Letters

John Leonard [“No Bullying,” Letters, February 13] and husband Gene Valle’s [“Not Bullied,” Letters, February 13] letters rebutting mine and Ginnie Frati’s are a combination of misleading statements and lies. But to remove the “he said/she said” from the arguments, I will list actions John took to demonstrate why he should not be on the Town Board.

1. When two longtime employees of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center wrote to the center’s board in 2023 saying that John, then board president, was harming the center by driving away the founder — Ginnie — he had them fired the next day. John, a lawyer, should know it is illegal to fire dedicated employees, who have never been reprimanded, for writing to the board about work-related issues.

Hence, the National Labor Relations Board defended the employees. The center had to pay $40,000 for the retaliatory firings and was ordered to post the employees’ rights. John signed this document that stated, “We will not use the discharges against [the employees] in any way,” yet he violates that mandate by continuing to tell horrible lies about them.

2. Ginnie, executive director for 25 years, was the reason the center took in about $1 million in donations annually, personally held all the center’s permits, and was the only person who knew everything about running the place. Ginnie was retiring and helped pick her replacement. Ginnie is smart and kind, but even if Ginnie were a diva, wouldn’t most competent leaders want her around until all the donor introductions were made, permits transferred and training completed? Not John, who attacked and lied about Ginnie then just like he did in his recent letter. When Ginnie ran out the door, the donors, the permits and the knowledge went with her. (Just as the employees had warned.)

3. John rewrote the center’s bylaws adding that all board communications were “confidential.” Yet, John’s husband, Gene, and John combed through the board’s confidential emails and found quotes for their recent letters.

4. John and I agree that the board wanted to win Ginnie back. But he lied when he said he was not going to be kicked off the board. I saw the special board meeting notice to vote him off. Bullying was listed as a reason. He resigned the day it was going out.

Draw your own conclusions. John is great on the attack, I will give him that. He twists words and scares people, because he is a lawyer and vicious. But silence only empowers him.

I hope a defamation attorney will come forward to defend Ginnie and others against his onslaughts. I am a lifelong Democrat who doesn’t want this wrecking ball elected.

Laurie Anderson

Hampton Bays