It appears the Sag Harbor Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review may be poised to take a formal vote on the largest development application before all the village boards... more
You don’t need to hear it from us, but: Times are tense. It’s a moment when, in our local communities, we need to be more careful to avoid knee-jerk reactions, and while vigilance is a virtue, don’t assume everything you see on social media is what it appears to be. At the same time, communication is going to be key. An incident last week demonstrated that all of us — including local police agencies — need to be aware of the unique moment, and take steps to make sure people are not frightened needlessly. A photo circulated last week that ...
18 Jun 2025 by Editorial Board
Sometimes the hardest thing is to acknowledge when you need a little more help — and to figure out the most cost-effective way to get it. Last week, the Sag Harbor Village Board said it was planning to hire a planner to work with its regulatory boards, rather than relying solely on outside help via contracts. It’ll seek proposals for “professional planning, engineering and on-call consulting services.” There’s no reason to think this is necessarily a reflection on the job being done by Nelson Pope Voorhis, the planning consulting firm from Melville that is contracted frequently by South Fork municipalities ...
by Editorial Board
When it comes to New York State’s mistreatment of the Montaukett Nation, it seems like Groundhog Day: A new year, but the same outcome, without fail. It’s insulting, it’s despicable — and it must end. This is the sixth time the State Legislature has put recognition of the Montaukett on the governor’s desk in Albany, with overwhelming, almost unanimous support. There is absolutely no ambiguity about the legislature’s support for the idea, and it’s been championed by local legislators for years. They’ve all done their jobs and deserve a note of thanks. Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed the bill three ...
by Editorial Board
I have some questions I would like to ask our congressman, Nick Lalota. I had hoped to ask these questions in person, but the congressman seems to be a bit shy when it comes to meeting his constituents. So I ask, in this letter, some questions that I hope Mr. LaLota will answer in a reply. Congressman, you voted for the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill, which by most estimates will add trillions of dollars to our national debt. The Congressional Budget Office estimated an increase in the deficit of $3.8 trillion; the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated $3.1 ...
17 Jun 2025 by Staff Writer
John Neely, this is not our first rodeo [“Improvement?” Letters, June 12]. We see things differently, and we are not alone. I realize Democrats are very upset that the political winds have deserted them. If anything has been learned over the decades, it is that change is not the exception, it is the rule. What was once conventional wisdom is scoffed at today. Race, gender, climate, speech and immigration are just a few topics under reconsideration. Even basic belief systems can change in a society free to question them. Today, progressive Democrats have pushed the boundaries on so much of ...
16 Jun 2025 by Staff Writer
Waste, fraud and abuse, right? That’s what Republicans in Washington, D.C., claim to be hunting down and eliminating. Even after Elon Musk’s unceremonious departure, his many successors are flying the same flag, singing the same hymn — that they’re after waste, fraud and abuse. Well, I’ve got some for them. I’ve got all three, in fact, in a place where they haven’t looked (or maybe have looked and cravenly passed over). Waste, fraud and abuse are abundantly present in the actions of Donald Trump regarding Los Angeles in the last few days. Let’s start with waste, one of the most ...
by Staff Writer
Our neighborhood at Mountain Laurel Estates would like to acknowledge and show a tremendous amount of gratitude for the work that Southampton Town Councilman Bill Pell has put forth in helping securing our country road and restoring it to its original beauty. A special thanks is also expressed for Stephanie at the Southampton Town Highway Department. Joseph P. Lebonitte Southampton
by Staff Writer
June 14 was Flag Day, and a nationwide No Kings Day of Defiance, in which millions participated in more than 2,100 marches and rallies across the country in support of democracy, the rule of law, due process and freedom of speech — all in opposition to a presidential power grab unprecedented in our history. The actions took place during Donald Trump’s lackluster $45 million taxpayer-funded military/birthday parade in Washington, D.C. In Riverhead, more than 1,000 residents voiced their vehement opposition to autocratic rule by the Trump administration at a peaceful No Kings rally organized by the Southampton Democratic Committee, the ...
by Staff Writer
North Haven is a small village with remarkable energy, a deeply engaged electorate, and a government that is active and passionate about the 2.7-square-mile peninsula they call home. In recent years, it has been a political hotbed of sorts, and its elections are almost always contested — and interesting. This year is no exception. Two seats on the Village Board are up next Tuesday, June 17, and there are three candidates: incumbents Terie Diat and Peter Boody, and challenger Max Rohn. At a virtual debate on June 4, they didn’t disappoint — the three engaged in a substantive discussion aimed ...
11 Jun 2025 by Editorial Board
An email to constituents last week contained an important message: As we start the 2025 hurricane season, it’s important to be prepared. The note, from U.S. Representative Nick LaLota, included contact information for a variety of important resources: the National Hurricane Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “As a lifelong Long Islander and your representative in Congress,” LaLota wrote, “I’ve seen how storms like Gloria, Bob, Irene and Sandy can devastate our communities. Preparation saves lives.” He’s absolutely right, on all counts. Except one. LaLota supports domestic funding legislation, and an administration in Washington, ...
by Editorial Board
