Why has Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza received such criticism in the press during the past weeks, with no less than two news stories, two letters, an editorial, and two pictures just in the last three issues of the TimesLedger, and I suspect more will come? What could she possibly have done to merit such extremely negative attention?
Is she one of the elected officials who recently pled guilty to a crime and resigned or has just entered jail? Has she been indicted for an act of violence, like slashing someone’s face? Was she forced to resign after a sex scandal and using state police as spies? Did she arrogantly conspire with other officials to change local term limits to benefit themselves or threaten to arrest” the state Senate for defying her will, like a Third World despoti Is she accused of “incompetence” or being part of the “Albany Circus”? No, no, no, to all of the above? Carrozza’s alleged offense seems to be she had briefly moved to Nassau County but has now returned to Bayside. What’s going on here?
Having read all the coverage Ann and her family have gotten in the press, I am not convinced Carrozza is guilty of anything other than some poor judgment. In the 13 years since she was first elected as our local Assembly representative, I have always found Ann responsive to our local concerns – so much so that the East Bayside Homeowners Association Inc. awarded her with one of our Community Service Awards several years ago. She and her staff have been prompt to respond to my E.B.H.A. calls/letters regarding state-jurisdiction concerns or occasional meeting requests. While I am a Republican and she is a Democrat, I have nonetheless voted for her several times, due to her work for us.
Neither Ann nor anyone else has asked me to write this letter, and indeed I am not a close personal friend of hers. I remain impressed, however, by what I see as her warmth and sincerity as per the Easter plant left on my porch a few years ago signed “Ann,” and her attendance at the jam-packed fund-raiser for the Hilsdorf family at Sacred Heart Church, four months ago, where I introduced Ann (and Senator Frank Padavan and Council candidate Dan Halloran) to the family members.
Where is the perspective of those who are denouncing Anni Is her residence really more important that the bizarre antics and disgraceful crimes associated with some of the Senate officials in Albany? What is going on here?
Frank Skala
East Bayside Homeowners Association
Bayside
