-- Stanislaw J. Lec (1909 - 1966), "Unkempt Thoughts"
Well folks, the boys and girls at the Southampton Press are at it again. We’re not really in a Recession or even a mild Depression, because the “bridge and tunnel crowd” are all around us buying out the stores in the Hamptons. In fact, there’s barely any room to park those Mercedes’. Lizzy Grubman says so. Even though her comments are made from home in Manhattan.
After trashing Grubman mercilessly in their rag a few years ago, they now want to quote her to revive the local economy. The comments following the article all focus on Grubman and, of course, the negative remarks were all published. Press editors usually filter out negative comments about them or the publication if they appear online.
And, in a sideswipe at the New York press, (not to mention this blog) which has been reporting the fact that real estate sales are non-existent and that rentals are a disaster, this article practically oozes confidence in the Hamptons chic. In other words, maybe someone at Town Hall thinks that, “Gee, maybe we do need the New York people to pay the bills here, after all!” But, no one can seem to admit that and simply say it.
Of course, the fact that the author, “investigative journalist” Michael Wright, quotes PR people and advertisers found in the Southampton Press, begs the question: from what planet does the writer hail? Or, better yet, did the assignment to find optimism come from Joseph or Donald Loucheim, the current publisher. Is advertising down, perhaps?
Now, before anyone gets too testy, let’s understand our terminology. The “bridge and tunnel crowd” a term used by the Southampton Press writer, was coined to describe visitors from New Jersey and the Boroughs (as in Queens, Bronx, Staten Island and Brooklyn), who regularly visited Manhattan on weekends, to party. Referring to those from Manhattan obliquely as part of the “bridge and tunnel crowd” is not only incorrect – it is indicative of the negative attitude towards all New Yorkers. As, in, “we love to hate them but they bring cash.” In fact, the only cash that is likely to prop up the Hamptons. And, in truth, on an income basis, it is more likely that a Manhattan resident would be the owner of a weekend retreat in the Hamptons. Jerseyites generally visit and buy on the Jersey shore – where it is more fun, cheaper, and has less Code Enforcement police to hassle them in a summer rental. While the summer rental crowds from the Boroughs as well as Manhattan still do come to the Hamptons, they have been disillusioned by the anti-New Yorker attitude that has chased away summer house shares, which used to proliferate in the Hamptons and supported so many local businesses. Skip Heaney, as Supervisor, saw to it that they were treated as targets by Town government.
Now, the Town wants that money to come back because McMansions are no longer selling. With no mortgage money available, dwindling Community Preservation Fund money to dip into, evaporating property taxes, missing Town funds, and a budget deficit -- rentals may now be the only form of hard currency for the Hamptons. Think about that folks.
While the reporter acknowledges that Sag Harbor has seen no such uptick in business (except for the American Hotel), that fact is merely a tag line in this puff piece trying to pass as news. And, although Westhampton Beach Village was recently visited by another, stellar reporter named Jessica DiNapoli, no mention was ever made of the fact that in that village numerous businesses have closed up, several establishments have ceased to exist and large stores are vacant or closed with no date for re-opening (National, Westhampton Bowling Lanes, Westhampton Movie Theatre, the Health Food store and a few others). In addition, several stores have shrunk or downsized. Apparently, no one who attempts to write at this newspaper talks to each other about such “facts” to check.
There is no line for a space to park your Mercedes in Westhampton Beach. Nor is there ever a sighting of the Mayor or Village Board. Perhaps, those elected officials should visit Water Mill or East Hampton and pick up a few tips on bringing in business. Or, the reporter might give them a lecture on how to arrange for those crowds milling about in Water Mill, like zombies from “Night of the Living Dead,” to move their operation in front of some shops on Main Street?
It is likely that the business experienced in the last week was due to the numerous, rolling, spaced out St. Patrick's Day revelers that has brought some restaurant activity in many villages, but little else. The same holiday is celebrated for weeks in different East End Towns and Villages.
And, should it be pointed out that parking spaces and window-shopping do NOT bring in cash. Just as calls to brokers do not translate into sales or rentals.
In other words, folks, this bizarre puff piece has all of the earmarks of a plant for PR purposes, supported by PR operatives, designed to encourage more business from people who the writer wittingly, unwittingly or dim wittingly is insulting (“bridge and tunnel crowd” a.k.a New Yorkers) and who the Town continues to target if they rent a summer house and try to pay for it the old-fashioned way – sharing it with friends. In fact, last weekend saw another wave of Code Enforcement “visits” to no less than 40 properties owned by various New York landlords to check for rental permits. This is a prelude to more heavy-handed actions against Latinos and young New York renters—which is the reason why the new law was passed. It should be scrapped completely.
This article was, as they say, an attempt to put lipstick on a pig. The pig, in this instance, is the disastrous economy in which we are all suffering. To think that people, who are losing their jobs and cannot afford their apartments, will drop everything and flee to the Hamptons to line up in Starbucks – because of this puff piece -- is approaching madness. And it is an insult to those who are suffering in this deflationary recession. While Wall Street may be responsible for the derivatives-driven economic meltdown, New Yorkers are not stupid.
However, the article is.
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