Letters

The effluent does not distinguish amongst the affluent, yet The Press editorial board consistently seeks to divide those of us who live in Southampton, even to go so low as to try and split us all based on a proposed park and all of us that live here wanting to restore beautiful Lake Agawam. What is the end game? To destroy our wonderful community? The most recent weekly example is the August 31 “Gift Horse” editorial, in which the supporters of the Lake Agawam Conservancy are called “a cluster of wealthy owners of some of the most valuable real estate in the United States” and the detractors are referred to as “pearl clutching.” Really? Is this what you think of your readers? What are these names and labels based on, and why the need to separate us contingent on who has more money? A cursory look at articles and the Conservancy website shows it has the support of scientists and young people and renters and our former mayor, Jesse Warren, and our current mayor and Board of Trustees, and, yes, some families who live by the lake, and pay very high taxes for the privilege.

And who, exactly are the “pearl clutchers?” Those of us that care about the our village’s future? Who take a stand contrary to that of The Press editorial board and ownership? This is a very dangerous direction that you keep headed in. The reality, as you note, is that the Conservancy’s goals to create a park and to clean the lake and to bring back its fresh water will benefit all of us, having nothing to do with our incomes. The pollution that has overtaken Lake Agawam is a result of 100 plus years of negligence by the entire community, rich and poor. Our lake’s pollution comes from town and village septic tanks, from as far north as the 7-Eleven, from the lowest assessed houses to those with the highest values, from our schools, and our Town Hall, and from our stores and restaurants. When the pipes are opened to drain the lake, the pollution runs into the ocean and down to Coopers and all of our village and town and county beaches, which everyone equally enjoys. In Southampton, we may have our differences of opinion, but we are one, united, based on our love of this village ... and not our “wealth” or lack thereof. We will all work together to find a solution to this and the other challenges we face, including the concerns of those of us that do not want to close Pond Lane, without resorting to name calling and labels for our neighbors that we disagree with.

Walter Deane

Southampton Village