Brookhaven – R&R – Reachout and Rebuild

Fire Departments and Trumpers – Post Election Trends

David Posnett — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:13:47 +0000

A Brookhaven Fire Department truck in Suffolk County had a Confederate flag draped down its left side.

Even though Trump has lost the election, his followers, the “Trumpers”, are here to stay. What might this mean for the future?

A group calling themselves the “Huntington – Northport Patriots” has plans for yet another MAGA Trump 2020 Truck parade on Dec 12^th:

12/12/20 MAGA Trump 2020 Truck/Car Parade 10AM Sunday
Huntington – Northport patriots Would like to Announce
We are doing a Toy / Clothing and Food Drive for Helping Hands Pantry and St Patrick’s Church of Huntington. … Decorate your cars with Trump Christmas attire, fly your Trump, American and Christmas Flags and show the world we will Not back down, until all Legal votes are counted and all fraud is addressed.
Trump Won, and the Marxist democrats are trying to Steal America and destroy our country.
We must be involved now, more than ever before. United, we will live to see another day and save the Constitution of The United States of America!
Bring your flags,
Bring your signs,
Support Our President.

Further relevant news tid bits:

The Patch.com reports: “… Angry… Trump supporters here today cursing and screaming at their fellow citizens … It’s a sad day.”

A Long Island Supermarket Advertises Discount for Shoppers Who Support President Trump.

And a Confederate flag was spotted on a LI fire truck in Brookhaven, see above picture.

Fire Department (FD) elections are coming up. It is good to remember that FD volunteers enjoy certain perks, such as a significant rebate on real estate taxes!

Here is the inside scoop for FD elections in Brookhaven. JoAnne Young ten Doesschate from Brookhaven writes:

Fire departments in Suffolk have traditionally been Republican and all politicians court them because they get their members to vote. But just as traditionally, they have rarely gotten overtly involved in political races. Perry campaigned at every fire department event with no problems. Trump has changed all that.

In Setauket, a local group headed by Trumpers (members of the Setauket Patriots who led the local Trump Caravans) did GOTV against Steve Englebright. Now they are running someone for Commissioner who has been in the FD for less than 1 year against a woman who has been involved for the past 20 years. And they’re putting big money into this – there are lawn signs everywhere and even 4×4’s at major intersections.

In Stony Brook, the Trumper they are running has never been involved in the FD, though his sons are, against someone who has been heavily involved for many years. In 2016 the Trumper had a huge banner on his roof, in 2020 flags in his front yard, and he was also part of the Setauket Patriots caravans in his Jeep flying Trump flags.

Although I don’t know the details, the same thing is happening in Bellport. The head of the Bellport Ambulance Corps was used in a Zeldin ad, in the fire house, in uniform. As you can see by their Facebook cover photo, they don’t hide it and Zeldin gets away with it because he is in office and used procuring PPE as his claim to fame during the first wave of the pandemic. https://www.facebook.com/SouthCountryAmbulanceCo/

Supposedly this is happening in a number of fire districts throughout Suffolk. Jane Corrarino said it well – “In the current political climate, they will most likely also be used for launching a ‘back bench’ in the broader political arena.”

We talk about how important local politics is and this is a perfect example. While we are lucky in NY state, we have watched across the country how Republicans have gerrymandered and suppressed votes and now control the majority of state governments. Fire departments have well paid patronage jobs and the positions can be used as stepping stones for higher office. While Trump barely won in Suffolk, he did win, and he won big in NY1.

And they will use their control to the exclusion of Dems who want to be involved. In one Brookhaven village, I was told of a young man who is afraid to let them know he is a Dem because he fears losing his job. (One more reason why people register as independents!) Young people for whom volunteering as EMT’s is one of the best things they can have on their applications for nursing or med school may not even know that they won’t be chosen because of their political affiliation….

By state election law, ALL fire departments have their elections this coming Tuesday, Dec. 8. When the polls open varies from village to village and only one station in each village is used for voting. Voters must also be registered to vote in Suffolk County; they use BOE election lists to prove residency. Some require you to show your license.

From Jon Kornreich (running to replace Valerie Cartright on the Brookhaven town council):

The sudden partisan intrusion of the Patriot group has turned what should be a non-partisan civic election into something much more dangerous. Institutions such as the fire district, the school district, and the library, as well as other organizations such as the Civic Association, the Trust and numerous others have carried on their work for many years in a spirit of community service, not as political battlegrounds. Historically, people like Sue Meyers who support and join these organizations have done so because of their real interest in the organization’s mission.

SETAUKET Vote for Sue Meyers for Fire Commissioner

The Trumper is Griffin.

STONY BROOK Vote for Thad Holsberg for Fire Commissioner

The Trumper is Joe Saggio.

EXCLUSIVE: Brookhaven Town Clerk Violates Ethics Code? (Part 3)

David Posnett — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 15:49:19 +0000

By J.Gavron and A.Turner

This Exclusive Report investigates Brookhaven Town Clerk, Donna Lent, who’s running for reelection on Nov. 7th. Get the facts on Lent before you vote.

Missed a Background Check? Part 1, Part 2

Did you know….

Donna Lent violated the clear language of Brookhaven’s Code of Ethics
Donna Lent used Brookhaven email for work on behalf of her other job

READ THE FULL REPORT

When Donna Lent says the Brookhaven Town Clerk is “frequently considered the center of town government,” she’s absolutely right. The Clerk is Public Relations Officer, Recording Secretary, Custodian of all Town records, Registrar of Vital Statistics, and FOIL Appeals Officer. Her office supports the Town Supervisor and Town Council. As Filing Officer, Lent maintains records of town ordinances, local laws, annual budgets, fiscal reports, subpoenas and court actions, zoning ordinances and maps. And she manages a staff of 35 employees, according to Newsday.

Although you won’t see it on her LinkedIn page, Lent has another job. Since 2011 she has been an officer of the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) and, since 2015, its President. Lent’s position carries significant responsibilities that include overseeing an eight-member board, local chapters in more than 25 states, and the NWPC Foundation.

Given Lent’s extensive responsibilities as National NWPC president, Background Check took a closer look at whether she was conducting NWPC business on the taxpayer’s dime (and time). Here’s what we found.

Donna Lent used Brookhaven Town computers and email servers to conduct NWPC business and in doing so appears to have violated the plain language of the Brookhaven’s Town Code of Ethics and Disclosure, section 28-8, which states the following:

“Town officers are prohibited from using “Town property, including . . . computers, internet, email, telephones, materials and any other town property, for personal convenience or profit.”

Here’s the evidence

Email #1: Lent instructed NWPC members to contact her at her Brookhaven Town Clerk email address.

Email #2: Lent sent an official NWPC tax document from her Brookhaven Town Clerk email address.

Email #3: Lent sent an email concerning a NWPC agreement from her Brookhaven Town Clerk email address.

Email #4: Donna Lent, as Chief Deputy Clerk, sent an email containing comments on a NWPC press release from her official Brookhaven email address.

Stay tuned. Background Check has filed a FOIL request seeking any other emails concerning NWPC business sent from Donna Lent’s official Brookhaven email address.

Here are our sources:

https://www.brookhavenny.gov/Departments/Town-Clerk

https://projects.newsday.com/payrolls/long-island/data/towns-city-payroll/

https://ecode360.com/8591561

In case you missed it, read Background Check: Donna Lent (Part 1)

Special Report: Brookhaven Town Clerk (Part 1)

David Posnett — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 17:25:20 +0000

By J.Gavron and A.Turner

This Special Report investigates Brookhaven Town Clerk, Donna Lent, who’s running for re-election on Nov. 7th. Get the facts before you vote.

Did You Know ….

Donna Lent was implicated in fraud and forgery of voter proxies and sign-in sheets by a NYS Supreme Court judge
These forged documents even included the name of her own husband, Gregory Lent!

READ THE FULL REPORT

The job of Town Clerk may not sound consequential, but don’t let the name fool you. It plays a pivotal role in the town’s operation. According to Brookhaven Town Clerk, Donna Lent—who’s running for re-election this November—the Town Clerk is “frequently considered the center of town government.”

The clerk “attends and keeps an accurate record of all meetings of the Town Board . . . authoring the only chronological and historical record of the operation of the town . . . issues licenses . . . receives and records documents such as land records, vital statistics, and requests for access to public documents.”

The Town Clerk must possess a record proving she can be entrusted with this responsibility. But a closer look at Lent’s background—all of which is public record but little known—raises serious questions whether she is worthy of the public’s trust. Brookhaven voters are entitled to the facts. Here’s what Background Check discovered about Donna Lent:

As Secretary of the Suffolk County Working Families Party (“SCWFP”), Donna Lent was implicated in the fraud and forgery of voter proxies and sign-in sheets by a NYS Supreme Court Justice.

Here’s What Happened. . . . .Fellow WFP members filed a lawsuit against Donna Lent and others, claiming fraudulent and forged voter proxies and meeting sign-in sheets were used to establish a quorum at the meeting where Donna Lent was elected Secretary. One egregious example of fraud was a sign-in sheet indicating that Donna Lent’s husband, Gregory Lent, had attended the meeting, but a proxy for his vote indicated that he was absent!

Several witnesses “flatly denied” ever signing the proxies submitted in their names by Lent and Pohanka. Following a recess, Lent and Pohanka returned to the courtroom and conceded that the proxies were invalid.

Court “Deeply Troubled“. . . . .As Secretary of the Suffolk County WFP Secretary, Lent was responsible for ensuring that the proxies and sign-in sheets were valid. But the Court found serious problems with those documents:

“Review of the 71 proxy documents reveals that . . . the majority of the [signatures on the proxies] . . . do not match . . . the signatures on the voter registration of the individuals who purportedly signed the proxies. Additionally, several proxies were submitted from individuals who are also reflected as present by the sign in sheet. (Gregory Lent, Sharon Ward). (Emphasis added.)

“Indeed, the Court has found that at least 29 signatures do not match registration cards and at least three have wrong election districts. The Court is troubled by these findings and has been made aware (from letters submitted by petitioner’s counsel regarding scheduling of witnesses at the hearing scheduled to commence May 11, 2005) that testimony is expected from a number of persons denying that they signed the proxy” respondents [Lent and Pohonka] said they signed.”

After hearing witness testimony, the Court expressed its profound concern:

“[T]he Court has reflected upon the serious impact such fraudulent activities…..have upon the fundamental rights of citizens to participate in the political process. The Court is deeply troubled by the circumstances of this case.”

Click here for Part 2 to learn how Donna Lent narrowly escaped an order of contempt by a NYS Supreme Court judge.

Here are our sources:

gov
Klein v. Garfinkle #2187-04, (NYS Sup. Ct. Suff. Co. May 11, 2005) http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/fcas_docs/2005jun/51002178720041sciv.pdf
Klein v. Garfinkle #21787-04, (NYS Sup. Ct. Suff. Co. June 29, 2005) http://decisions.courts.state.ny.us/fcas/fcas_docs/2005jul/5100217872004100sciv.pdf