To the Editor:
First, I would like to commend our local elected officials for their ongoing work on the Community Housing Plan and their efforts to address the affordability challenges facing our town. The plan represents a meaningful step forward, and I am optimistic about the progress that our newly appointed Housing Plan Supervisor will help us achieve. Southold is fortunate to have community members and public servants who care deeply about maintaining the character of our town, while also ensuring that it remains a place where people of all ages and income levels can thrive.
Pictured Above: Southold is the only town on the East End that has not yet pledged to become a New York State-designated Pro-Housing Community. (Communities in blue have submitted letters of intent to become Pro-Housing Communities, and those in green have already been certified by the state.)
That said, Southold remains one of the few townships in Suffolk County that has not opted into New York State’s Pro-Housing Community Program. This is, in my mind, a missed opportunity given the scale of our housing crisis. Participation in this program carries no financial burden to taxpayers, does not surrender local zoning authority to the state, and does not weaken the environmental protections that safeguard our farmlands, waterways, and open spaces.
Instead, the Pro-Housing designation simply reflects a commitment to thoughtfully consider housing needs in future zoning updates and to take proactive, data-driven steps toward addressing them. More importantly, opting in would make the town eligible for state grants and funding that could be used to support smart growth planning, hire experienced consultants, and collect the local data necessary to make informed, effective housing decisions. These resources could make a real difference in helping Southold move from discussion to action.
Our community’s future depends on whether working families, young professionals, and longtime residents can afford to stay here. Accessible and affordable housing is also critical to maintaining the volunteer base that powers our fire departments and emergency services, and to ensuring that local businesses can attract and retain the employees they need to keep their doors open year-round.
Southold has a proud tradition of community-driven problem solving. Adopting the Pro-Housing designation would be a forward-looking, practical step consistent with that tradition. If I’m elected to the Southold Town Council this November, I will fight to make housing accessibility a top priority because keeping Southold livable for all of us means planning responsibly for the generations to come.
Alexa Suess
Democratic Candidate for Southold Town Council
Greenport
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