Montauk Summer Chaos: Suggestions

Tom Bogdan told the Montauk Citizens Advisory Committee on Monday that he has been in touch with several small cities and towns to hear how they cope with undesirable public conduct.

Members of Montauk United, a group he created in response to the goings-on in the hamlet last summer, believe that East Hampton Town officials are on the right path toward zero tolerance, said Mr. Bogdan, but feel that the town could use social media more effectively to get the word out that Montauk is not a party town. 

Other places, he said, allow police officers to ticket unruly behavior or low-level offenders rather than arresting them and taking them back to the station for booking. Ticketing, he said, allows officers to get right back on the street rather than spend long hours at the station house. “Give them a court date. It has been tried in other areas and proven effective.”

The taxicab situation remains an absolute problem in the hamlet, Mr. Bogdan said. In the city of New Rochelle, N.Y., where a single police sergeant runs the taxi administration, “they have an outstanding department that is efficiently run.” He said that cabs should display a large identifying number on their doors and back windshields, adding that in Washington, D.C., all taxis must be painted the same color. That too has proven to be effective, he said.

“Our cabs are an eyesore,” said Kimberly Esperian, a committee member.

Mr. Bogdan also told the committee that Montauk United has applied under the Freedom of Information Act for a complete list of property owners in the hamlet. The list will be used in the coming months to send out a questionnaire that will, “for the first time in Montauk history,” provide factual information about property owners’ opionions on these social issues.

As of this week, he said, Montauk United is just a bit under its initial goal of 1,000 members.