Fury over EV event in East Hampton shows how easy it is to cut through red tape when you're super-rich

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

An electric vehicle event quickly erupted into chaos after what was set to be an educational display allegedly turned into a 'car dealership' at a local Hamptons park.
The gathering, run by Eventlink L.L.C., took place on July 9 at Herrick Park in East Hampton, New York, and was originally set up to teach the community about electric cars.
However, after just 45 minutes, it was shut down after locals became irate with how General Motors Company - a firm worth $52 billion - took over the public space.
The event itself had a permit to run from noon until 6pm after it was pitched to Village Hall 'as an educational forum for electric vehicles.'
But, according to East Hampton Village Administrator Marcos Baladrón, it was instead used as a 'Trojan Horse for a national auto brand to sell cars.'
The wealthy East Hampton locals - who live in one of the most expensive and ritzy zip codes in the country - ultimately got their way and the event was shut down.
'As soon as it became clear what was happening, we terminated their permit and shut it down. The Village of East Hampton will always protect its public spaces from commercial misuse,' Baladrón told The East Hampton Star.
Baladrón, who said EV educational events have been hosted in the village in the past, was not the only one left livid by the apparent display. Larry Cantwell, who previously served as the East Hampton Village Administrator for 30 years, echoed his concerns.
Cantwell posted an image from the event on Facebook, showing parked electric cars with tall GMC banners alongside them.
'New General Motors dealership opened today on Herrick Park. When will the exploitation end?,' Cantwell wrote.
While many were left enraged by the alleged car dealership popping up in the quaint village, others, including Mayor Jerry Larsen, did not see it that way.
'When we took over, we inherited an abandoned park and we've turned it into a community space,' Larsen told the outlet.
'Just like it says in the deed, it's for town and village residents to enjoy. When we shut down the street and had the block party, I didn't know how that would be received, but people loved it. If you don't take a risk, and you hide under your shell, you'll never know what can build a community and what won't.'
But, according to Cantwell, that park was donated for the community to use 'as a park and recreation' space.
'I don't think the public places in the Village of East Hampton should be for sale and commercialized by these major corporations,' Cantwell explained.
'I feel like there are an awful lot of people and corporations who want to take advantage of our community. My belief is we should have zero tolerance for the commercialization of public space and public property. It shouldn't be for sale, period.'
When he arrived at the event, Cantwell said he witnessed six cars with their hoods open parked on the grass.
He said: 'It was out of control. There were 10 signs promoting G.M. products. There were 15-foot-high banners, and they were unloading a tent.
'There were stands next to each parked car with a description of its attributes. It was like you were walking through a car dealership.'
Cantwell posted an image from the event on Facebook, showing parked electric cars with 15ft high GMC banners alongside them
Although Larsen defended the village's event, he made it clear that he agrees it 'was over the top' and not what the community expected it to be.
'It wasn't for a contribution. It was similar to other vendors who do art shows in the park, or, for example, the farmers market in the park,' Larsen added.
'They pay a small fee to the village, $500, and they get a permit to do their event. It's a public space. People apply for permits and unless there's a good reason not to allow it, it's allowed. This event, I agree, was over the top, and not what we expected it to be.'
According to village code, events that promote an 'outdoor sale of goods or services' are not allowed on the premises unless they are 'sponsored by a charitable organization.'
Larsen said when a special event permit request is made it has to go to all the department heads, including police, so they can make suggestions on restrictions.
The Village Administrator, Baladrón, then reviews the comments and decides whether or not certain restrictions should be implemented before approving or denying the event as a whole.
For this specific event, the Department of Public Works restricted the EV's from parking on the grass - something they were seen doing anyway.
Bradford Billet, the executive director of the East Hampton Village Foundation, also spoke out about the controversial event.
The night before the event at the park, two of the EV cars were displayed at the Tuesday night Main Beach concert, which was sponsored by the foundation.
Billet made it clear the foundation had 'nothing to do with the Herrick Park event,' but explained how the EV display went down the night before.
'It was not a sales thing. They displayed two vehicles and gave away swag. It was about E.V. technology and how great it is. It wasn't the focus of the night,' he said.
The night prior, the organizer made a $5,000 donation to be part of the concert, which draws thousands of people every week.
Sponsors can also decide to donate $25,000 for the gold-level tier and $10,000 for a silver-level donation.
That money allows the Main Beach events to be free and also goes toward improvements in Herrick Park.
'In the roughly four years we've been in existence, the foundation has given almost $3 million to the village for the public benefit,' Billet said.
'All of these things are for the public good. None of the donors or sponsors are getting special treatment, other than getting their name out there. I won't say there's no value to that.'
Billet also noted that he has turned away thousands of dollars from alcohol brands who wanted to sponsor events in the past.
For the controversial event, the company behind it, Eventlink L.L.C., was refunded its $1,500 it paid for the permit after it was canceled.
Despite the event being shut down, Cantwell fears this is just the start of big name companies infiltrating the village.
'What's it going to be next? If you let G.M. do it one weekend, will it be Ford on Labor Day?,' he said.
'Once you open up the box where do you draw the line? For what? For a contribution? Aren't we bigger and better than that?'