Former Shinnecock Tribal Chief Says Hamptons 'Fail Epically' in Year-Round Community Needs

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - Former Shinnecock Tribal Chief Lance Gumbs says he's seen a "mass exodus" of year-round residents who can't afford to live in the pricey Hamptons — and he'd like to work with town leaders to solve stem the tide.

According to Gumbs, the Hamptons is meant to be a resort tourist area. "However, as this supposed resort area, the Hamptons has failed epically in addressing the year round needs of the communities and year round residents. There has never been a vision for that, and as a result you see that mass exodus of people that I went to school with who can't afford to live here anymore."

The problem, he added, is "an economic viability coupled with economic liability and no long term vision or real job creation planning by the towns."

Gumbs has some solid ideas he'd like to pitch.

"Our tribe has access to federal funds to fix all our service roads that service the Nation. That would be Montauk Highway, Sunrise Highway, Hill Street, and and side roads leading to the Reservation," he said.

In addition, there said, there's Indian Health Services, or IHS, funding that could possibly be garnered with an eye toward a joint use hospital facility,

Gumbs discussed the possibilities a gaming facility could bring to the area.

Pilot funding, he said, exists from any type of gaming facilities for local roads, police and fire protection and upgrades.

Job creation for tribal and non tribal people would prove another boon, he predicted.

"What is the draw to the Hamptons for tourists besides the beaches? They have shut down most of the clubs, so it's either all the way out to Montauk or the Jersey Shore now. Unless you have a McMansion and host functions and are part of the 'in' crowd, after a walk through town and a beach visit there is nothing to do for the average tourist for the four months of summer — let alone the other eight months of the year."

Guests have stay in Riverhead to visit large hotel chains, he said, adding that shopping and tourist dollars are lining Riverhead coffers.

"They have a plan for job creation and and long term economic sustainable growth, either by accident or design. Meanwhile, the town fathers of the Hamptons have been systematically choking the economic life out of it for years. The Hamptons is dying a slow economic death. What happens when there's no more land to build on and the trade parade has dwindled to just the refurbishment of existing homes?"

Gumbs pointed to the restaurants that open, only to shutter after a single season. He pointed to the number of empty storefronts in Southampton, as businesses struggle to remain viable.

"Then look at the success of areas that have partnerships with there tribes and the amount of economic success they have achieved. The job creation alone is phenomenal, and I'm talking other forms of tribal business and economic development other than gaming."

Gaming, he said, is just one of the many tools tribes across the country could turn to for community benefits.

Tribes also have access to tax free zones, he said, and could explore industry and manufacturing opportunities.

Gumbs was honored with Public Advocate of the Year award in Indian Country.

The reason? "I continue to talk about economic diversity and joint relationships between towns and tribes."