Letters

On Thursday, I attended the Southampton Village Board meeting on traffic and realized I had previously misspoken. I said the trustees had taken only “baby steps” in addressing this issue. I was wrong.

The truth is, they have been working diligently for months, but their efforts are constrained by town, state and federal laws, as well as by the legitimate concerns of neighbors who are directly affected by traffic changes.

The mayor and trustees deserve our appreciation for their tireless efforts. One theme was clear at the meeting: No neighbor should shoulder more of the burden than another. Whatever action is taken, all of us will feel its impact.

But one thing is certain: Doing nothing is not an option.

One trustee observed that the problem may never be fully solved, and I learned that prohibiting single-passenger cars is, in fact, illegal. Even so, I believe the village can act within its own authority. Because zoning is under local control, we could adopt a building code that limits the number of cars allowed on construction sites. Such a step would encourage general contractors to implement carpools voluntarily, without mandates. Permits, which are already required to be posted in a visible place, could also specify the number of vehicles permitted at certain times.

This is just one idea, and I understand it will face resistance. But unless we are willing to accept solutions that inconvenience all of us a little, the traffic problem will only grow worse.

Gerald Rosengarten

Southampton Village