May 30, 2017 4:48 PM

Many Southampton Village residents and officials voiced outrage this week after a candidate for Village Board in the June 16 election acknowledged placing a call to Village Police last summer and using a racial slur when referring to a group of black men standing in front of her home in the Hillcrest neighborhood.

Valerie Smith, who is white, on Friday confirmed that she made the call, and used the slur, after a recording was obtained by The Press on Friday via a Freedom of Information Law request—and she went on to defend her use of the word, and used it several more times in an interview.

The call, made at 6:17 p.m. on August 5, 2016, from her residence on Windward Way, included Ms. Smith reporting that there were “a bunch of niggers” standing in front of her house, drinking “Hennessy.” She asked to have a police officer sent to her street to get them away from her house.

A source had told The Press about the call made to Village Police, and the recording. A FOIL request was submitted, and a copy of the recording was provided by the village, since it is a public record.

Without even hearing the recording on Friday, Ms. Smith, 53, confirmed that she had made the call, then repeatedly used the “n-word” throughout a phone call with a reporter.

Ms. Smith said her use of the racial slur was no big deal, and she should be entitled to use it whenever she wants. She suggested that comedian Eddie Murphy made a career out of using the word, and added that she grew up hearing it on television in the 1970s show “All in the Family.”

“Now, all of a sudden, I can’t use it?” Ms. Smith said in the phone interview on Friday. “Sorry—I live in a black neighborhood. I came here and didn’t see color.”

Ms. Smith said she purchased the home in the largely African-American Hillcrest neighborhood nearly six years ago. She said she converted her home, which she called a “rodent-infested dump,” into an oasis.

“I came into this neighborhood colorblind,” she said. “… When you are a pioneer, like I am, it’s not easy. I’m the only white person who owns and lives on this street.”

Southampton Village Police Department Lieutenant Chris Wetter said that over the past six years, Ms. Smith has called the police department between 100 and 200 times. Most of the complaints were about litter, noise, illegal parking and public drinking.

Ms. Smith admitted to making that many calls, saying her neighborhood is neglected.

One night, she said, she couldn’t sleep in her bedroom because of the noise coming from in front of her house. So she put on some shoes and walked outside.

“I said, ‘You f------ niggers!’ and they just dispersed,” Ms. Smith recalled.

The next night, when she came home, she saw them in front of her house again, and heard one of the men call her name. Ms. Smith asked who he was, and he replied that he was the man she had used the racial slur toward the night before.

In relating the story, she referred to the man, who she said was in his 30s, as “boy,” and said she told him, “I know you’re a good guy, but you don’t behave like that … If you want to behave like that, you’re going to be a nigger.”

Ms. Smith said she has been harassed by the people in the neighborhood, but not everyone, because she recognizes that there are good people there. Instead, she said a large portion of the problems are from the traffic that comes in from Flanders and Riverside.

“I am entitled to peace and quiet and enjoyment in my residence,” said Ms. Smith, who said she now sleeps in her basement because she can’t sleep in her bedroom when the noise outside is loud.

Brenda Simmons, who lives in the Hillcrest neighborhood, and has been one of the forces behind establishing an African American museum in Southampton, said on Monday that she was “very appalled” by Ms. Smith’s comments, though she added that she was not surprised.

“I’m not shocked she would use the word—I’m not,” she said. “That’s unfortunately what is disgusting to me.”

Working as Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley’s assistant for nearly 12 years, Ms. Simmons said, she got to know Ms. Smith very well. Many of the conversations between Ms. Smith and Ms. Simmons dealt with the Hillcrest neighborhood. But at one point, she said, the discussions stopped.

After hearing about Ms. Smith’s call to police and interview with The Press, Ms. Simmons said, she has been on the phone nonstop.

“I have been in contact with [government] officials, and they all agree that we cannot stay silent on this situation,” said Ms. Simmons, referring to local officials including Mr. Epley, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming. “All of us are outraged by her comments.

“I am glad that the powers that be are coming together to address this issue and it’s not going to be swept under the rug, because that day is over,” she added.

Tavia Jeffries, 19, of the Hillcrest neighborhood, who said she’s familiar with Ms. Smith, said was shocked by the article, but, at the same time, not.

“It’s nothing new to hear this,” Ms. Jeffries, who is black, said on Tuesday. “She was just more vocal. She has said things that many have thought, and it just continues to open my eyes.”

Ms. Jeffries said she remembers the night that Ms. Smith came outside—because she said she was there.

As far as individuals continuing to use racial slurs, Ms. Jeffries said it only motivates her to raise awareness on the issue. “It gives me a reason to show them why those terms they use to describe my people are not proper,” she said. “It is rude and disrespectful to call anyone out of their name.”

In a statement made to The Press by Mr. Epley, the Southampton Village mayor said, “Southampton is a very diversified community, and our elected officials have to recognize that. Her comments on the phone are unacceptable and inappropriate. And her justification is inexcusable.”

Other Village Board members echoed Mr. Epley’s stance.

Southampton Village Trustee and mayoral candidate Richard Yastrzemski said Ms. Smith’s statements can’t be tolerated, and he echoed Mr. Epley in saying it was inexcusable.

“To say it openly, defend it and say it on tape? If you don’t see the big deal about it, that’s a problem,” Mr. Yastrzemski said. “She doesn’t get why the other side is offended. You gotta be able to see all sides.”

“It’s a very serious thing that she did,” Southampton Village Trustee and mayoral candidate Michael Irving said on Monday. “Her comments and use of racial slurs is totally unacceptable. I’m not sure she understands the ramifications of what she did.”

Ms. Smith announced her candidacy in the upcoming Southampton Village Board election, her first run for public office, saying she was prompted in part by wanting to get some attention to her neighborhood.

Since the article was published on 27East.com on Friday, Ms. Smith’s Facebook page has become splattered with hateful messages, but also some messages of support. In one reply, Ms. Smith posted, “... I have had gangsters, hoodlums, hanging in front of my house regularly for 6 years!!! I finally broke down last summer.”

She followed that post up with, “By ‘hanging out’ I mean: drinking, playing loud music, throwing their garbage on my property, smoking and flicking their small cigars into my shrubs and hedges, talking loud. Basically continual harassment for 6 years. Oh! And telling [me] this is their neighborhood and I don’t belong here. Like, ‘white bitch get back into your house,’ etc. I know it is hard to believe that black people don’t like white people.

“Frankly, I should get a f*****g metal [sic] for having endured this bulls**t for so long!” she added.

Readers leaving comments on 27East’s Facebook page and on the story online largely criticized Ms. Smith, though some defended her use of the racial slur and echoed some of her arguments.

Ms. Simmons suggested that those going to vote on June 16 do their research before voting.

Ms. Smith said she has no plans to drop out of the race.
“That’s why I’m running for trustee,” Ms. Smith said. “This neighborhood needs help.”