Letters

Denunciation by recitation would not stand up in court, nor should it in the court of public opinion.

Without the strengths of context, evidence or sources, Carol Scott’s Letter to the Editor [“Bad for Southampton,” Letters, April 24] unfairly maligns Gordon Herr and, indirectly, the elected officials he has supported over the years. This prime example of poor opinion-shaping requires a response.

Higher taxes: Reports from various local news sources inform that pension and health costs challenge public budgets in all five East End towns. Note: Past Democratic supervisors received high marks and lower bond rates from credit rating agencies “for strong fiscal management.”

Overdevelopment: Effective use of the Community Preservation Fund has preserved 4,000 acres of land. One 2019 $10 million purchase removed 2.9 acres of land from developers in Southampton Village. In 2016, Southampton Town placed a moratorium on planned development districts. Development is a multi-step process with interplay among many actors.

Polluted water: The recent sand mine amortization Town Board vote is just one of dozens of examples I could cite to demonstrate the steps taken to protect our waters. I urge readers to visit the town’s website to become acquainted with the Water Quality Improvement and the Coastal Resources and Water Protection plans.

Relations with Shinnecock Nation: Court cases about the Shinnecock Nation’s proposed travel plaza prompt me to quote William Faulkner: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” Perhaps this glimmer of accommodation can lead to better relations: In 2020, when the Graves Protection Act was passed, Bryan Polite, past chair of the Shinnecock Nation Tribal Council, stated that a “new brighter chapter” opened. I’m not sure that we can hold Gordon Herr responsible for 385 years of fraught co-existence.

Lack of affordable housing: The Speonk Commons and Sandy Cove Apartments are two affordable housing projects of note. More recently, “Southampton adopted … Chapter 140 Article VII establishing the Town of Southampton Community Housing Fund. On November 8, 2022, the voters of the Town of Southampton approved the local law that enabled the establishment of a half-percent (½ percent) real estate transfer tax to fund the Community Housing Fund.” It’s housing by multifaceted approach and deserves widespread support.

Traffic crisis: It’s a crisis that is being addressed by the Traffic Mitigation and Safety Task Force. The South Fork Commuter Connection is an option for East End employees. Increasing ridership by enhancing station amenities, and providing “last-mile connection shuttle service,” may contribute to traffic easement. In 2024, voters elected Tommy John Schiavoni to the State Assembly, a prominent supporter of the SFCC.

Listing all the positive actions taken by elected officials who have been supported by Mr. Herr would fill these pages.

Mike Anthony

Westhampton

Anthony is a former chair of the Southampton Democratic Committee — Ed.