Sag Harbor adopts proposal requiring construction protocol on historic houses

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Particle pollution in New York City decreased significantly since congestion pricing tolls went into effect in January and had a "spillover" benefit to Long Island, researchers at Cornell University found — a result that proponents cited as a significant success for the program. The effects were found not just within the congestion zone below 60th Street in Manhattan, but in all five boroughs and, to a lesser extent, the surrounding metropolitan region. Timothy Fraser, the lead author of the study, told Newsday that particle pollution on Long Island declined by nearly 10% as drivers changed their routes or took public transportation. That improvement in air quality was almost exactly the same as in the outer boroughs.

Tracy Tullis reports in NEWSDAY that New York City was the first in the United States to introduce tolls to reduce gridlock and air pollution and raise funds for its public transportation agency, a strategy that has been implemented in London, Milan, Stockholm and Singapore. The rules went into effect in January after decades of study and in spite of vigorous opposition from officials in suburban New Jersey and Long Island. Opponents have argued that the toll — $9 for most vehicles driving in the zone during peak hours — would add an additional expense for a region struggling with its high cost of living. Contrary to expectations, the tolls have not diverted car and truck traffic, and their emissions, to the outer boroughs.

Congestion pricing has faced opposition from the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation which rescinded federal approval for it earlier this year. But a federal judge in June imposed a preliminary injunction keeping the program alive.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a press event yesterday that the program has been "wildly successful." Since the program began, 20 million fewer cars have entered the zone, Hochul said. For those who do drive, she added, "coming from Long Island and the Hudson Valley, your ride is faster."

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A New York State Supreme Court Justice has sided with a Greenport hotel that had been denied an application for a 14-room expansion by the Southold Town Zoning Board of Appeals. Beth Young reports in EAST END BEACON that North Road Hotel LLC, the owners of the property doing business as the Hotel Moraine on Route 48 in Greenport, filed an Article 78 proceeding on May 20, 2025 against the Town of Southold’s Zoning Board of Appeals, stating the April 2025 denial of their application for a lot area variance and special exception permit for the additional rooms was “illegal, arbitrary and capricious.” The hotel had been planning to build a new building, which would contain ten of the units, and expand an existing building by four units. This project was exempt from a townwide moratorium on new hotel development in effect through June of 2026. In his Nov. 17 decision, Justice James F. Matthews agreed that the ZBA’s determinations “were arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of discretion due to the lack of evidentiary basis to support its findings, which are internally inconsistent in numerous respects.” The town appealed the decision on Nov. 19, and on Dec. 2, the Southold Town Board approved the hiring of the firm Devitt, Spellman, Barrett, LLP to act as Special Counsel in its appeal.

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The North Fork Community Theatre Holiday Concerts are this weekend on Saturday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 2:30 pm with free admission to these performances. The North Fork Community Theatre is on Old Sound Avenue in Mattituck.

The public is welcome to join NFCT for a free holiday concert and open house tomorrow and Sunday.

Following the open house and family activities, Dina Mondello will lead a talented group of musicians to bring you seasonal and...