The split 5-4 Supreme Court decision in favor of gay marriage, with Chief Justice John Roberts on the dissenting side, guarantees many months of debate and political action on the issue.

Justice Anthony Kennedy and Justice Roberts put forth opposite views, the former saying gay marriage is a Constitutional right and the latter saying it has nothing to do with the Constitution.

“Sulzberger” Kennedy, Roberts

"No longer may this liberty (gay marriage) be denied," wrote Kennedy. Said Roberts: "Under the Constitution, judges have the power to say what the law is, not what it should be."

Supporters of gay marriage noted that it is legal in 37 states and D.C. Opponents replied that only 11 of the states had votes in favor of gay marriage. The other 26 adopted gay marriage laws via the courts.

The New York Times, an ardent supporter of gay marriage for many years, in its news as well as editorial columns, was exultant at the decision, headlining "EQUAL DIGNITY" (all caps) above a six-banner second headline that said "5-4 Ruling Makes Same-Sex Marriage a Right Nationwide."

Coverage by other media such as the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal noted the victory by GM adherents but also gave plenty of ink to the dissenting side.

"John Roberts’ Full-Throated Gay Marriage Dissent: Constitution Had Nothing to Do With It," said a two-line banner headline in the Washington Post.

The decision "completely undermines America’s democratic process," was the first Roberts’ quote used in the story.

"Who do we think we are?" was another quote picked up from the 29-page dissent of Roberts which was linked in the WP story written by Amber Phillips. The website of the paper supplied a link to the dissenting opinion

NYT’s main story on the decision, by Adam Liptak, did not contain a link to the full Roberts’ dissent.

New battlefronts will open as GM proponents push for antidiscrimination laws that impact on services provided by religious and other institutions.

Some Republicans have said a Constitutional Amendment is needed that would override the Supreme Court. That would take a two-thirds vote in the House or Senate and ratification by three-quarters of the states.

Issue Is Headache for PR

Blue chips and most smaller companies are supportive of the drive for GM but neither wants to alienate the considerable segment of the population that is not so inclined.

Highly motivated adherents on both sides brandish the sword of product and service boycotts in order to make their points.

Company and institutional statements on the issue, if any are made at all, must take into account the high level of passion on each side.

"I Don’t Want to Talk About It"

This writer, having spent the past two weeks in the Westhampton Beach area, attending three duplicate bridge games with a dozen or more tables of four players at each, and several dinners with New York businesspeople, Wall Streeters, local tradespeople, and local residents, was able to sample their opinions.

Same sex marriage, as well as the eruv Jewish religious boundary proposed for WHB, are such "tinder box" issues that any mention of them brings the retort, "I don’t want to talk about it!" from some of the Hamptonites.

Others, meanwhile, attack both topics with gusto, eager to hear any wrinkle, old or new. They have an insatiable appetite not only for details but sweeping overviews of the issues. They track how media are covering the stories, sorting out who is on what side.

SH Press Ignores Eruv Issue

Southampton Press/27east.com gave its top story June 25 to the election of Brian Tymann and Rob Rubio in Westhampton Beach, who made statements objecting to the erection of an eruv Jewish religious boundary in WHB.

Reporter Kyle Campbell said Tymann/Rubio "ran on a platform that promised greater transparency in government" and on the need for a sewer on Main st. that would "revitalize" it and bring businesses to it. The story did not mention the stance of Tymann/Rubio on the eruv issue.

Both Tymann and Rubio said in advance of the election that they "strongly oppose granting any waiver or exemption from any present or future WHB ordinance, regulation or requirement to Verizon or the East End Eruv Assn. "

The demand by Verizon and EEEA that WHB "categorically" promise never to oppose an eruv in WHB is in the transcript of a conference Feb. 24 conducted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Tomlinson.

Tymann also said: "I personally do not support the general concept of religious demarcations on public property."

www.odwyerpr.com as well as patch.com, the local news service, carried the quotes.

The published stand of Rubio/Tymann on the issue won the support of Jewish People Opposed to the Eruv which urged its more than 300 members to vote for the pair.

Medical Plans for Trustees Is an Issue

Another major local issue is the cost of medical benefits for the five village trustees, two of whom are now receiving them—Hank Tucker and Patricia DiBenedetto, both of whom were defeated in the June 19 election.

The SH Press noted in an editorial June 25 that the defeat of Tucker, 55, meant that WHB would not have to give him lifetime medical benefits, a perk that would have taken effect since one more two-year term would qualify him for that benefit. He had served four terms. The law requires ten years of service.

DiBenedetto, who was defeated after serving two terms, also receives dental insurance.

Tymann wants to eliminate health and dental insurance for trustees. He prefers a stipend whose cost could be known "exactly." Trustees are paid $5,710 yearly. Salary of the mayor is $25,000.

Former mayors Robert Strebel, Arma Andon and Stuart Tobin, and former trustees Ora Belle Barnet and Harold Williams are receiving such benefits at a total cost of more than $50,000 yearly.

Moore told the SH Press that the current "extremely generous benefit package" will cost WHB $1.22 million in the 2015-16 fiscal year, or about 13% of the $9.8M budget. It is not sustainable, she said. Family medical plans can cost $25,000 yearly and more. Further information is being sought from WHB on current costs.

Benefits to WHB employees are a sore point with residents because of the package received by former Police Chief Ray Dean who retired last year. It resulted in a story in the New York Post headlined, "Charge This Cop with Robbery."