The older I get, the more I think about young people, and hope that the leaders we elect in Southampton Town enter office mindful of their concerns.
John Leonard is that kind of leader.
When John put forth his name to be considered for election to the Southampton Town Board, I thought of a Southampton Press article that covered the Hampton Bays Alliance (John is a co-founder) and its endeavor to educate the public about revitalization plans in Hampton Bays [“Developer Pitches Vision for Downtown Hampton Bays,” August 22, 2024].
I was struck by the comments made by Stefani Joslin. You can hear the passion and concern in her voice: “I just want my friends to move back here. Two stories, three stories. Whatever gets them here. I’m one of the youngest people in this room because my friends have moved away. If we have a vibrant downtown, I don’t care what it looks like, as long as it’s cute and it’s fun and my generation and your kids’ generation can afford to live here.”
Who among us cannot name some young people who have moved away or who are contemplating moving because of the same concerns raised by Stefani? I can name a few in my own extended family.
I make it a habit to check the sale prices for recently sold homes that The Press lists in its Residence section. Always, the houses that sold for more than $1 million exceed those that sold for less than that. Are we pricing out our future? It does seem that way.
Through his Hampton Bays Alliance, John Leonard brought an engaged young person to the discussion. It’s important for all of us to hear young voices. I trust the good folks making decisions that revitalize our downtown hamlets and villages arrive at a consensus that meets all age cohorts’ needs.
I hope John Leonard is one of those decision-makers.
Mike Anthony
Westhampton
Anthony is a former chair of the Southampton Democratic Committee — Ed.
Embodies ValuesI have never written a Letter to the Editor before, but I felt called to respond to Frances Genovese’s negative statement about John Leonard [“Saddle Up,” Letters, January 30]. I want to point out that she opens her letter with:...
Flood of MemoriesA number of years ago, I attended a grandparents’ event at Our Lady of the Hamptons School in Southampton. I had my back to an empty seat at the table, but when a break came I shifted in my seat,...
Loyal and DedicatedJohn Leonard is an admirable man with many qualities that would benefit the Town of Southampton. He is loyal, dedicated and hardworking to his goals, both for the town and as an attorney. I personally have seen John take these...
The Right ChoiceHow lucky are the residents of Southampton Township that John Leonard has thrown his hat in the ring to run for Town Board. I met John when he came before the Southampton Town Democratic Committee’s screening committee, of which I...
A WorkaroundFor months, local papers have been peppered with the reversal in fortunes of the highly regarded shellfish hatchery at Conscience Point, with the organization’s eviction being prompted by a formality that the hatchery has received a minor sum of money...
Too Many QuestionsPlease realize that the winner of the March election for a vacant Town Council position has an excellent chance of being in office for about a decade. The focus on John Leonard’s qualifications for this election highlights a much bigger...
A Tax GiftSouthampton Village Mayor Bill Manger wants to give his wealthy donors a massive tax break — at your expense. His latest scheme? A proposed change to Chapter 99 of the village code, which would provide a tax exemption for “historic...
Fueling AnimosityI was dismayed to learn that the Town of Southampton advanced its lawsuit against the Shinnecock Nation’s tribal leaders last week by seeking a preliminary injunction stopping construction of a gas plaza on the Westwoods property. To me, the filing...
