A New York court has ordered the Shinnecock Nation to shut down two electronic billboards in Hampton Bays.
On December 4, judges from the state Appellate Division issued a ruling overturning a 2019 decision by a lower court. The judges determined that the court had made an error by allowing the tribe to continue building two 60-foot-tall electronic billboards on Sunrise Highway.
At the time, the state did not issue an injunction to stop the construction of the billboards. Some local residents had raised concerns that the size and bright lights of the billboards created a safety hazard. The tribe argued that the area falls under its sovereign territory, which is exempt from state or local zoning laws.
The tribe installed the billboards on both sides of Sunrise Highway, using them as an additional revenue stream through advertisements. The tribe has previously emphasized that the income generated helps Shinnecock people who face housing and food insecurity.
In August, the Nation began construction on a new gas station and travel plaza on Newtown Road, located on Shinnecock land near the billboards. This project has sparked complaints from nearby residents.
While the Southampton Town Board has received requests from residents to intervene and halt the project, the board has been reluctant to take action due in part to federal regulations concerning tribal sovereignty. Some members of the board are considering seeking legal counsel. The impact of the court’s ruling in the 2019 case on this new project remains unclear.
A spokesperson for the Nation was unavailable for comment at the time.