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Renting Your House for One Week in the Hamptons Is a Crime

May 9, 2013 by David Rattiner

There is a law in Southampton that says you cannot rent your house out to another person for 29 days or less. It was written in 2007 and the entire purpose of the law was to prevent massive share house parties from happening. The logic was that people who rent for the short term are most likely people who are party people and would cause a disturbance to the area. In 2007 real estate in the United States was at an all time high and was just beginning to collapse.

It’s now 2013, and I think it is safe to say that this law doesn’t make sense anymore. People who rent in the Hamptons on a short term basis are for the most part very normal people and not share house people. A few years ago, it was certainly the case that people who rented for the short term were wild and crazy, but that’s because back then anybody with a social security number could buy a home, and anybody who owned a home could borrow money against it and afford any rental in the Hamptons they wanted. Things have changed.

Today, a lot of people want to be in the Hamptons, but they simply can’t afford to be out here all summer long. They can afford a month in a gorgeous house, or a week, but that’s it. They are professionals, many times with families and kids, and it is absolutely INSANE that it is on the law books today that it’s illegal to rent to them for the short term.

Fight the people who pack 100 kids into a home and party all week and destroy the neighborhood. Don’t punish people who are looking to have a nice vacation in the Hamptons and don’t punish the local homeowners out here who have mortgages to pay and need the extra money but can’t afford to give up their houses for the entire summer.

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My Grandpa Alan Rattiner Was the Man Back in the Day While Being a Montauk Firefighter

May 8, 2013 by David Rattiner

It has never really hit me until today, my grandfather Alan Rattiner was one very cool dude. He moved out to Montauk when Montauk was nothing, and opened White’s Pharmacy at the Plaza. He started a family, becoming one of the only Jewish families in the VERY Catholic Montauk.

He was a very tall guy, standing over six feet, and played the saxaphone. His pharmacy did well enough to keep everybody happy—my grandmother didn’t have to work (except at the pharmacy) and raised my dad and aunt in Montauk. The business was sold, but they kept the building, which my dad and aunt still own today.

I bring him up because today I got a wonderful text from Richard Lewin, one of our photographers here at Dan’s Papers, and he sent me the picture above. My grandfather‘s name stands on the wall at the Montauk Fire Department and will remain there forever. Back in the day, and I would argue even today, the Montauk Fire Department was one of the most exclusive groups of people in Montauk and my Grandfather was able to break the mold, being at that time the only Jew in the fire department.

The wall at the Montauk Fire Department is known as The Wall of Honor. Richard explained it to me over the telephone: “There is a wall of honor in the entry vestibule at the MFD, which honors members who have passed away. It has every historic Montauk family name, most of whom I have known in my 32 years living there. As Honorary Department Chief, I was especially touched to read the names.”

I never knew him. He had severe Parkinson’s late in life and I have no memory of him without it. But man do I wish that I did, because the more I learn about him, the more I want to be like him.

Pay attention to your roots, not only will it make you feel good, it will inspire you to do more.

Thank for this picture, Richard!

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Southampton Village Planning Board Tells Citarella, “You’re Approved.”

May 7, 2013 by David Rattiner

Citarella has official approval to open a new location on 22 Hampton Road in Southampton. The news is welcome for some and terrifies others who think they will lose business to the fine grocer.

The location has limited parking, which was pointed out as a problem since Citarella can draw a lot of traffic, but the solution to the parking issue will be in the hands of the Village Board of Trustees.

The new location did not require any variance for approval, just approval for interior changes to make the market single use.

You want to know what I think? I think that Citarella just really loves Dan’s Papers. The grocer was literally a go-to place for the staff here on a daily basis when our headquarters was located in Bridgehampton. Today, almost none of us go to lunch at Citarella because Dan’s Papers is based in Southampton, but I’m sure that will change when they are just down the street.

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Nickel and Diming The Fines In East Hampton Will Backfire

May 6, 2013 by David Rattiner

Everybody knows you aren’t supposed to litter. Everybody knows that you aren’t supposed to drive on the beach without a sticker, and everybody knows that you aren’t supposed to light off illegal fireworks in East Hampton.

But unfortunately, some people do, and they get fined for it.

Over in East Hampton, the Town sees an opportunity to make a little more money by raising the fines for these activities, but in my opinion, this plan will backfire. Officials want to drastically increase fines, I guess because they think that the current fines aren’t enough of a deterrent. Town code violations may have fines that will double this summer if things go through in East Hampton, with some fines even TRIPLING if you do not pay them within 30 days.

Yup. TRIPLING.

For example, if you are caught driving on the beach without a permit and do not pay the fine for $250 within 30 days, the proposed new law will have that penalty go up to $800. A littering ticker for $100 goes up to $350 if you don’t pay it after 90 days. In other words, if you have a full time job in Manhattan, lose the ticket that you received and can’t get away from your job to come to court to pay in person, you are SOL.

The reality is that people who litter or drive on the beach without the proper permits are more or less, complete jerks, and I’m happy to fine them. But it’s a give and take. If these proposed fee changes go through, here’s what will end up happening: the Town will make a little extra money, but in the grand scheme of the town, it will be completely meaningless in terms of revenue, and the second thing that will happen is the Town will continue to go down the road of turning tourists off to the area. Oh and finally, I can guarantee you that in a few more years, these fines will increase, yet again.

I don’t know why it is so hard for our local government to understand that we are in the business of making tourists happy. ABSOLUTELY punish people who break the law (few people are fined for littering because it doesn’t happen that often by the way and people who drive on the beach half the time don’t realize they are breaking the law) but do it within reason and with respect.

If a guy is driving on the beach with a permit, gets a fine, and 30 days later has to pay nearly $1,000 in fines, it will have one message, “We don’t want you in our town.”

And he’ll probably listen to that message, and that’s not a good thing for the government or the local businesses out here. Not to mention that he will most likely, just on pure principal, do everything possible to be difficult in resolving the fine by hiring a lawyer, in a deliberate attempt to waste the town’s time.

We should be looking to solve problems in local government, not nickel and diming everybody that visits us and ultimately turn them off to the area.

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The Word Is that Hamptons Coffee Is Going to Start Selling Wine and Beer with That Latte

May 5, 2013 by David Rattiner

If somebody were to ask me what my idea of heaven is like, part of the description would have a place that I could go to at any time of day and order a piping hot cup of fresh, hand-roasted coffee, listen to music and enjoy a day’s paper. In my version of heaven however, I could also buy a high quality beer at such an establishment.

Hampton Coffee is going to make this place happen in the Hamptons.

According to the employees of Hampton Coffee, beer and wine is coming, and it’s coming soon, and I really like this idea for the company. Hampton Coffee is an ideal place to relax in the Hamptons, especially the operation that they run in Water Mill, so why not enjoy a light beer during the beachy hours of the day and sit outside? They even have a hammock over there, not good for a cup of Joe, but a glass of chardonnay is a different story.

I don’t foresee Hampton Coffee turning into a night spot or a place to party during the day, but I see it moving continuously to a place where people can really feel comfortable and relax. I see adding beer and winbe to their menu as an excellent addition to this local venture and I’m looking forward to what beer and wine offerings the owner has in store this summer.

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Did You Know You Can Rent a Mechanical Bull for a Party in the Hamptons?

May 3, 2013 by David Rattiner

I thought I’d seen every party amenity known to man in the Hamptons, but here’s a new one that sounds like a good time. A service on the East End is now offering mechanical bull rentals for parties and it sounds hilarious.

I always thought mechanical bulls only existed in the South. Embarrassingly, I’ve never even seen one in person! But now that I know about this company called americanbullrentals.com, I’m dying to throw a party. The company can even rent to nightclubs and restaurants out here.

Can you imagine the East Hampton or Southampton supervisor on one of these things? Or perhaps a fancy Hamptons fundraiser having a mechanical bull?

Check out americanbullrentals.com, they are making a push for the East End.

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ARF Volunteer, Cathy McHugh

ARF Volunteer, Cathy McHugh

May 11 Is Officially Pet Celebration Day in East Hampton

May 2, 2013 by David Rattiner

FINALLY, a new holiday that makes a lot of sense. East Hampton Town Board‘s stock has just gone up a bit in my book.

Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons will hold Pet Celebration Day on Saturday, May 11 from 10am to noon at the ARF Adoption Center at 90 Daniels Hole Road in Wainscott.  The public is invited to bring their dogs (on leashes) and their cats (in carriers) to rub noses with old and new friends, try out the agility course, nosh on treats, and enter contests.

To help ARF celebrate 39 years of caring for animals, the East Hampton Town Board has named May 11, 2013 “ARF day in East Hampton”.  Town Councilman Dominick J. Stanzione will be on hand to present the “ARF Day” proclamation.

Sandy Rapp will sing and play her guitar while guests drink coffee donated by Hampton Coffee Company and eat warm Dreesen’s Famous Donuts, made on-site.  For the four-legged guest there will be a Freshpet carving station for dogs and cats with free samples of this real food made from fresh ingredients.

ARF is where I got my dog Sally. It’s like dog heaven down there.

ARF Volunteer, Eunice Bennett

ARF Volunteer, Eunice Bennett

 

ARF Volunteer, Mina Kahofer

ARF Volunteer, Mina Kahofer

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“Let Me Look into My Crystal Ball. I See a Hamptons Beach BBQ in Your Future”

May 1, 2013 by David Rattiner

Psychic Janet Lee has set up shop in Hampton Bays, Westhampton Beach and East Hampton and as far as I know, she is the only person who has opened up storefront shops on the East End of Long Island as a professional psychic.

Personally, I love going to psychics. Sometimes I’ve even been told that I am psychic. I think psychics are people with a gift of intuition and common sense. Some believe they are magical, but I think that all of us, to an extent, have psychic abilities. That gut feeling that we all get, I believe some have it better than others.

Still, it’s pretty cool that a psychic has opened storefronts out here. They are all over the place in New York City, I guess it was just a matter of time before somebody did it out here.

The locations of her new storefronts are at 159 Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays, 129 Main Street in Westhampton Beach and 66 Newtown Lane in East Hampton.

The Hampton Astrologer

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Hamptons Rich Guy Toy #2199: The Martin Jetpack

April 30, 2013 by David Rattiner

The Hamptons traffic problem is solved! It’s called the Martin Jetpack.

Can you imagine seeing a Martin Jetpack soaring through the skies while your stuck in traffic? Somebody in the Hamptons needs to buy this thing!

According to everything that I’ve read, this jetpack is not only functional, but runs on gasoline and is estimated to cost just $40,000 when it goes into mass production. They are still flying it using a remote control with a test dummy in the cockpit, however, I’m sure there are a couple of Hamptonites who could figure out a way to get around that and tool around in it a bit over Georgica Pond.

“Hey it’s so good to see you! We just came in on our private helicopter and then had our driver bring us to the beach. How’d you get here?”

“My jetpack.”

“Oh.”

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Anybody Else Feeling Like Real Estate in the Hamptons Is Back in a Big Way?

April 29, 2013 by David Rattiner

I’m out in the world and I tend to talk to a lot of people, and just about everybody I talk to that is in the real estate business says that this summer is going to mark the year that real estate really turns around in a big way. In many ways, I think that it already has.

Let me put it this way, I have a friend who has over $14 million in contracts currently and in the past four years, she was lucky if she was able to pull off ANY deal. Money was very tight for her and now…well, now it’s a little different let’s say.

Is real estate back?

I don’t think that it is back in the sense that homes are going to double in value overnight like it did during the height of the bubble, but it certainly seems like things have steadied out and that buyers and sellers are able to find prices that make sense. That sounds like a healthy thing to me. Nearly everything in the Hamptons, one way or another, is a derivative of real estate in terms of the economy. The government runs off of property taxes, locals fix up and maintain the homes, the media advertises properties, caterers throw parties at them and restaurants enjoy all of the people who have a little extra cash in their pockets.

I’m going to go out on a limb and officially say that I think that not only will this summer be good for the real estate business, it is going to be great.

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