Dans Hamptons

Having just read your third article on Thanksgiving this year, I felt the need to say thank you to you. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as it is uniquely American and includes all. I also love the idea of presets on Thanksgiving. But what I what to thank you most for is your writing. I have been coming to eastern Long Island since 1964 as a visitor and moved here permanently in 1970. I have read your newspaper since the beginning and always liked it. Now I feel is the best paper out here and the weeks that I don’t have time to read the entire paper I make sure to at lease read your articles. Your opinions are always reasonable ad make an attempt to see all sides of an issue. But the best part is that they always make me laugh. Sometimes it’s only a smile or a chuckle but may times I laughing and loud ad continue laughing all day

You have been a lifeline to sanity for me in a crazy world and this crazy place. I don’t think there are that many places as unique as eastern Long Island where the “haves” and the “have nots” live so tightly packed together I takes a special talent to report all of these people’s stories honestly and not offend. Your sense of humor and imagination have inspired me in my own recent attempts at writing fiction ad for this I also sincerely give you thanks I’ll be looking forward to next Friday’s issue.

Keep up the cool work.

P.S.: This is my first ever letter to an editor, I usually just talk back to the articles in the safety of my living room.

Thank you for reading me. –DR

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

I write as a woman and as a longtime resident of our so-called idyllic community. Although relieved to learn that John. J. Giraldi has been sentenced to 20 years in a State Pen for his horrible attacks on nearly three dozen women (from 2002 to 2005) no amount of punishment can temper the awful violation suffered by his victims.

After reading your account of the events that led to his arrest, I am forced to ask, ‘What the hell took them so long?’ And how are we ever to feel safe and protected in light of how this criminal matter was handled? No time during the three years of such demeaning assaults on women of this community, did warnings or postings of any kind appear telling us of this masked, naked lunatic -a predator hiding out in the dunes of our very own beaches. The police had to be aware early on that a pattern of behavior was evolving. You say in your article that the East Hampton police said: “the man had been a thorn in the side of many different departments for years. They thought he was the man they were looking for.”

THEY THOUGHT? Well, while they were busy thinking, too many innocent women, women of all sizes, shapes and ages, were thrown to the ground, their faces mashed into the course white sand while a sick individual attempted his sexual attacks. Had I learned about just one of those incidents early on, I doubt I would have strolled happily along our pristine beaches alone. Had I known I would have also warned my friends and family. In a place where everybody knows everybody, including who kissed who and where, I find it hard to believe the authorities didn’t have more on Mr. Giraldi to stop him dead in his tracks.

Lastly, I feel the issue of Giraldi’s ethnic background was never an issue until you mentioned it in your story. Most of us are wise enough to acknowledge crime has no color or creed. Crime is crime and should be punished. Unfortunately though, Giraldi may serve his time and perhaps one-day walk as a free man, while his victims you can bet, will never fully recuperate from the trauma of his vicious acts. That’s what we should focus on.

This situation needed to see the light of day.–DR

AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

I was delighted to see the “Open Wide” article that was published in the November 3rd issue of Dan’s Papers, but extremely disappointed that it no longer appears online. The illustration was perfect and the article was essential to warn the general public about this particular schemer, Robert George “Dr. Bob” Veligdan.

Interestingly, one of the victims, Mia Lancaster, was at the National Arts Club last week and overheard a man who had sponsored Robert Veligdan for membership at the same club, mention to his companion that Veligdan had threatened to sue the press. Subsequently, I received an email from PRWeb stating that Veligdan had threatened to sue PRWeb for libel and the next thing I knew, “Open Wide” was not appearing on Google searches for “Robert Veligdan.” I imagined that Veligdan had threatened you, too, and that you removed the article from appearing on Google searches.

Dan, I have always respected your unique style of reporting and I want to continue a positive relationship with you and your paper. Please know that every word of the press release was taken from legal papers on file with the courts here in New York, New York.

The attorney of record for Veligdan’s victims, Rocky Aoki, Petra Mielke and Mia Lancaster, is Martin S. Streit, Esq., 386 Park Avenue South, Suite 1914, New York, New York, 10016; telephone 212- 532 3255.

The facts of the PRWeb News Release were painstakingly reviewed and revised for accuracy. Robert Veligdan is accurately portrayed in the release I authored, and the facts are totally and taken right out of the legal papers filed in the court cases cited in the PRWeb release.

Dan, kindly notify me what documents you require to ensure the continued appearance of “Open Wide” online and in response to Google searches. I am informed by the victims that any and all documents will be provided to you upon request.

I also will forward to you separately an email from the attorney; Mr. Martin S. Streit addressed to PRWeb.

Dan's Letters