Letters

I attended the quasi-marketing event arranged by The Express News Group, titled “Change Is Coming” [“New Voices, Applause for Hampton Bays Downtown Revitalization Concept at Express Sessions Event,” 27east.com, May 3].

I respect the handful of “new” voices that were at the event that seemed enamored with the Norman Rockwell-like renderings of a portion of downtown Hampton Bays. Some of us know that the devil is in the details, as was the case with the now annulled Hampton Bays Downtown Overlay District. Those “old” voices still matter. The old voices should not be neutralized by the new voices, no matter how loud they are or who they allege to speak for.

The town officials are supposed to listen to the people — all people — and follow the law. The Southampton Town zoning code “was adopted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety and morals or the general welfare of the Town of Southampton.” Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and his administration seem to act as if the purpose of the zoning code is to benefit developers that want to build what they want on every square inch of the Town of Southampton.

The town officials are supposed to comply with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. Under SEQRA, “all agencies are expected to conduct their affairs with an awareness that they are stewards of the air, water, land and living resources, and that they have an obligation to protect the environment for the use and enjoyment of this and all future generations.” The Schneiderman administration seems to be more concerned about appeasing developers than being stewards of our environment.

I referred to myself at the Express Sessions event as the “Queen of Obstruction,” tongue-in-cheek. This was in reference to a social media post by the developer on the panel who referred to me as the “queen of obstruction who killed the downtown overlay code.” It was the State Supreme Court that annulled the overlay district, on the grounds that the town failed to comply with SEQRA. I don’t consider looking out for the environment and the safety and welfare of the community and exercising my constitutional rights as being an obstructionist, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

People have been looking to the town officials to make positive changes to the downtown of Hampton Bays for several years. Instead of making capital improvements similar to Westhampton Beach Village, the town officials have held the Hampton Bays community hostage until they succumb to significant zoning changes. Now, Jay is trying to push forward one developer’s plan that is years down the road, if at all, as if it is some panacea.

After all these years, the Hampton Bays community deserves better than this from our town officials.

Gayle Lombardi

Hampton Bays