Letters

I was especially interested in Michael Wright’s article [“Traffic Solutions Face a Daunting Opponent on South Fork: Residents,” 27east.com, August 14] and his reference to the missed chance in 1975.

1975 was Hugh Carey’s first year as governor. I became a friend of Governor Carey many years after he retired as governor.

Approximately 30 years ago, we were driving out to the East End together and confronted traffic congestion (nothing like today). That prompted him to say that during his first year as governor (1975), he — obviously including the State Department of Transportation — negotiated a deal with the then-Long Island Lighting Company. The state, at its expense, would buy the land, or the development rights, under the high-voltage power lines from Southampton to Amagansett, bury the power lines underground, and extend the highway to Amagansett, bypassing the local villages.

Initially, the local authorities were very excited and supportive, he said. Soon, the plans were made public, however — and there was an immediate local uproar and protest. The local population didn’t want a new highway extension in their backyard or a flood of more “city folk” changing the rural environment.

Next, it became a personal attack on Governor Carey, who was charged with using state funds to build a private driveway to his house on Shelter Island.

The governor said he tried to hold on as long as he could but was ultimately told by local authorities that the project could not get local approval. His brief comments to me are completely consistent with the article written by Michael Wright.

John Hadlock

Southampton