Housing Crisis & The Enclaves
To the Editor:
We are in a “housing crisis”. Southold Town is looking for ways to help with down payments on homes.
Buy The Enclaves property with taxpayer dollars, zone it residential and get HUD NYS grant money to help. Hire a builder and there ya go!
A Hotel and 100 people event room along with whatever else is planned is way too big to scale in a residential community/area! There was no thought whatsoever when it was approved. I just don’t get it!
It’s the “in” you need to make it go away. Two problems solved with one purchase of land. Don’t give them the extension they are asking for. Obviously they don’t have the funding and those poor neighbors are living with a nightmare construction site as their vista.
And if it does become reality, they are facing loud music (I’ll be able to hear it at my house) and much moer, and the traffic will become a nightmare, especially for me and my neighbors in Founders Landing. We only have three roads to get onto the Main Road directly across from this hotel nightmare. It’s quite challenging now without the hotel with the boom after Covid. I’m sure you know, a new traffic study after Covid was not done, as was requested by the taxpayers, and it was approved anyway.
Hoping to see in the news that the extension was denied and we can all close the book.
Barbara Pantino
Southold
Thanks for a Great Garden Tour!
To the Editor:
The ReWild North Fork chapter celebrated another successful Sustainable Garden Tour on Saturday, June 20, marking the third year of this growing community event. (A view from the tour is pictured above)
Nearly 200 people registered to explore five unique gardens across the North Fork, where visitors had the opportunity to see sustainable landscaping practices in action and learn how native plants can transform residential landscapes one section at a time.
The tour was made possible by generous home gardeners who welcomed 50 to 100 guests into their gardens throughout the day, along with the dedication of 35 volunteers and environmental experts (Cornell, Master Gardeners, Group for the East End, and Peconic Estuary Partnership) who helped organize, guide, and educate visitors. Their enthusiasm and teamwork created a warm, informative experience for everyone who attended.
Beyond showcasing beautiful gardens, the tour highlighted practical ways homeowners can make a positive environmental impact. Visitors learned how planting native species supports pollinators and wildlife, how reducing lawn areas conserves water and lowers maintenance, why eliminating pesticides and fertilizers benefits both people and nature, and the importance of removing invasive plants to restore healthy ecosystems.
ReWild Long Island is grateful to everyone who participated and helped spread the message that even small changes in our own landscapes can make a lasting difference for the environment.
With Gratitude,
Versha Gupta, Ralph Reinertsen; and Nancy DePas Reinertsen, ReWild Long Island North Fork Garden Tour Team
On Southold Public Safety Task Force
Dear Members of the Southold Town Board,
I respectfully urge the Town Board to reject any resolution proposed by the Public Safety Task Force that would prohibit or unnecessarily discourage the Southold Town Police Department from lawfully cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal law enforcement agencies when such cooperation is authorized under federal and New York State law.
The Southold Town Police Department exists to protect the safety of everyone in our community. While immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, there are circumstances where cooperation between local and federal law enforcement serves an important public safety purpose, particularly when individuals arrested for or convicted of serious criminal offenses are involved.
Public safety is strengthened when local, state, and federal agencies communicate and coordinate within the limits of the law. Preventing lawful cooperation could unnecessarily limit the ability of law enforcement to share information and respond effectively to criminal activity.
At the same time, any cooperation should always respect constitutional rights, due process, and the dignity of every individual. Law abiding residents should continue to feel confident reporting crimes, seeking emergency assistance, and working with local police without fear of discrimination.
For these reasons, I respectfully ask the Town Board to reject any proposal that would restrict the Police Department from exercising lawful discretion in cooperating with federal authorities. Instead, I encourage the Board to support policies that preserve local decision making, promote appropriate interagency cooperation, and prioritize the safety and security of everyone who lives, works, and visits the Town of Southold.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerly,
Jason Taggart
Southold
Editor’s Note: Mr. Taggart is the Vice Chair of the Southold GOP
Blame Game
To the Editor:
The reflecting pool is turning colors not intended by the present administration. Whatever the reason, it’s because someone other than the present administration is at fault.
That’s the same story with everything, especially the keystone agenda – immigration. Here in Congressional District 1, it’s the same story: they did it, not me. It’s the blame game.
They don’t understand that the chair they occupy belongs to the people. Harry Truman said before he took office upon FDR’s death: “I’m just keeping it for the next guy.” It’s the people’s seat, and they are supposed to do what the collective body wants, not what their contributor dollars say.
As the pool goes green, as in algae; or red, as in the cost of goods and services, they arrest people without a surveillance video or other proof. All the while, their wealth grows, and contracts go out without competitive bids. Fourteen million of our money was wasted.
Immigration reform in East Hampton has Congressman Lalota holding that town hostage as he threatens to block federal funds over cooperation with ICE. Immigration has changed so much. In 1900, people escaped the Tsar and later the Communists by coming to America. Later it was escape from from famine and after WWII we opened up Ellis Island to accommodate refugees.
As it is inscribed on Lady Liberty’s side, (we were founded as a diverse nation of the tired, the poor) “Give me our huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’”
Who will you vote for?
Joel Reitman
Peconic
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