Money Always Wins
Springs
July 15, 2024
Dear David,
It’s terrific that the Concerned Citizens of Montauk and the Surfrider Foundation are monitoring water quality all around the South Fork. Important work and important information. God bless them.
And, likewise, that Mecox Bay has formed a group, the Mecox Bay Conservancy, to attempt to remediate that blighted body of water, following the examples of people living around Georgica Pond and Lake Agawam, where similar groups have been formed to deal with those equally blighted bodies of water.
But every article about the grim state of water quality out here, particularly cheery stories about monitoring and remediation, are incomplete without a very forceful, honest few sentences explaining why this is all needed.
Who is to blame for our polluted ponds, bays, and harbors? Us. We did this. Now we are trying — and I emphasize trying — to clean it up.
The source of the pollution is overdevelopment that we allowed and continue to allow. “Over,” you might ask? Yes, “over.” Because if we were underdeveloped or safely and properly developed we wouldn’t be in this mess.
Had the Suffolk County Health Department (the agency whose sign-off is required for all septic systems) and had local municipalities done some research and calculations after this literal development shitstorm began in the 1980s, they might have said, “Sure, keep putting septic systems in the ground and keep allowing more development and thus the use of more landscape fertilizers and chemicals, but eventually you won’t be able to safely swim in many of your ponds and bays nor will you be able to eat the shellfish or fish from those bodies of water.”
It was obvious back then (there was a county study in the 1980s that warned of the ills of overdevelopment) where we were headed, that we would exceed our land’s — nature’s — carrying capacity and that many of our ponds and bays would turn to . . . shit. (Many don’t realize that every toilet east of the Shinnecock Canal flushes into the ground — that, after all, is what septic systems are, elaborate holes in the ground that rely on nature to filter out some but not enough of the bad stuff — with the exception of those served by the region’s only, and small, sewer system, in the Village of Sag Harbor.)
But money always wins. We just kept selling and building, with ever more people pooping and peeing into underground leach fields and fertilizing our lawns and spraying toxic insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on our plants and . . . voilá, we‚ are now spending time and millions of dollars monitoring and shutting down swimming and shellfishing, and cleaning up the mess we created. All for what? Every dollar made by the voracious development industry out here is going to cost us millions in water cleanup, a cleanup that is basically going to go on forever. That immense and costly effort was never fully considered when our woods and farm fields and dunes were sliced up for houses.
A generation ago we could have said no more. No more houses, no more septic systems, no more lawns, no more of everything that’s poisoning nature out here. But we didn’t. That would have been political suicide and regarded as unfair, elitist. “Close the gate” would have been torched with outrage. Yet a place can sustain only so many. Just pay attention: Nature is speaking with ever greater urgency: Please, no more!
And, still, we fail to heed. Just take a paddle around Georgica Pond or Lake Agawam. How many Friends of Georgica Pond and members of the Lake Agawam Conservancy have planted filtering buffers along those ponds’ shorelines? How many have reduced the size of their lawns, let beautiful nitrogen-fixing clover push up in their grass? How many of those enormously rich people have dug up their traditional septic systems and replaced them with systems that remove harmful nitrogen? Too few.
It bears pointing out that the Agawam conservancy’s own study, conducted by the New York State Department of Environment Conservation, determined that septic waste accounts for about 70 percent of the nitrogen loading there, a figure that is likely similar for the region’s other distressed water bodies, including Georgica and Mecox. Yet the vast majority of the houses around those three bodies of water are served — inadequately and shamefully — by traditional septic systems that do nothing to remove nitrogen.
It’s astonishing that even as we have known for years that many of our treasured water bodies are so polluted that we can’t safely swim or fish or clam or collect oysters, and even as we are told that septic waste is a major contributing polluting factor along with lawn fertilizers and other chemicals, we cling to sweeping lawns, we delay or decline using all the government financial incentives to switch out our septic systems, and we continue to allow development on a scale that has never before been seen here.
So, good luck and godspeed, Fred Thiele and Jay Schneiderman, who are the new leaders of the work at Georgica and Mecox. You are going to need it.
BIDDLE DUKE
Neil Loved
East Hampton
July 11, 2024
To the Editor and His Readers,
Neil Hausig died at home on Saturday due to a terribly aggressive form of metastatic cancer. Neil loved East Hampton and worked tirelessly for Windmill and Whalebone villages. He formed a tutoring group years ago to help (mostly) Latino children integrate and eventually excel in school. Neil cared deeply about people, mostly the poor and disadvantaged, and made his feelings known through his actions and of course through his letters to The Star. He wrote what he felt needed to be said and cared little as to what people might think of him. That was Neil; always honest with himself.
We grew up together in Far Rockaway, and he captained the baseball, basketball, and football teams in high school and received a baseball scholarship to George Washington University. He taught school in Harlem, worked in a drug-rehabilitation program, and, again, just cared about people, especially kids.
After I moved here with my family, mainly because of him, we saw or spoke to each other daily, and when I retired and spent half the year in France, we’d still speak at least three times a week: politics, the Giants, Rangers, and Knicks mostly. He was my best friend and I’ll miss him terribly, as will East Hampton.
Sincerely,
PAUL HOLLANDER
Have Fun!
Wainscott
July 15, 2024
Dear David,
The Orsted South Fork Wind consortium has pledged $5.5 million to Wainscott to ease the impacts of the project. I would like to see some of that money used for a massive, soundproof, airtight dome to be mounted over Wainscott so we wouldn’t have to hear the dreadful aircraft and breathe their awful pollution.
The rest should be used for a giant electronic advertising kiosk of the type the Shinnecocks are fond of. It should be placed along Route 27 at the entrance to the hamlet and East Hampton Town. That beacon will extol the virtues of modern living in East Hampton, the world’s chicest construction site:
“Welcome to East Hampton Land: No truck or house too large or loud; little concern about ‘carbon footprints’(such things are not for the wealthy reveler); clogged roadways designed for maximum sightseeing; all the groundwater you want — until it’s gone; more people/customers each summer; free advertising on throwaway stick-in signs on every corner; minimal penalties for egregious environmental degradation — and understaffed, underpaid code enforcement unlikely to catch you anyway; your own personal unregulated airport spewing pollution while selling leaded fuel over an already-poisoned aquifer; freedom to drive monstrous vehicles onto bathing beaches; freedom to use public beaches for large, lavish private parties; a town-owned outdoor shooting range within walking distance of your house; convenient use of gas-powered leaf blowers most of the year; no dedicated bike and running lanes that inconvenience drivers — and homeowners freely granted the 25-foot town right of way outside their hedges; roadways with no confusing turn lanes or roundabouts — just supersimple red lights that anyone can sit at burning gas in a stupor; and more and more vehicles every year with no overarching traffic planning to burden you. Drive recklessly! Ignore laws! Have fun! Make money! Spend money! Habitat, resources, and future be damned! But, yes, of course we are a green $$$$ community.”
BARRY RAEBECK
Private-Use Airport
Montauk
July 10, 2024
To the Editor:
I’ve been flying into Montauk Airport for a long time. My first real cross-country flight was to the airport in 1973. It became a frequent weekend destination. We would land, get out of the airplane. and hop into an old fire truck that would take us to the beach. We live in New Jersey, and in the 1980s we bought a house in Montauk (mostly because of the airport). Over the years, it became our home. My four sons grew up out there — that’s where their friends are.
The trip from New Jersey by car takes three to four hours. My goal was to get me and my family out there by air in an hour. That worked for a lot of years, until we outgrew a Cherokee Six (and I couldn’t afford a DC-3). By then, some of them had their own cars. I kept on commuting by air, and still do (or did).
Now, my boys are grown and most have kids of their own. They still love Montauk. One of them lives and works here. It all started because of that little airport.
Montauk Airport is the reason why I first came, and ultimately bought a home and became part of the community. It must’ve happened to 100 other pilots the same way over the years.
Well, I’m afraid, no more. The new owners of the airport decided to raise the overnight parking fee to $100 a night. The landing fee is 40 bucks. So, just to land and park there for a three-day weekend is going to cost about $350. No fuel, no air, no oil, no nothing. If you break down or need any service, you’re out of luck — and it’s gonna cost you 100 bucks a night until you can fly out!
Montauk Airport is still listed as a public-use airport. What the new owners are doing by charging exorbitant fees is essentially limiting its use to a very small group, turning it into an exclusive private-use airport. That not only impacts pilots, but the whole community.
RON SAGLIMBENE
Silent Stench
East Hampton Village
July 12, 2024
To the Editor,
What does a duck farm have to do with the threat of noise pollution from a proposed restaurant on Toilsome Lane?
Alicia Sullivan’s June 28 letter to The Star (“Severe Noise”) alerting caring residents to the danger of special events permits creating noise pollution made me think back to the late 1950s, when the old Mecox Duck Farm was on Montauk Highway.
Today, the duck farm is long since gone, along with its unbearable odor, replaced by beautiful estates that would never had been built if they had bordered on that extremely smelly duck farm.
Thanks to Alicia’s letter, she brought to my attention — and hopefully yours and your readers’ — that in 2024 there is a new silent stench that is invading our beautiful and tranquil village!
It is called “special events permits” (S.E.P.s).
These permits allow a restaurant normally prohibited by the village zoning code from having any form of entertainment to erect tents, and have rock bands and loud music 365 days a year. Such permits could attract thousands of partygoers and would result in unprecedented levels of noise pollution throughout our community.
Since I live next to the proposed brewery restaurant/tavern on Toilsome Lane, I am particularly concerned that unless the guidelines for issuing these permits are readdressed by our elected officials, noise pollution will destroy East Hampton Village’s quality of life.
Recently, it was very impressive the way Mayor Larsen, becoming aware of the need to protect the citizens from late-night noise in a historic district, with great speed came up with a solution to help avert all-night parties in the historic districts.
Now, the time has come for him to come to the aid of those of us who live in the rest of the village and create a panel to reassess special events permits.
As was the case with the smelly duck farm of the past, so it is with the S.E.P.s of today: They are a recipe for disaster unless carefully and appropriately regulated in the public interest.
I agree with Alicia Sullivan that our community should demand that no S.E.P. should lead to an event that disrupts the residential neighbors’ well-earned right for peace and quiet 24 hours a day, and limiting the number of permits that a restaurant can apply for each year.
As Alicia pointed out, it might be too late to save the victims who live next to the Hedges on James Lane, but it is not too late to save Toilsome, Gingerbread, and Maidstone lanes and the majority of East Hampton Village.
My goal is for a peaceful and tranquil East Hampton.
MICHAEL AARON
A Sad Story
East Hampton
July 15, 2024
Dear Editor,
It was with tremendous sadness, dismay, and embarrassment that I read the article that accompanied the story about last Sunday’s rally for Israel. I can’t understand how one organizer disallowed a Jewish L.G.B.T.Q. supporter from making a speech to highlight Israel’s acceptance of people of different thoughts and opinions. It’s a sad story that, in 2024, Americans are denied a public stage because of their sexual orientation.
Greatly disappointed,
LARRY ZIMMERMAN
Violent Language
Amagansett
July 14, 2024
To the Editor:
I read your front-page article in last week’s issue about Mitchell Agoos’s pro-Israel rally in Herrick Park with great attention. Writing as a proud Jewish person who celebrated his bar mitzvah at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim in 1967, I would like to call attention to some context and back story.
“By their speakers ye shall know them.” The article mentions two individuals who addressed the rally, a Harvard student referred to as Shabbos Kestenbaum, and Congressman Nick LaLota. Kestenbaum spoke of his lawsuit against Harvard for antisemitism. You quote Mr. Agoos: “I thought he knocked it out of the park.”
Shabbos is Alexander Kestenbaum, and the complaint is not hard to find online. It is one of a number of federal cases filed this year around the country, mainly by a law firm which is also a registered lobbyist for Israeli companies and which seeks to end all criticism of Israel in academia. The complaint says that “anti-Zionism is discriminatory and antisemitic,” giving as an instance of antisemitism “accusing Israel of being inherently racist.”
The complaint’s stunning overbreadth is confirmed by its choice of examples, mainly utterances by people of color, including a speech by an Arab-American professor from another school, who deemed Zionism a “white supremacist” movement, or a pro-Palestinian student group which wrote that Zionism is “racist, sectarian, and exclusionary.”
No matter how unpleasant Kestenbaum or anyone may find these comments, they are First Amendment-protected criticism of a nation-state, Israel, conducting a violent war resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties including children. An open secret is that many Jewish people, including Israelis, hold these same opinions. I do, and there are even Hasidic groups which are anti-Zionist, like the Satmar. The New York Times quotes Michael Sfard, a Jewish human rights lawyer in Israel, that the rhetoric being heard from Israeli right-wing government officials and celebrities, which includes calls to “erase Gaza,” to drop an atom bomb on it, and to bring about a “new Nakba,” “dooms the chance of ending the conflict with the Palestinians, erodes Israel’s democracy, and breeds a younger generation” that is inured to violent, racist language.
Mr. Agoos, and I am guessing Mr. Kestenbaum, call Jewish people who criticize Israel “self-hating” and not real Jews. I have personally heard this rhetoric from Mr. Agoos when he turns up as a counterprotester at a pro-cease-fire demonstration I attend every Sunday afternoon in Sag Harbor.
Donald Trump agrees: “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel and should be ashamed of themselves.” As the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in March, “Nick LaLota hasn’t condemned Trump’s attacks on Jewish Americans.”
The initiative against antisemitism supported by Agoos, Kestenbaum, and LaLota is a cynical misuse of tropes, Jewish sympathies, and sympathies for Jewish people in support of a MAGA agenda. A tell-all is that the entire campaign is against the left, liberal arts universities and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Actual violent and frightening right-wing antisemites, like the Charlottesville demonstrators or Sebastian Gorka (to whom Trump made the above comment) are not being named in lawsuits or called before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Some East Hampton Democrats who attended the event in Herrick Park presumably did not know it was a MAGA demonstration. Next time you see Mr. Agoos, I suggest you spend a few minutes conversing with him about his beliefs and his agenda.
For democracy in East Hampton and Israel,
JONATHAN WALLACE
Caregiver Support
Montauk
July 12, 2024
Dear David,
Are you an adult taking care of another adult who cannot care for themself? That makes you a caregiver.
It is extremely difficult to be the sole provider of care for an adult with dementia or other disabling conditions throughout the course of their illness. You may be stressed by financial, social, physical, work-related, or family problems. Are you experiencing physical or emotional health problems that are, perhaps, related to caregiver stress? Invariably, the caregiver burns out. You need support. If you cannot take care of your “patient,” what will happen to him or her?
Our meetings aim to provide a supportive environment for you and other caregivers who are dealing with similar problems to those you are facing. The meetings are the last Friday of the month (July 26) at 1:30 p.m. The meetings are held at the Family Service League at 316 Accabonac Road in East Hampton. For directions, 631-324-3344. For information, 631- 668-2498.
DANIEL A. BRIGANTI
Our Lobster Bake
Amagansett
July 15, 2024
Dear Editor,
The board of trustees of the Amagansett U.S. Life-Saving Station Museum would like to thank everyone who came to our lobster-bake fund-raiser on Sunday, the eighth year we have put it on.
We thank Bostwick’s for their flexible, good-natured, and consistently excellent follow-through, and also thank Amagansett Wine and Spirits, Amber Waves Farm, Balsam Farms, Gosman’s, and the Montauk Brewery for their generous donations of goods.
We encourage residents as well as visitors to come and visit our small museum, housed in the station built in 1902 by the U.S. Life-Saving Service on Atlantic Avenue, and home to the soon-to-be-completed seaworthy replica of the only Beebe surf boat in the country, on loan to us from the National Park Service. Many Amagansett families had relatives who served at this station.
The museum is open every weekend through October, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with friendly docents prepared to relay information about the station’s importance in an era when ships from all over the country transported cargo to New York Harbor along the south shore, and in World War II, when a German U-boat landed four spies whose mission was to sabotage American war efforts.
Fair winds and following seas,
SCOTT BRADLEY
MICHAEL CINQUE
Co-Presidents
Amagansett Life-Saving Station Museum
Friendly Sunshine
Amagansett
July 12, 2024
To the Editor,
I blame it on the fact that I had guests over the Fourth. (Well, one guest, our daughter.) But I just now got around to reading The Star from July 4. I had been thinking about writing a letter bemoaning the lack of neighborliness on our sidewalks and roads, but The Shipwreck Rose beat me to it. Thank you for stating the state of affairs so well, Ms. Rattray. I, too, have experienced a rash of black-clad iciness this summer. But there is a ray of friendly sunshine, and it is to be found, of all places, at the new outpost of the Row in Amagansett.
My aforementioned daughter suggested a walk to town during the Fourth holiday, and, of course, I agreed. (Like other mothers, I will do almost anything to please my grown daughter so that she’ll have a marvelous time and come back for another visit.) Now, let me note here that, even though I live in Amagansett, I never venture into town. More power to the shopowners there — may you have a lucrative summer! — but I get more bang for my local buck at the I.G.A./post office/liquor store outpost on the east edge of town. Anyway. My daughter and I walked into the Row, where I regaled the lovely sales associate with stories about the last time I’d set foot in that store . . . when it was a surf shop. I can’t remember the name of it, but they sold windsurfing gear and I bought my first wetsuit there. The salesgirl (see how old I am? I called her a “salesgirl!”) couldn’t have been nicer. She loved hearing about the surf shop; she even complimented me on my “sense of style.” I was wearing a Hanes white tee, torn green army pants, and 20-year-old Converse sneakers at the time. If I can ever afford a $4,000 dress (in black, of course), I’ll certainly buy it from her. Niceness wins!
ALICE HENRY WHITMORE
Make It Possible
Montauk
July 10, 2024
Dear David,
The Friends of the Montauk Library was established in 1980, before we had a library. In those 45 years, we have had our annual book fair for 43 years (because of Covid) and this year, as always, it was a great success.
We want to thank our many volunteers who did everything from baking the day before to cleaning up after. We thank the strong people who we so badly need to move books. Also, the many businesses that donate supplies for us to use and sell and items to be part of our popular bucket raffle.
The staff of the Montauk Library, led by the director, Denise DiPaolo, and our trustees, led by Marilyn Levine, make it all possible by giving us space, advice, their time, and encouragement. Also, our Friends board of directors who prepare all year for this.
I don’t want to forget all the people who came, took a chance on our raffle, bought books and cake and jewelry. We hope you had as much fun as we did.
Sincerely,
SALLY KRUSCH
President
Friends of the Montauk Library
Out of Control
North Haven
July 15, 2024
Dear David:
This presidential campaign is turning us into a violent, ugly country, instead of demonstrating our reputation for honesty, respect of the law, compassion, and the promise of well-being and safety for all.
Our nation’s history has blemishes, but our trajectory seemed positive until now. Ugliness and violence have become routine. The politics of harangue, lies, and conspiracy theories is out of control and sets the standard.
Vicious verbal attacks and a torrent of lies from Trump, directed at current President Biden, were shocking last Thursday. It set a new and dangerous low standard for the ex-POTUS, as well his right-wing fan base. This vulgar swagger reminds us of Trump’s shocking statement years ago, claiming he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any votes. It gives license for all to see and act upon.
Almost on cue, a young high school graduate, actually registered as a Republican, took it upon himself to attempt to assassinate Trump, killing and wounding others. We may never know his actual thinking. This shows that current political behavior has become lethal — in fact!
Trump presents himself as physically strong and combative in comparison to Biden, but he also has some mobility issues and increasing garbled speech.
We should carefully evaluate both these guys honestly, because it is more complicated than a TV presentation. We should be measuring the guiding principles and ethics of these men, and of any other proposed candidates.
Let’s give both candidates some respect and avoid dangerous, inflammatory barbs. Let’s look carefully at their records and ethics and honesty.
ANTHONY CORON
Cuts Continue
Amagansett
July 14, 2024
To the Editor,
When the town board had its meeting last week it was more of the same. Someone asking for what, in my opinion, they should not have: a hardened shoreline structure. Otherwise, let’s armor the entire shoreline, everywhere.
This was also with a very familiar character speaking, Aram Terchunian. By the way, is he still getting paid by the town? I remember July 7, 2020, his company was to face 30 days or legal action. But on day 2,181, an illegal structure in the roadway on Bay View Avenue remains. No action taken. Certainly, he is finding a voice again. Barking orders at the hand that fed him.
That home in Culloden was bought in 2017, just like the one at 117 Bay View Avenue. That was also the year the Amagansett School Board began stating that its superintendent will be its “spokesperson” moving forward. You see, in Kings Landing, this was the time the board also adopted only two minutes for a speaker, not three like everywhere else. Fast-forward to last week, when the hearing for Maria Dorr — the principal who the interim was to train for superintendent but who was sent home for unknown reasons — began.
We saw the “Oath of Faithful Performance” by the board and the gym teacher who abandoned his post after May 28. The school had a daily substitute until the end of the school year. Now, by resolution, they need Richard Loeschner to be hired back for the “transition.” I guess a month wasn’t good enough, already.
I’ll still believe other candidates — like the rumored Jill Gierasch, an actual superintendent and district administrator for over a decade — were more qualified for the post. The school has now removed multiple tenured positions. Here comes the transition. Including the school physiologist, who was just awarded tenure in January.
The board has a desire to split a social worker with other schools. Why? I wonder if that will be someone from the board’s extended family? The English as a Second Language teacher? Organización Latino Americana, you watching this school? It was already alluded the board wasn’t in favor of minorities. That’s right, in 2017.
Just rereading Star articles. Now, both Loeschner-led schools, Brentwood and Amagansett, were named in a Newsday article on July 5 for being in violation of the “legal limits” for the unrestricted reserves budget. Brentwood is number one of the 19 schools named, at 15.5 percent, and Amagansett is at 12.97 percent, or about $1.2 million over the 4-percent limit.
Guess that’s why we rewarded mismanaged budgets with pay raises while removing five tenure positions. In March, they allegedly only needed to get rid of four special-education teachers, but now continue to make cuts. Nefarious actions in plain sight. The “boys club” is in full swing. The dismantling of a Blue Ribbon school continues. We get left with a discount double check.
Still here,
JOE KARPINSKI
Been Lying
Montauk
July 13, 2024
Dear David,
Do you know that honesty and transparency equal democracy? The Biden family and his administration have been lying to the American public for three and a half years. In the meantime, Jill Biden plus Democrats and the media are screaming that Donald Trump does nothing but lie and lie and lie.
Here are some of Joe Biden’s lies:
One. No one was killed on his watch. The Gold Star families really loved that statement.
Two. His uncle was eaten by cannibals.
Three. “I was at 9/11 the very next day after the attack.”
Four. “I rode the train with the conductor for years.” (The conductor had passed long before.)
Five. “More Blacks working in my administration than any other president.”
The truth of Joe Biden’s dementia is staring you in the face. Have some sympathy. This administration has allowed millions into our country illegally. There are plenty of signs there will be another 9/11. The illegals were never vetted and we are living with thousands of hot seats.
P.S.: Whoever sent me the child’s camisole, it doesn’t fit me. You should have had enough guts to sign the card so I could thank you properly.
In God and country,
BEA DERRICO