Letters

Tourism on the East End is booming, but the costs fall heavily on Suffolk County residents. Montauk, East Hampton, Southampton and Fire Island fill up every summer. Roads are jammed, beaches are crowded, and towns spend more on sanitation, lifeguards and public safety — all paid for by local taxpayers.

It’s time for a fair solution: a visitor impact fee.

Nonresident drivers in Montauk, East Hampton and Southampton would pay a modest daily parking fee. Overnight visitors would pay a small surcharge on hotels and short-term rentals, and nonresidents going to Fire Island would contribute via ferry fees.

This approach ensures that visitors help cover the costs of the services they use while protecting Suffolk families from paying twice. The revenue could fund beach maintenance, infrastructure and even lower property taxes.

Tourism should continue to thrive, but it must be sustainable. This plan is a simple, fair way to make sure it is, for both visitors and the residents who call Suffolk County home.

Hunter Gross

Huntington and Southampton