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Original Story:
Ossining resident, and practicing Catholic, Matthew Gullotta says, "This is simply an outrage," referring to disparaging remarks made recently, and on tape, by a village trustee.
The first half of this clip above, shared on Facebook by David Morrison, documents what he's talking about.
Trustee Robert Daraio made a series of comments at the point in the recent bimonthly work session when St. Ann's Parish was applying for additional police support for their feast of St. Lucia procession. He initially expresses annoyance at the church's reported habit of making late requests for their events, questioning why Father Ed can never come to these meetings himself. "I didn't know God's workers take a day off."
"I say no," he empathically says to the church's request.
Daraio later lapses into questioning the Saint herself.
At minute 50:55 Daraio points out “…Saint Lucia is dead..”
At 53:51 after Mayor Bill Hanauer’s explanation on the Patron Saint, Daraio points out “…he doesn’t care…”
At 53:55 after Hanauer’s talks further on who Saint Lucia was, Daraio states “…I still don’t care…”
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At 54:02 Daraio again points out “…she’s still dead, right..”
At 54:49 Daraio mockingly points out Saint Lucia “…only got Canonized on Tuesday…”
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At 55:31 Daraio asks if they “…have a Saint to carry around…”
At 55:38 Daraio then asks if maybe we have a “…Patron Saint of peas and cabbage...”
At the end of this meeting, off camera, when the Mayor’s telephone rang, it is alleged that Daraio asked if it was Saint Lucia calling.
Since the Sept. 24 session, Daraio has apparently received anonymous, and reportedly threatening phone calls. Some are upset he has not publicly apologized for his statement.
Daraio has not yet been reached for comment.
Writes Gullatto, demanding an apology:
Unfortunately, our elected and Public Officials are held to a higher standard…. And I demand a formal apology for the insensitive, disparaging and flat out discriminatory remarks made by the Trustee last September 24 at the work session.
Without any apology, this is simply, intolerable.
It is not whether you believe in the power of prayer, or the Saints to protect over us…. It’s the insensitivity that a public official can insult my belief in a public forum. I do not expect any of you who are not Catholic to appreciate the mocking and disrespect here.
Morrison asks folks on his Facebook page to vote for Saint Lucia as a write-in candidate in upcoming elections.
"I urge all Ossining village residents to see our board in action in this video. Then send them a message, Write in St Lucia for village trustee. Robert Daraio is running uncontested, lets send him a message that his disrespect does not represent us. Vote him out, let him know we don't care for him!" Morrison said. "This is outrageous. for a village trustee to be so disrespectful to a citizen is unacceptable."
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