I am very saddened to hear about the rent increases and lease controversy of the artists at One Cottage Street.

I personally have loved going to the Open Studios sales over the past three or four decades. I’ve purchased many beautiful items for myself, family and friends. I loved talking with the artists and getting to know some of them. I’ve taken some classes with some of them too.

I’ve also loved the Riverside Industries fundraising auctions. The artists’ donations were always wonderful, and I loved the challenge of getting in a final bid for a beautiful piece of art or gift certificate, as well as mingling with the staff and clients, the drummers and the food, as well as bumping into friends. It was so much fun!

RSI and the artists were the heartbeat of the revitalization of Easthampton so many years ago. I understand and appreciate the need for more money to make improvements on the building and to increase services for the RSI clients, and raising rents is the easiest and logical solution.

Unfortunately, this approach will drive many of the artists away. It seems to me that new management company NAI Plotkin has a new vision and it doesn’t include artists. Raising rent 100% and three-year leases is clearly a message to the artists that their presence is no longer needed or wanted. This is very sad.

Joyce Mase

Southampton