F E AT U R E S
“I love the Hamptons waterways — the ocean beaches, the marshes, and bays. Driving over the Ponquogue Bridge and seeing the clammers and the sparkling waters below gives me a sense of peace. But more than anything else, what I love most about the Hamptons are the people.” Ruben and Jay Schneiderman
public bus service on Sundays, preserving thousands of acres of open space and farmland, and never raising general fund property taxes in 18 consecutive years of elected office.
CONSENSUS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING Jay believes in the power of the people. His role doesn’t only open the door to meeting celebrity politicians like Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg, it also affords him the opportunity to drive real change in the community. He’s proactive in bringing residents into the dialogue to get a sense of where the community stands on important issues. He insists, “It’s their town, their future.” His team leverages an outreach program that actively aims to cultivate a strong sense of community. It solicits feedback on key challenges the community faces like reinforcing the local economy, preserving historic buildings, maintaining clean water, and preserving the charms of the small town way.
GROWING UP HAMPTONS Having lived most of his life in Montauk, where his family owns (and now leases) a hotel called the Breakers, he now calls Southampton home. A proud father, his daughter and son (Magdalena and Ruben), whom he affectionately calls “goodlooking” and “smart,” are named after his parents. His parents grew up during the Great Depression, and Jay says, “It taught SocialLifeMagazine.com
them to prepare for hard times,” and he accredits them for his skills in managing budgets. Both East Hampton and Southampton Town achieved AAA credit ratings, the highest available, under Jay’s leadership. There must be something in the Hamptons water, as both Jay and his sister, Helen Ficalora, have put their marks on the map. She is the pioneer of the alphabet charm craze. It’s hard to miss seeing celebrities and Hamptonites adorning themselves with her signature circular jewelry charms with initials stamped on them. Her pieces are sold all over, including right here in Bridgehampton as well as Manhattan.
DID YOU KNOW THAT JAY . . . . . . has a passion for music. You may have seen him jamming on the drums with reggae and fusion bands at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. . . . Jay is the only individual in NY State to have been elected supervisor of two different towns.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE HAMPTONS “I love the Hamptons waterways — the ocean beaches, the marshes, and bays. Driving over the Ponquogue Bridge and seeing the clammers and the sparkling waters below gives me a sense of peace. But more than anything else, what I love most about the Hamptons are the people.”