Comments on: I’m Ambivalent…Again

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 23:58:00 +0000

What is the answer, I wonder. Sag Hampton desperately needs affordable housing. Of course, I realize it’s not only in the Hamptons, but wouldn’t it be great to solve the problem out here, where we’re so visible?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 22:47:00 +0000

Of course, you’re right. High real estate prices, are driving small businesses and working families out of this area in droves. They are the root cause of many of the alarming trends here in Sag Hampton as well as other parts of our country. Taken a step further, a finger could also be pointed at the ever growing divide between the very wealthy and everyone else in this country. The price of coffee and a bagel at the Golden Pear is just an indicator of the direction things are going in this area.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 04:31:00 +0000

High prices to the consumer in a situation like this sound more like the price of smallness and chic location. Old standbys like Harbor Deli close because the economic model of such homey hangouts ceases to work when high real estate values drive all, including wages of the help. The Beautiful Loser small businesses may hold out for years but the eventually succumb. I’d wager that Golden Pear is just charging what their business plan says to charge, not a price designed to make them the next Starbucks. Now high prices at megachains like Starbucks are another story…