County Legislator
“I’ll be on the ballot.” That was the closing statement by Robert Carpenter, who is the Republican challenger for Suffolk County legislator, at the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and the North Fork debate on October 18 — and it’s a neat summation of his entire campaign. He is a placeholder, nothing more, and that was clear at the debate.
Fortunately, also on the ballot is Bridget Fleming, the incumbent Democrat, who is smart, energetic and an exceptional representative from District 2 on the Suffolk County Legislature. Her plans to seek the congressional seat in 2022 should not deter anyone from returning the lone qualified candidate in this race to another term.
Once and for AllThere’s an irony that Southampton Town officials might have the least power when it comes to the travel plaza featuring tax-free gasoline that is going up on Shinnecock Nation property in Hampton Bays — but also might be most at...
A Do-OverStop digging. That’s the best advice we can offer the Southampton History Museum. When you’re in a hole, recognize it and, if you do nothing else, don’t make it deeper. And there’s a hole, and it’s deep, and it’s time...
Giving ThanksWe are thankful for the ocean, so near to us here on the South Fork, and the serenity of nature surrounding us. Every year, people make the voyage to the East End, often from more urban dwellings, precisely because even...
On the Front LinesStarting a new job is always stressful. But Leydy Renteria-Merced might deserve a spa day after accepting the role of executive director of Centro Corazón de Maria, a Hampton Bays-based immigrant advocacy group. Timing is everything, and Renteria-Merced arrives just...
Making Ends MeetBudgeting is the most important task town officials have, and the brand new $134 million budget for 2025 will face a great deal of scrutiny. Taxpayers will note not only that it will pierce the state’s cap on tax levy...
Turning PointThe Southampton Arts Center was filled with incredible talent, energy and generosity last Thursday — both on stage and in the audience, it was an all-star lineup of the men and (mostly) women who run the region’s nonprofit organizations. Having...
Stuck in GridlockIt’s refreshing: Bill Hillman doesn’t mince words. And Suffolk County’s top engineer, who officially retired last week, will be missed, if only for his candor. Speaking recently at a presentation on traffic challenges on the South Fork, the start of...
We Mark Our BallotFor the House Every single national election is important, but it’s not hyperbolic to say that this is an election like no other, and it requires a level of participation and engagement far beyond a typical November vote. It’s always...
Staff Writer on Oct 26, 2021