No Action Taken
East Hampton
May 30, 2026
To the Editor,
Dear reader, do you personally know anyone on the East Hampton Town Board or anyone at the Highway Department? If so, could you, would you speak to that person on my behalf? Tell whomever that I have called and I have written letters for almost two years about paving Two Holes of Water Road, or at least the first half-mile after the roundabout. No action has been taken.
The potholes grow wider and deeper every day. The road is bumpy and lumpy. It is virtually impossible to avoid the holes, as they are on the sides and in the middle of both lanes as well as in the middle of the road on the yellow line. Thank you to anyone who will get the word out to fix the road!
JANE ADELMAN
Nothing ‘Notorious’
North Haven
June 1, 2026
To the Editor:
Re: “Better Alternatives,” Letters, May 28 issue.
Notorious is defined as being famous for something bad. The Maidstone Gun Club has been around for decades and is known as a place where over 1,000 local members practice the sport of shooting, prepare for adult and junior competitive shooting, and is a place where our local community police can practice their shooting skills. Nothing “notorious” in these activities.
If Barry Raebeck had done proper due diligence on the neighborhood where his house is located, he might have realized there was a pre-existing gun club and airport near his backyard.
JOHN HOVEKAMP
A Hard Look
East Hampton Village
May 29, 2026
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to express my growing concern with The East Hampton Star’s approach to community reporting. Time and time again I have witnessed this publication divide and fearmonger this community rather than unite it.
Local journalism carries a responsibility to inform, dig deep, and bring a community together. The East Hampton Star consistently falls short of that standard. The reporting lacks depth, often skimming the surface of important issues while leaving readers with more anxiety and division than understanding.
We already have social media to stir the pot. What we need from a local publication is thoughtful, thorough journalism that reflects the best of our community, not content that amplifies fear and drives wedges between neighbors.
I urge The East Hampton Star to take a hard look at its editorial direction and recommit to the kind of responsible journalism that East Hampton deserves.
Sincerely,
RYAN ZWICK
Self-Proclaimed
Amagansett
May 31, 2026
To the Editor:
Thursday marks the anniversary in 2019 of when we were unfortunately subjected to our first — and again, subsequently, not our last — meeting for the homeowners at the end of Bay View Avenue: geocubes and the road that was stolen.
As of the most recent zoning board of appeals meeting, a submitted document again has an odd phrase, “experts.” Why believe any of them? In 2019, Aram Tertchunian of First Coastal would not recommend running anything down the property lines, especially not his company’s geocubes. The documents were long ago submitted. Today, the forbidden geocubes now run down the property line. Where do you think the “experts” say the forbidden rock revetment should go?
This reminds me of another group of local self-proclaimed experts who continuously have called themselves experts. This was even in a meeting for their own violation that needed to be corrected. Everyone who works with them is also allegedly an “expert.” Just to let those self-proclaimed experts know that each and every one of the documents they committed thoughts to paper on has been reviewed and easily, factually, accurately disputed, all of it refuted, now an afterthought. Their documents were thrown in the trash on day one because no one knew what they were talking about and were attempting to rationalize as a coherent thought.
Luckily, true professionals exist who know how to do the work, have years of experience, maturity, accountability, knowledge, and never once have called themselves or their staff “experts.”
Still here,
JOE KARPINSKI
Never Authorized
East Hampton
May 30, 2026
Dear David,
On May 20, after seven years of litigation and $1 million in town legal fees, the New York State Supreme Court vacated a controversial legal settlement that would have permitted intensified development of Duryea’s Lobster Deck in Montauk. The court correctly decided that it was never properly authorized by the town board.
It came as welcome news. Years ago, as a town councilman, I first publicly exposed the settlement as an improper and grossly one-sided surrender to the billionaire property owner, Mark Rowan. I encouraged the legal battle to vacate it, and was then ostracized by my colleagues and the local Democratic Party.
Just months before the court decision, I screened with the local Democrats as a candidate for supervisor. I did not expect that the Duryea’s case would be of much interest. I was wrong.
The decision to screen was not easy. In 2021, the Democrats refused to renominate me, and afterward, I ran a close primary to unseat Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc over his role in the settlement. The committee had supported him.
I knew going in that the committee was in lock step behind the incumbent, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. I went ahead anyway because of costly mistakes she had overseen, including two disastrous senior citizens center plans, which failed at great cost to the town.
I spent much of the interview focused on changes I hoped to see from the town board. I shared my belief that leading by listening was essential. I encouraged welcoming more public participation. I suggested making access to town records easier. I urged the town board to embrace accountability as a way to adjust plans and goals when mistakes were made.
Our discussion was somewhat bland, that is, until the last questions when fireworks erupted. Anna Skrenta, the Democratic committee chairwoman, who backed Mr. Van Scoyoc in 2021, questioned why years before I had chosen to campaign on the Duryea’s settlement.
I maintained that it was a scandal, damaging to the town, and added that publicly airing the facts was necessary.
A veteran committee member, Andy Harris, joined in, insinuating that he knew the real story better. Mr. Harris, too, had been active against me in the primary. During the Duryea’s litigation, one of his disclosed emails to Ms. Burke-Gonzalez stated that he had an idea to “throw Bragman under the bus.”
Ultimately, no committee member would support my nomination, even as a formality.
Not everyone remembers the ins-and-outs of the Duryea’s scandal. Mr. Rowan had purchased the casual lunch spot in 2014, determined to transform it into a high-end yachting destination. Vigilant neighbors were an obstacle, having obtained a binding 1997 zoning board decision that established a maximum occupancy and maintained existing parking and septic limits. Failing to loosen restrictions, Mr. Rowan ultimately turned to litigation, initiating nine lawsuits before the case reached a crescendo.
In 2019, Mike Sendlenski, the town attorney, lit the fuse when he emailed the town board a copy of a settlement he had negotiated and submitted to the court without our approval. We had never seen the document or reviewed its terms. As an attorney myself, surprise turned to shock when I read it. The agreement was a lopsided surrender to Mr. Rowan’s wishes, handcuffing future planning board review and, frankly, selling out Montauk.
Curiously, rather than acknowledging that the process had gone awry, Mr. Van Scoyoc publicly supported the settlement, calling it reasonable and fair to the town. That support quickly became a focused attack on me, once I publicly explained its implications.
I questioned why the town attorney had made no effort to oppose the developer’s lawsuits, and I urged legal action to nullify the agreement. Mr. Van Scoyoc then invited Mr. Sendlenski to speak.
Pounding the podium, Mr. Sendlenski accused me of criticizing the settlement because I didn’t work hard, skipped meetings, and was irresponsible, unlike the other board members. Claiming I besmirched his department, he omitted that he was the only person working on the Duryea’s cases.
To my surprise, Mr. Van Scoyoc joined in, echoing Mr. Sendlenski’s absurd claims, declaring, “Four out of five of us worked really hard on this.” Throughout the attack, my colleagues — Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, David Lys, and Sylvia Overby — sat silent. No one contradicted Mr. Van Scoyoc or mentioned the strange process which produced the settlement; no one expressed concern that it handed a major win to a billionaire developer.
Only later, after the conclusion of a lengthy court hearing and depositions, did the full story emerge.
Unknown to me when I spoke out, Mr. Van Scoyoc, Mr. Lys, and Mr. Sendlenski had attended a closed-door meeting with Mr. Rowan and his attorney in February 2018. At that meeting, Mr. Rowan pressed for a complete, “global” settlement of all planning issues concerning Duryea’s. In a sworn affidavit, the billionaire stated that the supervisor had agreed with the idea and suggested that he sue the town so a settlement could be negotiated without public involvement.
Mr. Rowan later clarified that the supervisor may not have stated the plan in those exact words, and Mr. Van Scoyoc denied discussing settlement. However, after the meeting, Mr. Lys, a personal friend of Mr. Rowan, texted the billionaire. He told him that his global plan was thoughtful and there was a willingness to remedy planning delays on Duryea’s about which he had complained, suggesting that settlement had been discussed.
The following month, Mr. Rowan launched three lawsuits, which Mr. Sendlenski didn’t contest and immediately negotiated to settle. While the recent court decision credited his good faith, the timeline of his actions aligned with the plan Mr. Rowan described in his affidavit.
Eventually, in sworn testimony, Mr. Van Scoyoc admitted that his claim that I was the only board member who hadn’t worked hard on the settlement was a “misstatement,” adding, “I knew as soon as I said it that I probably shouldn’t have.” He said he was angry and that his attack was “damage control” to maintain public appearances. All the other board members eventually testified, confirming that they had not worked on or seen the document. Mr. Lys admitted he never even read it.
After speaking out about the settlement, I was sidelined for the remainder of my term. Despite his involvement in a costly scandal, Mr. Van Scoyoc was re-elected.
Since the court vacated the settlement, Ms. Burke-Gonzalez has claimed credit for the victory, boasting, “I will not hesitate to take on billionaires when that is what it takes to protect our residents.” But in the midst of the scandal, she was silent when speaking out meant the most. The court’s decision confirmed my belief that following the law, regardless of political pressure, can vindicate the truth. In the long run, that is the best endorsement I could have received.
JEFFREY BRAGMAN
South of the Limit
East Hampton
June 1, 2026
To the Editor:
I just received my first ballot ever to vote in the Village of East Hampton, and I’ve owned my property for almost 60 years. Its northern boundary runs 10 feet south of the village limit, in the Town of East Hampton, and therefore I have never before been considered a village resident or voter. The candidates are running unopposed for village trustee. Both are from the New Town Party.
I’m wondering why I got a ballot? Any ideas, anyone?
DORIS NATHAN
A Stronger Future
Amagansett
May 31, 2026
To the Editor,
I am writing in support of Mayor Jerry Larsen.
As a lifelong Democrat and a lifelong resident of East Hampton, I have a deep and personal connection to this community. My family’s history here dates back to the original families who helped settle East Hampton, and, like so many others, I carry a strong sense of pride and responsibility for this place we call home. This town is incredibly special to me, and I know many of my neighbors feel the same way.
I am currently running for the Democratic Party in the 3rd District because I care deeply about our future. While we all share that care and commitment, I believe it is time for change. In recent years, too many things have stalled or begun to crumble under the current administration, and we need leadership that can move us forward in a positive, productive direction.
Mayor Jerry Larsen brings the experience and judgement needed for that change. He has demonstrated that he is willing to do what is right for the village, and I believe he is the leader who can help guide East Hampton Town toward a stronger future.
It is never easy to watch campaigns become negative. Politics can quickly turn emotional, and we’ve seen too much harsh rhetoric directed at candidates. It is important that we remember to respect one another and the choices we each make as voters. Both candidates are good people who care about this community.
But elections are about choosing who is best suited for the job at this moment, and I firmly believe that Mayor Larsen is that person.
I encourage everyone to take part in this important decision. Please get out and vote in the primary on June 23.
Sincerely,
KIM BISTRIAN-SLATER
What Is Best
East Hampton
June 1, 2026
To the Editor,
My name is Jim Grimes, and I am a candidate for a seat on the Democratic committee representing Election District 10 in East Hampton.
While I have not been a lifelong Democrat, I am a lifelong, fourth-generation resident of East Hampton. For the past 48 years, I have owned and operated a local business that employs more than 50 people. Over the last eight years, I have partnered with my two daughters in running that business.
I proudly serve as a member of the Montauk Fire Department, including responding to significant emergencies such as the Westhampton brush fires and the aftermath of 9/11. Today, I remain committed to public service, volunteering one night each week with the Montauk ambulance service.
My commitment to public service is equally longstanding. I have served as an East Hampton Town trustee for the past 12 years, including the last eight years as deputy clerk. Although I was a Republican for much of my life, I have been endorsed by the Democratic Committee in each of my last three town trustee elections because I have always believed that effective leadership should be guided by what is best for the community rather than by party affiliation alone.
The purpose of any political committee should be to represent the voices, concerns, and priorities of the residents it serves. Unfortunately, I believe District 10’s current representation has fallen short of that responsibility. When I recently asked the current District 10 representative about the well-publicized issues within the Town Building Department, I was told that the department simply needed “a little tweaking.” In my view, when town employees are escorted from their offices in handcuffs, it is clear that the problems are more serious and require meaningful examination and reform.
Too often, there appears to be a culture of complacency and loyalty to political organizations rather than accountability to the public. This approach, particularly when it comes to selecting candidates and appointing board members, has contributed to a lack of public confidence in local government and has coincided with a series of costly lawsuits and troubling incidents within town government.
If elected to represent District 10 on the Democratic committee, I will serve as a true liaison between the committee and the residents of our district. I believe candidates for public office and appointed positions should be selected based on their qualifications, experience, integrity, and ability to serve the community — not political agendas or personal loyalties.
I have dedicated my life to East Hampton, and I remain committed to ensuring that our town is led by capable, accountable, and community-focused individuals. I respectfully ask for your support as I seek to bring that perspective to the Democratic committee and help strengthen the future of our community.
JIM GRIMES
Worked Hard
Amagansett
June 1, 2026
Dear David,
I am running for a seat in the upcoming Democratic committee primary election for District 12 on June 23.
For the past 55 years, Amagansett has been my home. At 11 years old, I started Vicki’s Veggies, and this summer, I am proud to celebrate 45 years as a local small-business owner. Growing up here and raising my daughters, Rose and Maria, has given me a deep appreciation for our community, our traditions, and the people who make this town so special.
Over the years, I have always believed in giving back to the community that has supported me. For 12 years, I have served as the chairwoman and current vice chairwoman of the Amagansett citizens advisory committee.
I have worked hard to improve our hamlet. My efforts have included advocating for and helping build public support for the construction of the Amagansett parking lot restrooms, advocating for better lighting on Main Street, and protecting the 555 Montauk Highway property from development to ensure our hamlet remains beautiful and historic. I also helped to form the Amagansett beach safety advisory committee, which created the beach access markers at each beach-access point.
Furthermore, as a 17-year member and current chairwoman of the East Hampton Food Pantry, I understand the challenges our seniors and working families face regarding food insecurity. I have worked tirelessly to raise money and public awareness to help feed more than 1,100 individuals in our community each week. I am also a member of the East Hampton Kiwanis Club, supporting vital children’s programs in our town.
My experience, deep commitment, and knowledge of the issues our community’s residents face will enable me to represent District 12 and effectively support the Democratic Party.
I would be honored to have your vote on June 23 on Row A.
Sincerely,
VICKI LITTMAN
Issues That Matter
Springs
May 30, 2026
To the Editor,
Hi, My name is Bette Smith. I am a resident of Springs and the Democratic-committee person for the 17th Election District in Springs in East Hampton.
For more than the past five years I have had the privilege of knocking on the doors of my neighbors and speaking with them to discuss the issues that matter the most for us. I have listened closely to their concerns and questions so that I could convey them to the East Hampton Town Board for consideration and action. Additionally, I have been, and still am a lifelong advocate for environmental issues affecting our community and world.
As a resident of Montauk for 45 years (prior to moving to Springs), my husband, Larry, and I helped in the starting of the Concerned Citizens of Montauk. We still remain dedicated to land preservation and the protection of one of the last great places in our nation.
We Democrats are having our primary on June 23. I am running for re-election. This campaign is being challenged by many newly registered “Democrats” led by the present mayor of the Village of East Hampton who, incidentally, has no experience in managing a town the size of East Hampton.
Our forthcoming primary is especially important because of the opportunity to re-elect our current supervisor, Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, and to continue to reflect the philosophy and candidates of our county, state, and national Democratic Party.
We are so privileged to have the opportunity to re-elect Kathee as our town supervisor. As leader of the East Hampton Town Board, Kathee has proven herself invaluable in the past and this bodes well for the critical needs for the future of our town.
She works smart, hard, and with the needs of our town paramount in her efforts.
Thanks for your support and friendship. Stay in touch, work for peace, and vote smart.
BETTE E. SMITH
Open Doors
Amagansett
May 31, 2026
Dear David,
As a candidate for District 12 in the upcoming June 23 Democratic primary, I recently reached out to a Democratic committee member to ask when the local party meets so that I could attend. I was shocked to learn that the committee has not held an in-person meeting since 2022 and has only met on Zoom. There has not been an election for Democratic committee members since 2021.The result is a largely hand-picked group of members who meet behind closed doors, with no visibility or access from the public. That may be okay for a private club, but not okay for public service.
For four years, local Democrats have been completely shut out from attending meetings. This lack of transparency and engagement directly undermines core democratic values. When community gatherings are eliminated, residents are stripped of their ability to participate, ask questions, and access vital party information.
Lately, there has been nonstop talk and local drama accusing Mayor Jerry Larsen of switching parties, along with claims that current candidates running against the establishment committee members are also switching parties. Yet, amidst all this political finger-pointing, the stark reality remains that there does not even exist an actual, in-person Democratic committee meeting that any regular citizen can attend to find out the truth and get information.
Perhaps this disconnect stems from the top. Our Democratic Party chairwoman, Anna Skrenta, spends most of her time living in White Plains, rather than here in our community. Local Democrats deserve accessible, present leadership and a party that values open doors over closed doors. I would make that happen!
RONA KLOPMAN
Evil Habit
Amagansett
May 29, 2026
To the Editor;
A moment from the Eisenhower years I still remember in the Trump era: Age 5, I went looking for a favorite possession, a toy car I could sit in and pedal, and couldn’t find it anywhere. The parental powers told me that I hadn’t taken good enough care of it and would not be seeing it again.
I am reminded of this by, strangely enough, Lou Cortese’s letter on Jerry Larsen’s attempted hijacking of the election districts. Spoiler alert; In my allegory, the E.D.s are that toy car. (By the way, good, well-researched, and thoughtful letter, Lou.)
My first legal encounter with the East Hampton Town Democrats occurred when a then-friend was fired from the election district in which she was one of the two representatives. How can the party fire an elected official, you ask?
It was the early Van Scoyoc days, and the town Dems had developed a really evil habit. They would ask you to resign from your election district role so they could replace you with an appointee they liked better. They would promise, vaguely, to get you back in, on some unspecified future date, by appointing you to another vacancy. It was the first in a series of successful, fatuous, and stupid moves to create a party of obedient mediocrities and get rid of anyone smart, independent, and disobedient.
I brought a lawsuit against the party for a practice that was patently illegal under election laws and the party’s own constitution and bylaws. That is a long and interesting story for another day; they mooted the case at the next election by running an obedient candidate against my friend and defeating her, using two of their most effective tools, influence and slander.
Get it? They didn’t take care of the democracy which is now being taken away. Given how avidly they gamed the system themselves, it seems a little — I hardly know what — to complain that Jerry Larsen is a better gamer.
There’s usually a punchline, so here: My former friend is avidly libeling people for Mr. Larsen, as her letter last week illustrated (like her new hero,
Bradford Billet, she even went after spouses).
Sheesh.
For democracy in East Hampton, because the rest of us deserve it.
JONATHAN WALLACE
Late Endorsement
East Hampton
June 1, 2026
Editor:
A few years ago, when Tom Flight appeared before the Democratic committee seeking its support, he presented himself as a longtime Democrat who shared Democratic values and believed in teamwork. He is an articulate individual, a successful small-business owner, and someone who clearly possesses valuable skills and experience.
However, public service is different from running a business. Governing is not transactional. It requires patience, collaboration, and a willingness to listen — not only to constituents but also to fellow board members who bring their own experience and perspectives to the table. New members of any governing board benefit from taking time to learn the complexities of local government, understand the issues facing the community, and appreciate how decisions are made.
If Councilman Flight was genuinely dissatisfied with the direction of the town board, he had options. He could have publicly made his case, resigned his position, or challenged the incumbent supervisor himself. Instead, just weeks before a highly contested Democratic primary, he chose to endorse Jerry Larsen’s campaign.
That decision raises legitimate questions about loyalty, ethics, judgement, and the responsibilities that come with serving as a Democratic elected official. Voters have a right to wonder whether such a late endorsement reflects a commitment to the party and the team he was elected to serve alongside.
Ultimately, this episode underscores the importance of participation in the Democratic primary. Every Democrat in East Hampton who cares about the future direction of the town should make their voice heard on Primary Day, June 23.
JEREMIAH T. MULLIGAN
Do More With Less
Amagansett
June 1, 2026
Dear David,
As a 30-year East Hampton Town employee who is now retired, I find it appalling that supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez continues to largely attribute tax increases to employee salaries.
The reality is that for the 12 years she has served on the town board and now, as supervisor, town employees have often been asked to do more with less while falling behind financially. It was only when the town faced a serious staffing crisis and struggled to retain employees that raises were finally given. These raises were long deserved. However, an important detail was left out. Town employees are now required to contribute toward their health insurance costs. In many cases, the raises employees received were offset by the new health care contributions they are now forced to pay.
At the same time, Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez has supported steady salary increases for her fellow town board members, including her own. In 2024, Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez’s salary was $137,158, and the town board’s salary was $86,505. In 2025, Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez’s salary was $142,644, and the town board’s salary was $89,000.
In 2026, Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez’s salary was $148,350, and the town board’s salary was $93,564. Supervisor Burke-Gonzalez is now making more than any previous town supervisor and that doesn’t include her benefit package.
The town employees are our highway workers, maintenance crews, office staff, and public safety personnel and are not responsible for every budget problem this town faces. These are hard-working people who keep our town functioning every single day and deserve fairness, honesty, and respect, not to be used as political scapegoats whenever taxes increase.
Sincerely,
EUGENE SHAW
Election Deception
Barnes Landing
June 1, 2026
Dear David,
Democrats, let us awaken to the crucial importance of the upcoming primary on June 23, when we will effectively select our next town supervisor.
Election deception: Jerry Larsen realized the futility of running with the moribund Republican Party and clothed himself as a Democrat. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. He expects low turnout in the primary to hand him the Democratic nomination and with no opposing Republican candidate, the supervisor’s office. It’s a clever, cynical strategy.
As reported last week, contributions from real estate interests to Mr. Larsen’s campaign dominate. When development interests last took control of Town Hall in the 1980s, they abolished the Planning Department. Development oversight fell to a consultant (more efficient they said, saves money!) who rubber-stamped practically every application.
Public outcry brought in a Democratic administration and environmental protection, land preservation, and common-sense development restrictions. Kathee Burke-Gonzalez carries forward those community values of preservation, quality of life, and altruistic service.
Democrats, please cast your vote! Early voting begins Saturday, June 13th.
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
RAMESHWAR DAS
Best Candidate
Springs
May 29, 2026
Dear David,
As a lifelong Democrat and a person who has spent my career supporting our immigrant community, I will be voting for Jerry Larsen in the upcoming Democratic primary for town supervisor. Jerry’s proven commitment to represent and support all people in our community as well as his dedication to preserving the natural beauty and open spaces are just some of the reasons he is the best candidate for East Hampton Town supervisor.
Best,
MARGARET GARSETTI
My Take on Kathee
East Hampton
May 27, 2026
Dear David:
December 2024, I attended a crowded thank-you-for-working-on-the Democratic-campaign party at Rowdy Hall. I stood by the bar toward the front window to catch a breath of air. A vivacious, shorthaired, red-blonde, glasses, big smile said, “Hi, I’m Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, who are you?” Who she was was more important — the East Hampton Town supervisor.
I told Kathee my name, stats: writer, author, tennis.
“What did you do before?” she asked.
“Copywriter, F.C. and B., Clairol.”
“I was in ‘the business,’ too.”
“You’re kidding. So few of us out here.”
“I was at Jordan McGrath Case, Jean Case’s right hand for 10 years.”
She was proud of working with one of the greats in the business, a golden-haired genius. She talked about him — “eccentric, demanding, perfectionist” — he wouldn’t let her retire, she reminisced. “A roller-coaster ride but I always got it done.”
I got her. She was the organized, smart, calm one in the relationship, turning all his dreams into realities.
We talked some more, made plans to have lunch sometime. It was time to share her with someone else; we’d been gabbing for a while.
My take on Kathee: smart, savvy, strong, able to deal with anything, get it done — for the people.
A blessing in this topsy-turvy world of power grubbers and grabbers.
My vote’s for Kathee!
SUSAN ISRAELSON
Democratic Values
Springs
June 1, 2026
Dear David,
This is a follow-up to my May 28 letter, “Glass Houses.” It is increasingly difficult to take seriously a candidate who campaigns from a pedestal of democratic purity while failing to live up to that same standard.
Kathee Burke-Gonzalez’s campaign has criticized Jerry Larsen for efforts to broaden his base of support. Yet at the same time it has been revealed that according to recent campaign finance disclosures the political committee supporting Ms. Burke-Gonzalez has received $5,000 in campaign contributions from a donor, whose firm has been hired by East Hampton Town, and who has a long history of contributions to Republican candidates. It has been reported publicly that this same political committee received $57,000 from just nine donors — 60 percent of the committee’s total contributions this reporting period. Not exactly “small d” democratic values.
There is also the inconvenient fact that David Lys — who has endorsed Ms. Burke-Gonzalez — was a longtime Republican before switching to the Democratic Party to run for the town board in 2018. Mr. Lys reportedly said at the time that party affiliation did not matter much to him. Glass houses indeed. It mattered to then councilman Jeff Bragman who did not support Mr. Lys’s candidacy noting concerns over his views on issues like immigration policy.
Less notable but still worth mentioning for the sake of purity: Ms. Burke-Gonzalez’s campaign appears to have displayed at least one political sign on property owned by residents who are not registered Democrats. Voters should reasonably question the consistency of criticizing efforts to expand a party’s reach among the Town’s local residents by registering new Democratic voters while simultaneously benefiting from political support of this nature. Our town deserves effective leaders, not politicians who preach one set of principles and practice another when it’s politically convenient to do so.
If Ms. Burke-Gonzalez and her committee candidates insist on imposing political purity tests on others, they should at least be willing to live by those same standards.
Sincerely,
JACQUELINE ESPOSITO
Stark Contrast
Montauk
June 1, 2026
To the Editor,
Three years ago, I wrote a letter to The Star citing Freud’s narcissism of small differences, making the point
that our community, despite all of us having so much in common, often devolve into fights among ourselves over small things.
Small differences are not what we have today in East Hampton. There is a stark contrast between those who support Jerry Larsen for town supervisor and those who want to re-elect Kathee Burke-Gonzalez.
It’s a Grand Canyon-wide chasm. On one side you have those who see the natural beauty of this place and want to turn it into a money-making machine — nightclubs in Montauk, megamansions in Wainscott, high-density development on the lanes in Amagansett. Their champion is Jerry Larsen, whose slogan is to “say yes” to exploitive builders and insatiable real estate developers. He’s the Trojan horse that the profiteers are using to entice us to open the gates and give them access to degrade our little slice of heaven. If he gets in, it’s all over. As Joni Mitchell sang, “They’ll pave paradise, and put up a parking lot. With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin’ hot spot.”
On the other side of the divide are those of us who want to preserve paradise. We don’t want to shut down business and commerce. We understand it’s a necessary economic engine. We must, however, put the brakes on the rampant scaling up of houses with maximum lot coverages that deplete our natural landscapes.
Lose our town’s quaint and natural attractions and the economic engine will begin to sputter because our enclave’s natural beauty is the draw.
The choice is glaring. Kathee Burke-Gonzalez believes in her heart that it’s her mission to preserve what we love here. Her intent is true and honest. No phony grandiose promises. She’ll fight to preserve what we love about this place we call home.
If you want our home to be transformed into a rollicking playground for the ultra-rich; if you want showy and toothless, I give you Jerry Larsen. He will promise you the world and hand you the map.
LOU CORTESE
Real Costs
East Hampton
May 28, 2026
To the Editor,
I have been a real estate agent in East Hampton for more than 20 years. I understand how government decisions translate into real costs for real people.
What is happening in the East Hampton Town Building Department is not a bureaucratic inconvenience, it is a systemic failure that this administration created and has refused to fix. It has negatively affected too many people.
When the town required updated certificates of occupancy for all property sales, it was a policy that needed serious staffing to execute. Every real estate professional in this community knew that. Every contractor knew that. And every tradesperson knew that. Apparently, the supervisor’s office did not.
The Building Department needed roughly 15 staff members to handle the new workload. It had nine. The result was entirely predictable: a backlog so severe that the town was eventually forced to pause the entire C.O.-on-sale requirement through the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, East Hampton Village under Mayor Jerry Larsen’s leadership has operated its municipal services without scandal, without mass departures, and without the kind of institutional collapse we are now watching unfold at Town Hall. That contrast matters. Management matters. The ability to build and retain a professional team matters. Jerry Larsen has demonstrated those skills for years. The current supervisor has demonstrated the consequences of their absence.
JACKIE DUNPHY
Not in Keeping
East Hampton
June 1, 2026
Dear Editor,
The current East Hampton Town Board touts that they are all for the environment; however, their actions speak louder than words. I can point to two particular recent examples.
First is the development of affordable housing at 290 Three Mile Harbor Road. If you have not driven by, you should. This development is definitely not in keeping with preserving East Hampton. The town unnecessarily cleared over seven acres of land running from the housing development at the top of the hill down to Three Mile Harbor Road. While most residents of the town have to abide by strict clearing regulations, this clearing was excessive and unnecessary. Residents who care about preservation should be questioning why such extensive clearing was approved for this project.
Now the town is pursuing another housing project at 549 and 550 Wainscott Northwest Road. This is a 13.5-acre property and it lies within the water recharge overlay district. It is actually located in a New York State-designated special groundwater protection area. That is an area that is specifically known for its importance to protect the town’s single-source aquifer.
The town is moving forward with plans to develop this property with high density housing while bypassing a full environmental review. The town used community housing funds to purchase this land and have been in contract since February of this year.
According to the sellers, the town misrepresented its plans for the property. The seller and the neighbors are all opposed to the town’s plans for affordable housing apartments on this property, in fact they are suing the town. It is simply not the right place to build high-density housing. The vote to move forward with the purchase is today. Tune in to their meeting at 6 p.m. to see how each board member votes!
These decisions matter for the future of East Hampton, and planning for the future needs to be transparent and thoughtful. I believe that Jerry Larsen and the people he has on his team will do just that.
Thank you,
JENNIFER WILSON
Valley of Travelers
North End, Boston
May 27, 2026
To the Editor,
Dear student of blue “Sweet Liberty” bayou, Ronko, Sag, etc.: 120 years — separate of books — squish my books. 80-118 Mark 13.
120-7 — seven churches equals seven year periods plus one Indiana Jones and the Shaft of Doom twice in a blue moon or harbor lighthouse, not to mention Bartheron Coot — lasso around.
1908 — Persian archaeological dig in sewer works — valley of travelers. 12 o’clock high — on the beach a beautiful Jersey “Kerr” cow and A.V.A.G. (A.I.) Jack Benny running gag. Jack, Donald, vault, ballroom. Ask to pull up Tammy and and Bachelor, get instead Peyton Place. Lana Turner postman place.
Looking forward to shopping at Roosevelt Field - Revelations 12:14.
Burial plots with rough stone level with ground. Maybe spring bulbs, albeit Philip Goodhue Livingston.
It’s been a trip, man and some man from Long Island often east of the sun, west of the moon.
GEORGE RICHERT
Zero Instances
East Hampton
May 28, 2026
Dear Mr. Rattray,
In February, Nick LaLota voted for the Save America Act, a bill supported by Donald Trump and the Heritage Foundation. This act introduces a requirement for individuals to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. When presented in these terms, the act seems to be a safeguard against voter fraud in federal elections. But is there fraud in federal elections? If so, to what extent? Let’s check the facts.
Utah recently performed a review of its entire voter registration list from April 2025 through this January. After a thorough review of more than two million registered voters, it identified only one confirmed instance of a noncitizen registration and zero instances of noncitizen voting. In addition, many state election offices began using U.S. citizenship and the immigration service’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program in 2025 to verify voter citizenship. The results showed that just 0.04 percent of voter verification cases are returned as noncitizens.
Kansas offers a case study of how the Save America Acts would play out in practice nationally if approved by the Senate and enacted into law. Noncitizen registration in Kansas was exceedingly rare, accounting for about 0.002 percent of registered voters. When Kansas enacted a proof of citizenship law, roughly 31,000 eligible citizens, or 12 percent of applicants, were prevented from registering to vote. In short, requiring proof of citizenship prevented far more citizens from registering to vote than noncitizens.
Rather than making voting more secure, the Save America Act would prevent legally registered citizens from voting. In effect, Mr. LaLota voted for a bill that would promote voter suppression. Did he do this to increase his chances of re-election?
SALVATORE TOCCI
Can’t Wait
Montauk
June 1, 2026
Dear David,
Thank you for reading my letter, Deborah Goodman; I see you and your co-writer in some ways agreed with me. Basically, you can’t wait to show me your hate-Trump syndrome.
Veterans were torn apart by the Biden administration. Corruption ran amok under Biden; look at Hunter’s record. I, for one, demand accountability, but seems everyone walks, enriching insiders. Hello, Nancy Pelosi.
If you are concerned about danger in this country it shouldn’t be from years ago. However, you mentioned Jan. 6 — thank Nancy Pelosi, she refused to order Capitol police to double up. Blame goes around in many ways: Put it where it belongs, let all share in it.
In God and country,
BEA DERRICO
Paying Cash
East Hampton
June 1, 2026
To the Editor,
Have you had this happen? You’re in, say, the Rolex store and you notice that they give a “discount” for paying cash. You realize how great it will be when our president rolls out those new $250 bills with his picture on them. I can just see the look of admiration in my salesperson’s eyes.
My pride in our thoughtful president is just bursting!
TOM MACKEY