timwferguson

A Developer’s Faded Mark on the Hamptons

Readers of placed obituaries in the Southampton Press this week might have puzzled over the one for Francesco Galesi, who died last month in Palm Beach, Fla. at age 95. There was no mention of any connection to “The Hamptons”–perhaps he was just one of many grandees on the winter-summer circuit between the two pocketsContinue reading “A Developer’s Faded Mark on the Hamptons”

Political flight: Les snowbirds vont en Afrique du Nord

One surprising winner from the Trump trade and troll war on Canada is Tunisia. As Canadian snowbirds look for alternatives to wintering in the U.S., some scan the globe for bargain opportunities. In French-speaking Quebec, that favors Francophone destinations, especially those that offer la bonne transaction and 90-day visa-free stays. A spot enjoying apparently double-digitContinue reading “Political flight: Les snowbirds vont en Afrique du Nord”

Nailing a Cost Element in the Young’s Plight

Various data points show an affordability crunch for younger Americans. Although these measures have been challenged, it’s obvious that in popular metro areas, prices have escalated quickly and with political effects. But are these age cohorts at the same time choosing to outspend previous generations on rather optional costs of living? Many have noted theContinue reading “Nailing a Cost Element in the Young’s Plight”

NY Struggles With the Grocery Checkout

Some people are bothered by self-checkout options at retailers, and in a place like New York, this means that legislators will try to “address their concerns.” Now, it’s not surprising that retail-staff unions would voice such objections, but the beef that others have is more vague. Some want to support the clerks, but there’s alsoContinue reading “NY Struggles With the Grocery Checkout”

Who’ll Celebrate Generational Political Gains?

A younger generation of politicians is scoring victories around the U.S. on the back of grievances about affordability and a perceived narrowing of longtime avenues of opportunity. This upheaval has reached Congress and been most noticeable among Democrats, especially progressives or socialists. Although many Millennial and Gen Z Americans stand ultimately to reap considerable inheritancesContinue reading “Who’ll Celebrate Generational Political Gains?”

Chase, Fintech and a Dinosaur’s Paper Checks

Citigroup chair and CEO Jane Fraser, speaking at an event at the Council of Foreign Relations last evening, got around to fintech competition, leaving me thinking of a peeve I have with her biggest rival, J.P. Morgan Chase. Noting that Citi has the largest global physical presence of any U.S. commercial bank, Fraser observed thatContinue reading “Chase, Fintech and a Dinosaur’s Paper Checks”

A Woman Who Fostered New Americans

As the immigration wrestles continue in the streets and courts and in Washington politics, America lost a great “reformer” on the matter last month. Florence Phillips died at age 95 after spending nearly 20 years helping probably thousands of newcomers to the U.S. learn the basics of belonging here and ideally become citizens. Her EnglishContinue reading “A Woman Who Fostered New Americans”

40 Years of Opening Up Hamptons Public Spaces

“Public-private partnerships” usually refer to some kind of development project. But they can also be the opposite, a form of nature preservation. That’s been a frequent occurrence in recent decades on the East End of Long Island, N.Y. One form this has taken is a willingness of civic groups to look after properties that aContinue reading “40 Years of Opening Up Hamptons Public Spaces”

When the Store Goes Shopping for You

As various press reported this week, New York city and state legislators are moving to join other progressive locales in restricting “surveillance pricing,” a latest form of digitally tailored marketing. The sinister-sounding practice is an offshoot of chip technology to guide consumers toward what either they or the retailer would like to deal on. DigitalContinue reading “When the Store Goes Shopping for You”

Fretting Before Long Island Officials Buy the Farm

Farmland and other open-space preservations are becoming more limited opportunities on the East End of Long Island, N.Y., despite abundant tax money now available for such purchases. The main reason is a dwindling number of such parcels, even as competing bids for residential real-estate development escalate. But sometimes the hangup is disagreement over just whatContinue reading “Fretting Before Long Island Officials Buy the Farm”