Public transit has always underserved local commuters on the East End, contributing to the much-loathed traffic on Montauk Highway and County Road 39 and making it difficult for businesses to retain workers. Innovative solutions to the region's transportation woes are on the table, and some are being tested right now. In this week's edition of 27speaks, the editors discuss the Long Island Rail Road's South Fork Commuter Connection and Suffolk County Transit's pilot program to replace fixed bus routes with on-demand buses that can be called via an app.

In light of the Express News Group's recent Express Sessions event that brought together a panel of South Fork lawmakers and affordable housing leaders to discuss solutions to the housing crisis, the editors discuss the scope of the housing challenges that the region faces and the ideas that the panelists and audience members brought forward.

To examine the challenges Southampton Village faces as it approaches another high season with unprecedented crowds expected, the Express News Group hosted “Southampton 2022: A Summer Like No Other” with a panel of local government, nonprofit and business leaders. In this week's 27Speaks, the editors talk about what is being done to shape the village's future and analyze the panelists' concerns.

Read about the Express Sessions panel here: https://www.27east.com/southampton-press/express-sessions-anticipating-summer-2022-in-southampton-and-the-villages-future-1916742/

The South Fork's towns, villages and hamlets are proud of the long tradition of volunteerism — neighbors helping neighbors in a time of need. But changing demographics are making it harder for volunteer companies to find men and women who are able to donate time and energy. In this week’s podcast, reporter Stephen Kotz joins the editors in discussing issues raised at "Sustaining The South Fork,” a recent Express Session event focused on the current state of our region's volunteer emergency service organizations.

Welcome to the latest edition of The Express News Group’s podcast, 27Speaks.

The Express News Group editors Kathryn Menu, Annette Hinkle, Joseph P. Shaw, Brendan O’Reilly, and Bill Sutton discuss the week’s news on the South Fork of Long Island.

This week, the panel is joined by East Hampton native Kristofer Kalas, owner of the Hello Oma bakery, who has spent the past weeks on the front lines in Ukraine, helping victims of the Russian invasion and collecting supplies for victims in the war-torn country. Senior reporter Michael Wright discusses an article he wrote about Kalas.

Welcome to the latest edition of The Express News Group’s podcast, 27Speaks.

The Express News Group editors Kathryn Menu, Annette Hinkle, Joseph P. Shaw, Brendan O’Reilly, and Bill Sutton discuss the week’s news on the South Fork of Long Island.

This week, the panel is joined by staff writer Kitty Merrill for a discussion about a change in course for the municipal leaf pickup program in Southampton Town, and the ongoing debate on the East End regarding gas leaf blower bans.

Welcome to the latest edition of The Express News Group’s podcast, 27Speaks.

The Express News Group editors Kathryn Menu, Annette Hinkle, Joseph P. Shaw, Brendan O’Reilly, and Bill Sutton discuss the week’s news on the South Fork of Long Island.

This week, the panel is joined by Sports Editor Drew Budd and reporter Cailin Riley for a discussion about high school basketball playoff season and an article Riley wrote about the late Hampton Bays surfer Eric Penny, who was recently posthumously inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.

Welcome to the latest edition of The Express News Group’s podcast, 27Speaks.

The Express News Group editors Kathryn Menu, Annette Hinkle, Joseph P. Shaw, Brendan O’Reilly, and Bill Sutton discuss the week’s news on the South Fork of Long Island.

This week, the panel is joined by veteran reporter Stephen J. Kotz for an update of efforts to preserve Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s waterfront home in Sag Harbor, which was put on the market last year for nearly $18 million, motivating individuals and organizations to call for the home’s protection.

Welcome to the latest edition of The Express News Group’s podcast, 27Speaks.

The Express News Group editors Kathryn Menu, Annette Hinkle, Joseph P. Shaw, Brendan O’Reilly, and Bill Sutton discuss the week’s news on the South Fork of Long Island.

This week, the panel is joined by Westhampton Beach Village Board member Brian Tymann, for a discussion about efforts to save the Governor John Dix Windmill, a historic structure the village hopes to move to the Great Lawn and restore to its original splendor.

Welcome to the latest edition of The Express News Group’s podcast, 27Speaks.

The Express News Group editors Kathryn Menu, Annette Hinkle, Joseph P. Shaw, Brendan O’Reilly, and Bill Sutton discuss the week’s news on the South Fork of Long Island.

This week, the editors are joined by reporter Cailin Riley for a discussion about Governor Kathy Hochul maintaining the mask mandate in schools and discussions about the mandate at local school districts.