Assemblyman Joe DeStefano has announced that the Town of Brookhaven will receive a $10 million Green Resiliency Grant from the state to support drainage and stormwater improvements in downtown Mastic Beach. DeStefano described the funding as the result of years of advocacy and collaboration among multiple levels of government.
“For years, we’ve been fighting to secure real, lasting flood mitigation solutions for Mastic Beach. This $10 million investment is an important win for our community, and it reflects the persistence, coordination and unified effort of the many partners who’ve been working together toward the same goal,” said DeStefano. “I’ve been proud to lead the bi-monthly stakeholder meetings, keep these conversations active and keep every project moving. These meetings ensure that the people and agencies who can make a difference stay focused and engaged.”
The stakeholder meetings in Mastic Beach were first started by former Congressman Lee Zeldin, then led by Sen. Alexis Weik, with DeStefano taking over leadership in 2022. According to DeStefano, these meetings have provided consistency for a community dealing with frequent flooding and infrastructure problems. He also acknowledged Sen. Dean Murray’s role in securing funding.
“I want to especially thank Sen. Dean Murray for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us throughout this entire process,” DeStefano continued. “From day one, he made it clear that Mastic Beach needed and deserved this investment. When we worked together to elevate the urgency of these stormwater projects, the state listened.”
Senator Dean Murray commented on ongoing challenges related to flooding in the area: “The Tri-Hamlet area has seen its share of flooding and water damage over the years and as we continue to move forward with the Mastic Beach redevelopment project, it’s important that we remain committed to focusing on the issues of flooding, drainage and storm water runoff.” He added: “This $10-million Green Resiliency Grant that is being awarded to the Town of Brookhaven, is truly an investment in the future of Mastic Beach. I applaud everyone who worked together to make this $10-million investment possible.”
The coalition involved in planning includes representatives from local government departments such as Brookhaven’s Highway Department—where Deputy Supervisor Steve Tricarico played a key role in advancing a new marina drainage project—as well as stormwater management teams; offices from federal lawmakers; Suffolk County agencies; local civic groups; environmental organizations; emergency services; and representatives from state and federal agencies including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
