Letters

It has once again been brought to my attention that roads are being closed to through traffic at certain times of day, in search of the “perfect” solution to our traffic problems [“‘Common Sense Answer’: Residents Urge Return of No-Left-Turn Rules To Ease Southampton Traffic,” 27east.com, August 22]. Let me be clear: This approach is not a solution.

I have received numerous calls from residents who feel that these closures create major inconveniences. And I remind anyone who insists on shutting down their street at certain times: These are the very routes the workforce depends on to get home. These are not just cars — they are the people who keep this village running, the men and women who mow the lawns, trim the hedges, wash the laundry, and clean the homes.

Perhaps if every homeowner did all of this themselves, there would be no workforce traffic. But that is not the reality. Things have changed dramatically in this village, and the people who keep it alive have no choice but to drive in and out.

To listen to “a few” who demand that their roads remain clear while others bear the burden is unfair and unreasonable. The larger issue is that the very workers who support this community can no longer afford to live here. They are forced to spend hours sitting in traffic, with no alternatives. My own employees face this daily, spending over an hour and a half on a trip that should take 20 to 25 minutes.

Yes, it is inconvenient. But shutting down streets is not the answer. The only real solution is affordable housing. Until this town confronts that reality, traffic will remain a problem. Catering to a handful of complaints will only open the floodgates. More residents will demand closures, and traffic will only worsen.

Think realistically about what you are proposing. The traffic studies are often flawed, and the short-term fixes you keep trying are not working. It’s time to stop treating symptoms and start addressing the cause.

And let me leave you with this: Leadership is about choices. You can choose to protect a handful of driveways, or you can choose to protect the future of this village. You can push out the very people who sustain this community, or you can bring real solutions that keep Southampton thriving.

Which legacy do you want to leave?

Erin Meaney

Southampton Village