Letters

In 1997, my husband and I happily began our homeownership in Southampton. We were immediately pleased with how friendly everyone was. My new neighbors rang the bell to say “welcome.”

Back then, Southampton was proudly a well-established college town. Then, suddenly, it was not.

SUNY Southampton officials were cruelly and cavalierly unceremonious in closing the campus, and her students were given a very brief period to relocate. I was shocked and disappointed for the students — and for us, as a welcoming community. I was ashamed of how the students were just dumped out. I remain deeply ashamed of SUNY’s shabby behavior.

Since that ugly news, the campus has made more ugly news in this paper repeatedly. The basic neglect of the campus is obvious. News that the historic windmill is falling apart due to lack of basic repairs is shameful. The ospreys that fell through a roof and died, trapped inside an empty neglected building. Then, the summer they neglected to cut their lawn and let the weeds grow over 2 feet tall.

My husband, Bill, was annoyed by this and called and spoke politely to someone at the college, and advised them of the expected local custom of maintaining a lawn just like the rest of us do. The following week, Bill noticed an expensive sign toward the road: “Southampton Meadow.” No lawn mowing had occurred.

Meadow, my foot! Not one flower grew in their so-called “meadow.” This severely pissed off Bill, so he called again and, in brusque, hotly unfriendly words, said, “Cut your lawn like the rest of us do.”

Since then, their lawn care has been nearly acceptable. Personally, I do not see any new hospital being built on that site, either. The former chief administrative officer of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital was tasked with getting fundraising started, it was announced. Shortly after that, it was further announced that he had accepted another job in a distant state. He is gone now. That is a setback.

I realize that the ever-vigilant real estate people want the old hospital torn down to make ready for new luxury parcels to be developed. Well, cool your jets. Perhaps not in your lifetime, either. Does Harvard or Yale tear down their old buildings to forward profits for others? No.

I personally do not have any answers to this difficult problem. But I do know that I thoroughly disrespect New York State for the foolish procedures we have been victims of. I am fully ashamed.

To close: I liked this town better in 1997. Well at least Sip’n Soda is still honest and reliable. I like grilled cheddar with bacon and tomato on rye bread. Perhaps I will visit there tomorrow?

Suzanne Murphy

Southampton