Letters to the Editor

Over the past few days, CEG has posted some lost letters to the editor of the Smithtown News.  These are  letters written by our neighbors that the Smithtown News has refused to print.  We post these letters because we believe Smithtown residents deserve access to all different viewpoints so that they may select the best candidate at the polls. 

Here are a few more lost letters:

LETTER # 1:

This letter is in regard to the “Uplands” issue that has been a popular topic of inquiry in the past months. Supervisor Pat Vecchio has been called “a leader sensitive to the residents throughout the town.” I beg to differ.

Mr. Vecchio rejected the chance to purchase the Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital property. That decision removed all control over the property from Smithtown and gave it to the state of New York.

Because of Vecchio’s poor leadership, the town has to go to the State, hat in hand, and beg for a deal. His ineptitude caused the mayhem that is the current Uplands problem. The hospital grounds will now sit and deteriorate in limbo, when it could have been put to good use to better our community.  

 Supervisor Vecchio’s pitiful handling of the psychiatric hospital property 17 years ago has caused the issue with the Uplands today. This is just one example of how his incompetence as a leader only hurts town of Smithtown.

 LETTER # 2:

TO THE EDITOR:

 In response to Mr. Graf, President of the Fort Salonga Association, and his letter “Vecchio has the right idea with The Uplands,” I say that Mr. Vecchio has been anything BUT a leader. 

 In your rush to prop up the “Crown Prince” you happily disregard the fact that Mr. Vecchio voted in the affirmative to have The Uplands commit $156,000 for an Environmental Impact Statement.  Let us put aside for the moment the question of whether The Uplands is a good idea or not and focus on the criminally irresponsible actions of Supervisor Patrick Vecchio.

 There is a process the town must follow when a petitioner presents plans for improvements or construction projects here in Smithtown.  Once that process has begun it is the responsibility of the town officials to see it through to fruition without making public comment one way or the other.  In the case of The Uplands, Mr. Vecchio voted in the affirmative to begin the process, accepted money from the applicant and before the process ended, publically stated he would not support the project.