How We Built Trust/Unified our community

The committee was formed with long-time community members. As a matter of fact, 5 of the 8 community members were members of a committee formed in 1992 to ask for a seawall to protect the community after the 1992 Nor’Easter.

When I began to speak at each community meeting, I made it clear that I was not an elected official. I told the residents that they should not look to me to act as an elected official. This was unwittingly done to gain their trust, whereas the reason I started each meeting that way was so they were not confused and would not rely on me as if I was an elected official.

I was soon accepted as the leader by almost all residents, mostly because of my newly formed close association with the committee and my knowledge of buyouts, mortgages and real estate.

We all recognized that we were in this together with everyone focused on the goal of leaving the community, returning the land to nature, with enough money to move on. We also started the community meetings by saying that these meetings were only for those who wanted to learn more about buyouts; we made it clear that these meetings would not be for food or immediate shelter needs.

The committee addressed the concern that their homes would be knocked down and replaced by a newer and bigger one. By stressing and pointing out that the only way the government would pay for their homes, is if the house is returned to nature.

Under the direction of Randy Douglas, town supervisor of Jay, NY, we had each resident fill out a form that said they were interested in getting their home bought out in pre-storm value, they knew it was voluntary and they could back down at anytime. This was vital to build trust and unifying the residents for a common cause.