With the approval of a new .5-percent tax on most real estate sales for affordable housing, there is a serious risk of misuse and political influence taking precedence over sound decision-making.

East Hampton Town needs to make clear what it is up to in buying a nearly 19-acre piece of vacant land off East Lake Drive in Montauk.

Out of seemingly nowhere, on Monday my 12-year-old told me in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to vote for anyone who was not “a minority.”

One of my great pleasures is perusing old cookbooks to see how people ate and entertained in other eras.