Letters

There is a sign on Sunrise Highway that I have passed perhaps a thousand times. It simply says: “Montauk 42, Hampton Bays 8.”

Every time I pass it, I feel proud when I see it. I tell myself that between this sign and the end of Long Island, the only destination is Hampton Bays.

I then drive those eight miles, and for the last almost 10 years, if not more, I get off Exit 65S and stop at the light on Montauk Highway and stare at the biggest eyesore in the Hamptons today: the decaying Hampton Bays Diner.

Welcome to Hampton Bays.

I sit at the traffic light of our town’s major intersection, Ponquogue Avenue and Montauk Highway, and I see Carl and Jack’s closed, Gayle’s beauty salon closed, and then have to see Doran’s and Bub’s and the real estate store and Gators all closed and empty. All in the middle of our town.

Depressing. Until recently, both entrances to our hamlet were decrepit buildings. Now, thank goodness, the Canoe Place Inn project has helped revitalize the eastern part of town.

I attended the Express Sessions event at Oakland’s on April 28 [“New Voices, Applause for Hampton Bays Downtown Revitalization Concept at Express Sessions Event,” 27east.com, May 3]. I was pretty much expecting what I saw: A room divided between people who are for change and people who are not.

I don’t know Mr. Caiola. I’m not sure if his plan is the answer to revitalizing our downtown area. I am leery about an area dependent on mom-and-pop stores. Let’s face it — the world has changed.

But I am ready for some change and some functional plan, now. We have a man who wants to spend his own nickel and help the downtown area. According to Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, a recent survey said only 17 percent of people in this town are happy with downtown.

If we don’t start working together, both the pro and con groups and local government, Hampton Bays will be the drive-by town of the Hamptons. Why get off at Exit 65S?

I’ve lived here for 50 years; my grandparents built a home on Wakeman Road in 1949. I was baptized at St. Rosalie’s. I’ll never ever leave this town, but we need to get together and find a way to start a progression and development of our downtown.

I remember as a 8-year-old boy going to Thompson’s and stepping on a mat that automatically opened the doors. It was amazing. The new post office was built. A box four people could sit in became a new train station. As Councilman Rick Martel said, we are changing to a degree, but we’ve got to do something downtown and do it soon.

We need to come together and get it done. Now.

Scott Green

Hampton Bays