A Letter To David Ambro :Smithtown News

Written to David Ambro of the Smithtown News in response to his reporting and his editorializing about the grand jury report that was recently presented to the Town of Smithtown; identifying those involved in the Town of Smithtown and further, his intentions to continue to cover the recommendations from the grand jury. However, most significantly, it was due to Smithtown Matters that I had the ability to read the report when the link was provided in your online news.

Dear Editor ( David Ambro: Smithtown News ),

First let me commend you on last week’s ( Feb. 16th ) editorial and commentary. So much of what you had to say was important and correct. You were very right in reporting the grand jury story fully and as specifically as you did. As I had the opportunity to read the grand jury report myself, I too, was able to identify the officials and it seems that those who would criticize your work in this regard would only be attempting to protect the parties responsible for their unlawful activities. Having to acknowledge the fact that the Grand Jury gave those involved a pass in terms of not indicting them on any charges; it is quite impossible not to feel, after reading of the shameful activities of Supervisor Vecchio and the former Tax Assessor Greg Hild, that it is time for them to offer a Public Apology. Any good intentions you may have thought they possessed; ( written in the Feb. 9th editorial ) perhaps extrapolated from conversations, should be considered over-ridden as they abused the power of their office and additionally by the fact that they should have known better, considering all the years spent in such honored positions. For the people of Smithtown, nothing less than a Public Apology should be acceptable.

Moreover, this shameful episode will not be forgotten nor rectified until recommendations from the Grand Jury report are put into play in Smithtown’s town government. I am pleased as punch that you will be focusing attention on the recommendations from the report. I look forward to your continued attention to these issues and hopefully someone in Town Government will also be paying attention and may the people of Smithtown be their considered priority. 

Lenore Cernitz

Saint James

Investigation Didn't Hold up Redevolpment Of Downtown

Dear Editor,

There has been plenty of local coverage of the recently released Grand Jury Report citing members of Smithtown Town’s Government for their unethical and unlawful dealings around the 2009 demolition of the Nassau-Suffolk Lumber yard on Main Street. The reprehensible actions of the main players are well documented in the report and of course I condemn the willful violation of the Town Code. But I would like to use my letter to thank former Council Member Pat Biancaniello.

 Pat Biancaniello was the only member of the board who once aware of the problem, questioned the offending employees, and then learning of the misconduct reported it to the authorities. Pat, in her role as an elected official, properly represented the people of Smithtown by doing what was right. Pat Biancaniello should be commended and the people of Smithtown owe her a debt of gratitude for shining a light on Town Hall.

Much more will be forthcoming from this report as the actions of those involved are examined, but for the present let me start by saying that Council Member Ed Wehrheim could learn a lot from Pat Biancaniello and in reply to Council Member Bob Creighton’s comments, the investigation didn’t hold up redevelopment of the property.  Supervisor Vecchio’s insistence that the Town Code be broken is what has brought the situation to where it is today.

Ed Maher

Chair,

Smithtown Democratic Committee

Kings Park

(Pat Biancaniello is identified as H in the Grand Jury report and founder of Smithtown Matters)

Now We Know - Vecchio Betrayed, Wehrheim Watched, and Creighton's Glad

To the Editor:

A re-election ploy…

I was astonished to find out why Smithtown Town Supervisor Vecchio pushed so hard for the demolition of the former Nassau-Suffolk lumberyard.  More so than learning about most of the other facts contained in the recently released 40 page Grand Jury Report.  I had always thought Developer “A”, DiCarlo, was just trying to get a $40,000 reduction in property taxes and evade Site Plan fees. To learn that Vecchio was the predator, and wanted the illegal and dangerous demolition of that property for his RE-ELECTION campaign, was a shock! And not just because I had worked on his opponent, Councilwoman Pat Biancaniello’s election campaign. Back then, I preferred to think of Vecchio as inept, not a villain. 

But the Grand Jury found that Vecchio had utter disregard for the health of Smithtown residents.  He put us and our children in danger of asbestos contamination, just to try to change his record of neglecting Smithtown’s downtown areas.  Why? He had a 30 year record of letting the downtown areas deteriorate, but a history of Smithtown voters, pulling the same lever for him, election after election.  Who would have thought that he was worried enough about that election, to use taxpayer’s money as a kickback, to “entice” a developer, and pressure town employees, to break the law.  Now we know. 

And we also know that at least Councilman Wehrheim was in the same room with Vecchio and DiCarlo, discussing the illegal demolition, and he never reported it to authorities.  And Councilman Creighton, interviewed on the findings, reads the same Grand Jury Report as we all did, and says that he’s glad they found no criminal activity.  As a former Suffolk police commissioner, he should know that choosing not to “indict” and “finding no criminal activity” are two different things…

Enough is enough!

Sandy Trehy

Documentary "Gas Land" on PBS

This is the documentary “Gas Land” on fracking that I saw last year…
I have no words to fathom why this is happening or why, with what we know, NYS is thinking about lifting the ban on it here.

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/613/index.html

Sandy Trehy

Update on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 5:42PM by [Smithtown Matters]

Greg had mentioned that he saw  this documentary to me previously, so when it was on the other day I was glued to the set. I too am seriously concerned over this matter. As a homeowner in upstate NY, I am all too familiar with fracking and the detrimental effects it has on the land, the water, and the environment. Interestingly, when speaking with a neighbor up there, I asked him how he felt about fracking. He replied: “I wish the gas companies would ask me if I was interested in it. I could sure use the money”. So there it is! As long as there are people willing to allow these companies access to their land, this atrocity will continue and will no doubt play havoc on our land and drinking water, not to mention on animals and humans as well! I cant even imagine what it will do to my property value up there. And to think that is where I want to retire since my house on Long Island has lost substantial value due to the housing crisis. One thing is for certain though; my taxes here haven’t gone down, just my property value. Somethings gotta give…

 

Anyway, if you know of a petition being circulated on fracking, please let me know. I would love to get more involved in it. Thanks!

Victoria 

On 01/12/12, Sandy Trehy<sandy@trehy.us> wrote:

 

This is the documentary “Gas Land” on fracking that I saw last year…
I have no words to fathom why this is happening or why, with what we know, NYS is thinking about lifting the ban on it here.

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/613/index.html

Jan. 11, 2012 - Deadline For Fracking Comments

Dear Friend,

A decision is coming as soon as next week on Governor Cuomo’s plan to lift
New York’s ban on fracking, which could jeopardize the safety of water in
New York City, and across the state.

After a massive public outcry, New York’s Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) repeatedly delayed the decision, but January 11th is
the final deadline to comment on the plan.

The only way to guarantee protection for New York’s water is to keep the
state’s ban on fracking.

This is the final week to register fierce opposition, and that’s what we
need to do.

I just submitted a comment telling the NY Department of Environmental
Conservation not to lift New York’s fracking ban. You can Submit a public
comment here:

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/dec_fracking/?r_by=-4949537-Ux1i7bx&rc=mailto1