By Michael Daly
Thanks to the many East End community members who voted yes to form the Community Housing Fund in the towns of Southold, Shelter Island, East Hampton and Southampton — all four towns that had it on the ballot on November 8.
That demonstrates that voters clearly see the need for community housing to help protect our fragile infrastructure. Even if you didn’t vote for it, you’ll benefit from it. That’s democracy.
We recognize that good schools rely on teachers. Sound first responder organizations rely on firefighters and EMTs. Hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices rely on health care workers. Seniors and young people deserve the opportunity to live securely in the place where they call home.
The people who fill these roles are being squeezed out of our beloved East End community.
Many local residents are priced out of home purchasing. Many have been tossed out of year-round rentals for lucrative AirBnB short-term rentals or owners “cashing in” to the highest bidder on property sales (no fault there … it’s the market, right?). Local residents are being outbid by second- and third-home owners who are determined to claim their piece of the “Fabulous Hamptons,” “Charming North Fork” or “Exclusive and Reclusive Shelter Island.”
But who’s going to answer the phone when we have a fire? Who’s going to come to do CPR when we call 911? Who’s going to care for us when we arrive at the emergency room? At the clinic? The supermarket? The deli? The theater? The art show? The concert in the park?
Who will farm the fields and harvest the famous Long Island corn or potatoes? Who will brave the winter cold to harvest our oysters and clams?
The voters have voted. Now the legislators must legislate. The planning directors must plan. The housing directors must direct, and the advisory committees must advise.
It’s not rocket science. Zoning needs to be reimagined to reflect the need for affordable housing in our hamlets and village business districts. Wherever a 6,000-square-foot McMansion is permitted in our business districts, four 1,500-square-foot affordable homes for local people must also be permitted. Mothers and fathers must be allowed to turn their garages into apartments for their daughters and sons. And sons and daughters must be permitted to create a safe place for their mothers and fathers when they can no longer live alone and need to be under their watchful eyes.
Other zoning adjustments need to be made so our business community can provide employee housing to help fill the many vacant jobs that exist today.
And our role? We voted for community housing. Now we need to get out of the way and let it happen.
Let’s stop talking about “density” like it’s a four-letter word. We swoon at our romantic memories of the past. The density we had in years gone by made our villages vibrant and kept the local businesses thriving. Our local village businesses need people living there to prosper.
Let’s stop the chatter about “my home value is going to be hurt if affordable housing is built nearby.” It’s selfish, and there is plenty of research to show that it just doesn’t happen.
Let’s stop complaining about traffic. Hey, we are the traffic! Stay home during peak hours, reschedule appointments — or leave earlier!
Of course, where would any conversation about our villages be without someone complaining about parking? When we moved here from wherever we came from (like most people), who guaranteed us an open parking space in front of any shop? The “I’m here, now close the gate” mentality is quite unflattering.
And a favorite of those of us who want to appear like staunch environmentalists is: “Protect the groundwater!” We can confidently say that the Suffolk County Department of Health has our backs on protecting groundwater by requiring proper sanitary systems to be installed in every new build, from accessory apartments to McMansions and apartment developments. We can constructively take matters into our own hands and be proactive about groundwater by replacing our outdated septic systems with an Innovative Alternative Septic System. That’s constructive!
Let’s stop making every little thing about ourselves, our inconveniences, our unfounded fears.
Do we want someone on the other end of the phone when we call for help, service or support in the future?
This is about our infrastructure. About our community.
This is about us!
Michael Daly, a resident of North Haven, is the founder and co-leader of East End YIMBY, an education and advocacy group focused on affordable community housing on the East End.
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