League to Hold Forum on Community Housing Referendum
The League of Women Voters of the Hamptons, Shelter Island and North Fork will be holding a Zoom forum via SEA-TV Southampton on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. to enable voters to learn more about the affordable housing referendum that will be on the ballot on Nov. 8 in the East End Towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Shelter Island and Southold.
Titled “Affordable Housing: Hope or Promise?,” the forum, organized by the League’s Government Committee, co-chaired by Cathy Kenny, and moderated by Andrea Gabor, will include New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., East Hampton Town Director of Housing & Community Development Tom Ruhle, Southampton Town Housing Authority Executive Director Curtis Highsmith and Shelter Island Town’s Deputy Supervisor, Amber Brach Williams.
The referendum asks voters to approve a .5 percent real estate transfer tax on the sale of homes, to fund affordable housing efforts in the four towns. The speakers will explain how the transfer tax would work, discuss each town’s current and planned affordable housing units, and detail its plans for how the new funds could be used.
View the September 13 forum live at 7 p.m., or any time afterward, at www.YouTube.com/c/SeaTVSouthampton.
The League is also scheduling Zoom candidate debates in October. We’ll have more information when it is available.
