Supervisor Fires Back At Cuomo Over Hamptons 'Violations' Remarks

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman fired back after a comment by Gov. Andrew Cuomo during a press briefing about how the Hamptons was one of the "problem" areas, including New York City, that were not enforcing compliance with reopening protocols.

Cuomo said the Hamptons and Manhattan were the areas with the leading number of the 25,000 complaints about violations that have been received, many involving restaurants and bars — and he said he would shut businesses down again if non-compliance continued.

The Hamptons are currently in Phase 2 of the plan to reopen the economy, which includes outdoor dining, and New York City is currently in Phase 1.

Schneiderman sent a letter to Cuomo Monday: "As supervisor of the largest town in the Hamptons region, I am aware of your comments during the June 14 COVID-19 press conference where you stated that 'the Hamptons' region is not enforcing compliance with the re-opening guidance," he said.

He added: "You also suggested additional restrictions if we do not do a better job enforcing the law. I seek clarification regarding your remarks as my primary charge is to protect public safety," Schneiderman said. "We are partners in working together to reduce the incidence of COVID-19. Please feel free to share with me any knowledge of specific cases within my jurisdiction where you believe the guidelines are being ignored."

Schneiderman said he also serves as chairman of the East End Supervisors and Mayors Association.

"Did you mean to imply that every local jurisdiction is ignoring the state rules? At the press conference you said 'the Hamptons' were a problem area," the supervisor said.

The Hamptons region consists of two towns and eight villages located on Long Island’s South Fork; there are seven independent police departments and a similar number of ordinance enforcement departments, Schneiderman said.

"All agencies, that I am aware of, have been enforcing the guidelines to the best of their abilities and many areas including Southampton Town, have adopted regulations that are even stricter than the state guidance. In fact, the Hamptons area met the metrics weeks before the region we were placed into, which included all of Nassau and Suffolk County," Schneiderman said.

Southampton Town, he added, has enforced social distancing requirements, mask wearing regulations, non-essential business restrictions, limitations on gathering and every other regulation "promulgated" by the state.

"Our agencies are quick to investigate complaints of non-compliance," he said. "We receive concerns regarding non-compliance from Suffolk 311 as well as through our own departments. We speak regularly on conference calls with your local representatives who have never raised concerns about a pattern of non-compliance in our area or even a single concern about a business ignoring the requirements," Schneiderman said.

East End elected leaders, he added, have been "working around the clock for months" to flatten the curve. Town and village officials, Schneiderman said, have enacted local emergency orders and have worked diligently to deliver governmental services with reduced staffing levels.

"We have modified our work spaces, established temperature and oxygen monitors, and developed new sanitization protocols," he said. "We have delivered essential items to seniors so they could stay at home. We have helped raise funds for our food pantries to address food insecurity. I want to assure you that we are doing our job," Schneiderman said.

Referencing the 25,000 complaints Cuomo mentioned at the press briefing, the bulk of which he said pertained to New York City and the Hamptons region, Schneiderman said, "I ask that you forward to me any complaints that you have received pertaining to businesses in my jurisdiction, to allow our law enforcement agencies to properly investigate them. "