Letters

I’m a textile artist, one of several convening in Sag Harbor who make art in support of local and pro-democracy causes. You may have seen some of my handmade art “VOTE” banners, which the village removed, and that I personally pulled out of garbage cans along Main Street [“Vote Banners Don’t Last Long in Sag Harbor,” 27east.com, November 5, 2024].

Recently, Mayor Tom Gardella reposted on his only Instagram account the following: “To all the people complaining about Doge! ... F--- YOU.”

Many of us who saw the post were shocked. One of my fellow textile artist-friends asked the mayor about it, and he took full responsibility, adding, “I won’t compromise my core beliefs for any person or political party.”

He then asked, “Do you have a problem with how the village is being run? Is this a personal attack on me for voicing my own national political idea?”

The mayor was assured he wasn’t being attacked, but that we were very concerned about DOGE cuts affecting local life here, such as cuts to a local food pantry program that resulted in 620 quarts of soup not going to those in need in our immediate local community.

The mayor’s response was (unsolicited) to offer funding from “the private sector. We need to move away from dependency,” he wrote. “Let me know what the shortfall is and I will work to get you the funds needed.”

Since this exchange, many partisan actions of Mr. Gardella have been discovered, even as he claims unity as his mayoral goal. On social media, he actively follows a substantial number of hostile foreign accounts, overtly questionable sites and dangerous conspiracy theory proponents.

The mayor’s insistence that his own hungry constituents are “dependents” is offensive and troubling. His proposal to use the office he holds to cut deals with private enterprises behind closed doors is unethical. He represents himself and his political views very differently to different segments of Sag Harbor (many people I’ve spoken to believe he is a Democrat who supports Democratic values).

Tom Gardella is running unopposed in June — and he’s not the only candidate running unopposed in upcoming East End elections. Democracy in itself demands a choice of candidates.

We thus respectfully urge voters to put forward another candidate for mayor of Sag Harbor, one who respects the rights of Americans and the rule of law, and for leadership positions on the boards of our two towns.

Real, equitable and just democracy requires choice, community communication, and civic engagement, one stitch at a time.

Erica-Lynn Huberty

Sag Harbor