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The battle in the Hamptons over whether the East End Eruv Assn. has the “civil right” to place Jewish symbols on utility poles has exposed weaknesses in institutions including the courts, media, libraries and schools.
Whether such a “right” exists has almost become a side issue in litigation that has dragged on since 2011.
It’s like a homeowner who pries up a floorboard for some reason and finds some decay that could threaten the foundation of the house. The “house” of the U.S. rests on the foundation of the Constitution which demands that church and state be separate. “God” is not in the Constitution.
The No. 1 issue is how have the courts allowed such expensive, time-consuming arguing over whether religious markers have to be physically visible on utility poles in order for them to qualify as “signs” and thus come under the sign laws of Southampton, Westhampton Beach and Quogue. Visibility on websites doesn’t count with the courts.
No such litigation could ever take place in France or many other countries that know the difference between secular and sectarian. Sectarian issues do not belong in court, a point made by comedian Lewis Black to the Westhampton Performing Arts Center April 1, 2015.
Legal Critics Abound
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The legal system has plenty of critics including lawyer Marion Munley of Scranton who says jury trials have about disappeared, replaced by decisions made by panels of one or three judges. She wrote in the Dec. 1, 2013 Scranton Times:
“The disappearance of jury trials and a transition towards private litigation threatens to make the administration of justice in America a series of back-room deals instead of an act of citizenship. Lawyers, who as guardians of the administration of justice are charged with promoting equality of access to the courts, cannot acquiesce to this change.”
“Justice” is meted out by a “multitude of pre-trials of pre-trials of pre-trials that benefit lawyers only,” says the Anti-Lawyer Party. There’s no doubt that the U.S. has strayed far from the vision of founders who said anyone who is accused of something is entitled to a speedy trial by their peers.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a major initiative that urges the return of “common sense” to the courts.
Media Mostly Duck Eruvim
Most media have fallen on their faces on the eruv issue by either completely ignoring it or even taking sides with eruv forces. The New York Times has not covered the multi-million dollar Hamptons eruv battle since Feb. 4, 2013.
Mostly ignoring it are such major Hamptons media as Newsday and news12.com, both owned by Cablevision, which has been sold to the French company Altice for $17.7 billion.
Local news service Patch, although it has four reporters in the area, won’t touch the eruv issue. The Southampton Press and 27east.com, its online version, have written many stories about the battle but could do more. SH Press has illogically taken the stance in an editorial that since the lechi markers are “invisible” they should be of no concern to residents.
SH Press carries a lot of real estate ads. Brokers, with 1,700+ homes to sell in the East End, would appear to favor eruvim which would be a strong sales point to the Orthodox.
Dan’s Papers ran a column by “Mr. Sneiv” that urged Pope Francis to perform a conciliatory role on the eruv dispute while in New York. However, the column only appeared as an online blog and not in the printed paper which is the largest circulation weekly in the Hamptons (32,000). Sneiv had previously written that eruvim would spark a real estate boom in the Hamptons and urged people to buy now.
Libraries Take a Pass
Hampton libraries, whose websites are loaded with lofty promises to “cultivate knowledge, promote curiosity and inspire lifelong learning” (script of the Westhampton Free Library), have struck out on the eruv issue. None will touch it with even a ten-foot pole.
The oddest case of all is the WH library which is sitting on $4.1 million in certificates of deposits and cash. Local resident Ann Skovek in 2013 left it $1.3M in her will.
WH is by far the richest among libraries in WHB, Southampton, Hampton Bays and Quogue. SH, the biggest, has revenues of $4.3M and keeps cash of $1.6M. WH revenues are $2.9M.
What is WH going to do with all this money? It’s not going to have a series of experts take up such subjects as the eruv, the problems with the courts, the problems with media, the economies of Hampton towns which have been hurt by draconian laws against unrelated people renting houses, and other issues.
More than 30 restaurants and night clubs have closed in the Hamptons in recent years because of strict enforcement of laws against “groupie” houses. Three of the five gas stations in WHB closed. Empty lots dot the village.
Rather than lead the community to new heights of intellectuality, the WH library is thinking of spending upwards of $3 million on capital improvements. Its building is only five-years-old and cost $7.5 million. Under consideration is moving the teen room from the first floor to the second.
Reformers Demand Changes at WH Library
We are buoyed by the emergence of library reformers who want the appointed board headed by Joan Levan to be replaced by an elected board.
Former WH Attorney Hermon Bishop this week said Levan should resign because she broke New York State law by circulating nominating petitions for the WHB election to library employees.
Staffers voted 31-3 on Aug. 21 to form the first union at the library in more than 100 years. Sabina Trager, who claims she was unfairly fired by the board, said dissatisfaction with library management fueled the union vote.
The WH library has a website but it’s not interactive meaning there’s no place for residents to post opinions and dialogue. Neither emails nor phone numbers of the five library trustees are available. It has resisted for months pleas by residents to have its monthly meeting in the evening instead of at 9:30 a.m. which eliminates working people.
Nearby colleges such as Stony Brook University and Suffolk Community College have ignored requests by this website to look into the eruvim battle.
Husch Blackwell Strategies has added FleishmanHillard alum Michael Slatin as a principal in its public affairs group.
Rory Cooper, a veteran Republican operative and policy specialist, has joined Teneo’s Washington office as senior managing director in its strategy & communications practice.
Brian Fallon, who served as national press secretary for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential run, is signing on next month as Vice President’s Kamala Harris’ campaign communications director.
TikTok is nothing more than a Chinese propaganda tool that poses “a grave threat to America’s national security and, in particular, impressionable children and young adults,” say two Congressmen who want the platform registered as a foreign agent.
Public Strategies Washington has added Abbie Sorrendino, a former aide to now Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
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