Press Center

DiCarlo Questions Flyer

Press of Manorville and Moriches
9/13/07
By Bryan Finlayson

A mailing sent to 180,000 Brookhaven addresses last week that was paid for with taxpayer money was political on its face and meant to serve as a campaign flyer for Democratic Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley, Republican town supervisor candidate Robert DiCarlo charged at an impromptu press conference outside Town Hall last Thursday.

Democratic Party officials dismissed the claim this week as political theatrics.

Holding the predominantly blue-colored flyer in both hands, Mr. DiCarlo called for District Attorney Thomas J. Spota to investigate the legality of the mailing, which he alleged cost the town $100,000 in taxpayer funds to produce and distribute.
“This is an absolute political piece, it is the most blatant, outrageous waste of taxpayer funding I’ve ever seen in my life,” Mr. DiCarlo said of the mailing, which was issued by Mr. Foley’s office. “This is worse than the propaganda generated by Goebbels in World War II.”

Officials at the Town Law Department and Mr. Spota’s office declined to comment on the legality of the mailing, a “Financial Update” that highlights the fact that Brookhaven property taxes will not increase in 2008.

The Brookhaven Finance Department said the mailing cost the town $32,000. Town spokesman Tom Burke, noting that it does not contain the names of any candidates or political parties, nor the name of a single official or lawmaker, said the mailing was within the law.

“This informational piece simply fulfills the town’s responsibility to keep the public informed about important issues such as taxes,” Mr. Burke said. “It follows the rules established on a bipartisan basis by the Town Council. It simply presents the facts, provides a breakdown of property taxes and describes how the current and proposed tax rates are lower than the 2003 and 2004 tax rates.”

Anna Deknatel, spokeswoman for the Brookhaven Democratic Party, also said Mr. DiCarlo was off the mark.
“He’s simply trying to mislead voters; that’s his signature move,” Ms. Deknatel said. “This is an important update on taxes, and it is an inconvenient truth for Robert DiCarlo.”