Unfortunately, the letter in last week's Garden City Life from Mr. John Pittoni, Esq. proves emphatically the truth of the old saying -"You don't need to know anything to have an opinion." Unfortunately, the letter comes from an attorney who, above all, should be concerned with truth and accuracy. Instead, it shows how someone's emotions and biases can get the better of good judgment and basic decency.

Were it not so utterly contemptuous, Mr. John Pittoni, Esq.'s letter would be amusing. Here is someone who proudly brandishes his legal credentials, and then with total disregard for the basic principles of the law -- fairness, truth and adherence to the facts - launches into a vicious, ignorant, slanderous and mean-spirited diatribe against fellow residents.

Neither the Committee to Save St. Paul's, nor any members of its executive committee, nor anyone in an official capacity had any role or took any position in the recent election for village trustee or the write-in effort of Mrs. Eileen Collins - none. Mr. John Pittoni, Esq. cannot have one shred of evidence to support his misguided opinion, only rumor and innuendo. But Mr. John Pittoni, Esq. and others of his ilk, lacking the ammunition of truth and fact, resort instead to demonizing their critics and to characterize every criticism of their precious opinions as the work of malcontents. Next thing you know, we will be blamed for the recent flu outbreak.

Even more disappointing, in a very uncivil and unlawyerly display, he utilizes sophomoric name-calling to attack fellow residents who simply don't happen to agree with his assessment of what's good for the village. Not a very shining example to set by someone with his vaunted status. It is equally disappointing that this newspaper, which is trying to raise the level of the dialogue about St. Paul's, would print this noxious drivel without any effort to check whether the accusations and name-calling had any basis in fact.

I would suggest adding three more initials after Mr. John Pittoni, Esq. -how about SAD.

Ed Keating