The Hamptons’ Luxury Dependency on Labor

The Hamptons attract wealthy residents, but during early May, most of them remain in New York City. Despite this, the area experiences rush hour traffic as workers prepare homes for their owners’ return.

The southeastern part of Long Island hosts two main groups. The homeowners, who seldom stay in their houses, and the workers, consistently present but never feeling at home. These groups use the same streets and spaces, yet they rarely meet.

For example, workers clean the glass windows of beachfront mansions but must leave before the owners enjoy their ocean views. The laborers who maintain these homes frame the summer weekends for the homeowners.

In Southampton, day laborers often gather in a field near a 7-Eleven, waiting for work during the week. On weekends, the ground reveals bare patches where they stood. Meanwhile, as buses bring young city dwellers, the main road becomes busy with vehicles from landscaping, construction, and cleaning companies. Locals refer to this as the ‘trade parade.’