 members of the Suffolk County Legislature have signed a letter to President Biden, urging him to preserve Plum Island by declaring it a National Monument. In their letter, legislators noted they are “proud to have had such an important institution” as the Plum Island Animal Disease Center “located in Suffolk County for so many decades.” But, they added, “now that the operations conducted at PIADC will be moved to a new facility in Manhattan, Kansas, a unique opportunity presents itself to preserve Plum Island for the benefit of generations to come.” Read the full letter here.

Suffolk legislators joined the elected officials in Long Island’s East End Supervisors and Mayors Association—5 towns and 10 village governments—who sent their own letter to the president last month.

Louise Harrison, New York natural areas coordinator for Save the Sound, said:

“Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski has advocated preservation of Plum Island for years, ever since he was a Southold Town Trustee and, later, a Town Board member. We’re grateful Legislator Krupski has taken his enthusiasm for permanent protection of this national asset to the County Legislature and infused all the representatives with his passion and resolve, resulting in an ‘all-18’ letter to the President of the United States. By doing so, Legislator Krupski and his colleagues have raised the voices of 1.5 million residents to the White House, calling for the President to proclaim Plum Island a national monument for ecological conservation, historical preservation, and the discovery and celebration of our shared cultural heritage.”

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