Letters

The purchase of the Marsden properties by the school district has been a hot topic for the people of Sag Harbor. Very passionate people are on both sides. On one side are the people who simply and unapologetically believe that any investment in children is a well-worthwhile investment. On the other side are people who are completely opposed to a $16 million price tag for an athletic field and a 72-car parking lot.

With that in mind, the district held a forum, in the forum the district officials along with the school board shared some facts about the purchase: The fact is the district intends to purchase the Marsden lots through a $3 million reserve and a $6 million bond. The fact is that the school does not at this time have a set plan for the properties, they mentioned an athletic field, a wet science lab, a gymnasium as some options. The fact is that Sag Harbor when compared to other school districts is land locked, the fact that the acquisition of these properties does nothing more than create endless possibilities for the district.

So where did the $16 million come from? Where did the idea of a 72-car parking lot come from? The $16 million the board could not explain, the car park, however, was part of the original plan which was a requirement from the Town of Southampton Community Preservation Fund. When that plan fell through because the district does not have a need for a walking path, the parking lot also went with it.

With the facts on the table the opposition party then added some environmental concerns, in response the district officials responded that phase one and phase two approved the properties for residential development. Therefore, if the lots are not purchased by the district they will likely get scooped up by a developer.

Since the facts were laid out, the opposition side had not much to grab on to, other than they want the historic district, their neighborhood to remain as is, undisturbed. So, the cat is out of the bag; it’s not the price tag, or what the district will do with the land, it’s the fear of change, the fear that it may affect their way of life (by that I mean maybe more traffic, maybe more noise).

So, if you are driving by and see the green signs, please know, they are not true, it’s misinformation put out there by a group of individuals who don’t see the benefit of a well-equipped school district.

I will be voting yes, not for me, but for my children and the children of our community and many generations to come.

Yesenia Quichimbo

Sag Harbor