Letters

Look around you — if you don’t like what you see, vote for change on June 20.

My work as a member of the Southampton Village Planning Board reinforced the importance of maintaining “viewsheds” — the public’s access to scenic vistas of farmland and open space not cut off by looming hedges and overdevelopment. Likewise, the necessity of “restrictive covenants” on developed parcels so that future uses of subdivided tracts remain attractive and consistent with the need for open green spaces.

I didn’t like what I saw. Look around and you will see that we are closing off every remaining lake and pond, every tract of farmland and every scenic public roadway so that nobody will be able to enjoy them, even in passing.

Under the current administration, the system for making these decisions is badly broken, with little room for the negotiation that would lead to sensible long-term planning.

On June 20, Southampton Village residents have the opportunity to take a different path; they should use it to vote for Ed Simioni. Ed has committed to engaging in open meetings with the opportunity for public comment. That simple act would allow for community input and lead to better results for the village.

Willa J. Bernstein

Southampton