Paul S. Pinto
17 Lerczak Drive
Angola, New York 14006

Home: 549-1262    Email: paul_pinto@att.net     Fax:  716-549-4743

R.D. McPeek
Town Crier
48 North Main Street
Angola, New York 14006-1310

Dear Mr. McPeek:

Open Letter to the Town Crier

            I take the matter of integrity very seriously and take issue with the accuracy of the Town Crier’s published front page story on February 18^th, 2004 entitled “Village of Angola Residents Accuse Paul Pinto of Fraud.” 

            The Town Crier needs to be held to the same standard of conduct as any other journalist or publication.  I take strong exception to the slanderous content of your articles regarding the Village of Angola Government Dissolution as well as the tone and condescending attitude of this newspaper.  The articles are biased and do not reflect the details as the residents in the Village of Angola have come to know them.  Your pursuit in delivering this edition to all Village of Angola residents including non-subscribers identifies your dedication to defaming a resident’s name, reputation and to destroy any improvement to a community.

            I refuse to discuss the specifics of the Supreme Court case in the press.  The press is an inappropriate venue for such dialogue.  The residents and support group seek to have this matter appropriately resolved in the court system where it rightfully belongs. 

            In the March 24^th edition of the Town Crier, your “response from the publisher” story on page 2 is false.  The minutes of our verbal conversation are clear.  I did not state nor imply “The Village has given me everything I asked for or need.”  I also did not state nor imply “he sent our approximately 1200 letters.”  Your unethical mannerism and creative technique to assembly false statements, accusations and an inability to publish news stories is a disgrace to the profession of journalism.   

            I would like to thank all the residents that have expressed their overwhelming support for the support group’s actions calling for a financial study by Erie County and a vote on the Village Government Dissolution in Angola.  Mr. McPeek, your involvement in this topic since January is no comparison to the resident’s efforts since July of 2003 and clearly questions the accuracy of your news publications.

Yours Truly, 

Paul S. Pinto