Community First

Ever since Jerry Larsen took over as mayor of East Hampton Village, there has been a debate about how much is too much when it comes to public events held in Herrick Park, at Main Beach, and even on closed roadways through the heart of the downtown district. “The Land of No,” as some called the village prior to Larsen’s arrival as mayor, had suddenly opened its doors to a new definition of community vibrancy with a resounding, “Yes!”

The most recent dust-up spread across social media late last week after a number of residents came upon a makeshift car show presented by General Motors at the entrance to Herrick Park. The event on Wednesday, July 9, lasted only 40 minutes, as village officials — expecting an educational event about electric vehicles — recognized that the actual activity was outside the scope of what was originally approved, with a half dozen cars and a series of large promotional banners for General Motors facing Newtown Lane.

According to Village Administrator Marcos Baladron, the original application did not list General Motors. Instead, it gave the name of a limited liability company, and the village gave the green light for an educational program. “Basically, it ended up being kind of like a bit of a Trojan horse for a national auto brand to conduct kind of like a commercial promotion,” Baladron explained. “We would never allow that.”

Part of the purpose of Herrick Park is to provide the community with a gathering place. Events like the LVIS Fair, the East Hampton Library’s Authors Night and Children’s Fair, outdoor movies from the Hamptons International Film Festival, and a weekly farmers market are exactly the kind of events most in the community appear to like and want. And this latest decision to approve an event — one that likely brought in revenue for the Village of East Hampton — should not deter the village nor the community from supporting local, nonprofit events, including free live music and yoga at Main Beach, which are popular among locals and visitors alike.

But the village should have done due diligence when it came to a limited liability company applying for an event on public property. More questions should have been asked from the outset about an event that originally was permitted to take over the entrance to Herrick Park for three days in July — peak season, when village roads, sidewalks, beaches and parks are at capacity on most days.

That said, allowing events in Herrick Park that truly benefit the year-round community and support nonprofit organizations — rather than for-profit entities — is something that should get continued support from the Village of East Hampton. This is a park deeded to the village in 1976 with an understanding that its purpose would be to promote “mental benefit, social intercourse and recreation in the village and town.” There needs to be clearer policy on the use of public land, and perhaps it is time for a public conversation about how much is too much when it comes to a beloved community gathering space.