Letters

In this election month, characterized by unappetizing, poisonous political discourse (if any), our Village of Southampton offers us a ray of sunshine, some concrete hope for possible agreement among politicians, persuaders and the people about one special local issue.

Mayor Jesse Warren, The Southampton Press and innumerable local village residents want to find a way to keep Schmidt’s Market, a local gem, operating year round in Southampton Village.

This rare agreement among government, media and the people should make it possible to find a solution, despite a determined and recalcitrant landlord. With so unusually much clout committed to keeping this local market in its village location, and keeping this village location committed for local market use only, isn’t there hope for finding a white knight?

One thought: Is this another opportunity for the Peconic Land Trust, headquartered in our village, once again to fulfill its mission of balancing the rights of the individual and the interest of the public; view individual projects in the broader context of our communities; and collaborate with institutions, groups and individuals to achieve mutual goals. And, above all, being the good guys who save our land and our heritage and our communities from being deprived of our local values and our local treasures by greed.

As Speaker Tip O’Neill once said, “All politics is local.” With so much combined local power (Jesse Warren’s administration, our influential newspaper and the voice of the people) all working toward the same goal of preserving a local treasure, isn’t this joint local effort a breath of fresh air from our national politics and a pattern to inspire our national politicians?

Evelyn Konrad

Southampton