Latest news with #EastHampton
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Fury over EV event in East Hampton shows how easy it is to cut through red tape when you're super-rich
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?'
Rhyl Journal
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Diego Velazquez prevails in Minstrel Stakes
Aidan O'Brien's son of Frankel was winning for the fifth time in his 10-race career, but was tackling the shortest distance he has encountered since making a winning debut over the same course and distance as a two-year-old. The 11-8 favourite for the Group Two event in the hands of Ryan Moore, he was well away and always in a handy position alongside Adrian Murray's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer. Moore may have been low in the saddle inside the final quarter-mile but he had a willing ally and although the challengers were queuing up a furlong from home, it was only David Marnane's 25-1 shot East Hampton who emerged from the pack to lay down a stern challenge in the closing stages. Diego Velazquez, however, was never headed and even though East Hampton was within a neck at the winning post, the class of the Ballydoyle colt was always keeping him on top. O'Brien said: 'A mile is probably his trip. We were preparing him for Ascot and we had him in the stalls at Leopardstown, but he got upset and had to be withdrawn (from the Amethyst Stakes) and that upset his Ascot plan. 'I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked (in the Queen Anne Stakes) because he hadn't had a run. They only walked the first half of the race, so it was a non event really. 'We knew he would come forward a lot from then to today and he did well to win today over seven. He's a brave horse and Ryan gave him a good ride. 'He's a very well-made horse – powerful, strong, a great walker. Physically as a specimen he's a tank really. 'We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that. 'He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.'
Irish Independent
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Diego Velazquez digs deep to star in Curragh hat-trick for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien
The son of Frankel, named after a 17th century Spanish painter was winning for the fifth time in his 10-race career, but was tackling the shortest distance he's encountered since making a winning debut over the same course and distance as a two-year-old. The 11/8 favourite for the Group Two event was always in a handy position under Moore alongside Adrian Murray's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer. Moore may have been low in the saddle inside the final quarter-mile but he had a willing ally and while several rivals were lining up a furlong from home, it was only David Marnane's 25/1 outsider East Hampton which emerged from to lay down a stern challenge in the closing stages. But Diego Velazquez stuck to his guns and prevailed by a neck from East Hampton at the winning post. 'A mile is probably his trip. We were preparing him for Ascot and we had him in the stalls at Leopardstown, but he got upset and had to be withdrawn (from the Amethyst Stakes) and that upset his Ascot plan,' said O'Brien. 'We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that. He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.' The O'Brien-Moore hat-trick was initiated by Sugar Island in the opening juvenile fillies' maiden over seven furlongs. With Moore switching to the daughter of Dubawi following the absence of anticipated favourite Signora, the regally-bred two-year-old was sent off 9/2 and after hitting the front at the furlong pole, she prevailed by half a length from Saint Agatha. O'Brien and Moore added to their tally with Light As Air in the 12-furlong maiden, the 1/2 favourite having previously been seen finishing well down the field in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. One Look relished a step up in trip when bouncing back to her best in the Curragh's Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes. The four-year-old burst onto the scene at this venue as a two-year-old and has been one of Paddy Twomey's top performers ever since. She began this season in great form, winning the Park Express Stakes at this track before returning to give Porta Fortuna a fright in the Lanwades Stud Stakes, but was disappointing when last seen in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sent off at 100/30 for her first try at 10 furlongs, she relished the return to her beloved Curragh and served a reminder of her class in the hands of Wayne Lordan to deliver a decisive length success over Dermot Weld's Azada. 'It was great to come here and win again at the Curragh. She seems to like the Curragh and is a lovely filly,' said Twomey. 'Ascot didn't work out for her, probably on ground quicker than she'd like and a trip as short as she'd want to go. 'She's in the Nassau, she could run here in the Blandford Stakes on Champions Weekend and races on Arc weekend. We'll have a think and pick our spots.' Queen Of The Bogs (8/1) made every yard of the running to land the closing fillies'maiden for John Murphy and Gary Carroll, while Shane Foley steered Jessica Harrington's Lady In Paris (8/1) to success in the 10-furlong handicap.
Glasgow Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Diego Velazquez prevails in Minstrel Stakes
Aidan O'Brien's son of Frankel was winning for the fifth time in his 10-race career, but was tackling the shortest distance he has encountered since making a winning debut over the same course and distance as a two-year-old. The 11-8 favourite for the Group Two event in the hands of Ryan Moore, he was well away and always in a handy position alongside Adrian Murray's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer. Moore may have been low in the saddle inside the final quarter-mile but he had a willing ally and although the challengers were queuing up a furlong from home, it was only David Marnane's 25-1 shot East Hampton who emerged from the pack to lay down a stern challenge in the closing stages. Diego Velazquez, however, was never headed and even though East Hampton was within a neck at the winning post, the class of the Ballydoyle colt was always keeping him on top. O'Brien said: 'A mile is probably his trip. We were preparing him for Ascot and we had him in the stalls at Leopardstown, but he got upset and had to be withdrawn (from the Amethyst Stakes) and that upset his Ascot plan. 'I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked (in the Queen Anne Stakes) because he hadn't had a run. They only walked the first half of the race, so it was a non event really. 'We knew he would come forward a lot from then to today and he did well to win today over seven. He's a brave horse and Ryan gave him a good ride. 'He's a very well-made horse – powerful, strong, a great walker. Physically as a specimen he's a tank really. 'We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that. 'He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.'
South Wales Guardian
20-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Diego Velazquez prevails in Minstrel Stakes
Aidan O'Brien's son of Frankel was winning for the fifth time in his 10-race career, but was tackling the shortest distance he has encountered since making a winning debut over the same course and distance as a two-year-old. The 11-8 favourite for the Group Two event in the hands of Ryan Moore, he was well away and always in a handy position alongside Adrian Murray's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer. Moore may have been low in the saddle inside the final quarter-mile but he had a willing ally and although the challengers were queuing up a furlong from home, it was only David Marnane's 25-1 shot East Hampton who emerged from the pack to lay down a stern challenge in the closing stages. Diego Velazquez, however, was never headed and even though East Hampton was within a neck at the winning post, the class of the Ballydoyle colt was always keeping him on top. O'Brien said: 'A mile is probably his trip. We were preparing him for Ascot and we had him in the stalls at Leopardstown, but he got upset and had to be withdrawn (from the Amethyst Stakes) and that upset his Ascot plan. 'I wasn't confident enough to tell Ryan to ride him as forward as he would have liked (in the Queen Anne Stakes) because he hadn't had a run. They only walked the first half of the race, so it was a non event really. 'We knew he would come forward a lot from then to today and he did well to win today over seven. He's a brave horse and Ryan gave him a good ride. 'He's a very well-made horse – powerful, strong, a great walker. Physically as a specimen he's a tank really. 'We'll go back up to a mile now for the Sussex or the Jacques le Marois, something like that. 'He'll have no problem getting back up to nine furlongs or a mile and a quarter at the end of the season.'
