We were very disappointed at the "editorial" in the April 26, 2006 edition of the Mineola American ("Stop Politicizing Police Department Issue").

We can't believe that anyone would believe that all our efforts to get the true costs of creating a Mineola Police Department are being done because we don't like the mayor. It is so ridiculous a concept that it almost brings one to the state of laughter. We guess you consider the concept about being concerned about costs an outlandish idea.

We would like to advise the paper and its editor that our actions would be the same no matter who the mayor was, if they took the same position. Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean you dislike them.

We feel our integrity has definitely been compromised by your editor and your paper. Our integrity and the fact that we put Mineola first is supported by our long list of community service and accomplishments in Mineola, much of it not on the village board. Has all our community service been done because we dislike someone? Do you think we have so much time to waste to purposely do something to target someone?

Your "editorial" indicates that your editor and your paper have no respect for us and obviously don't know what type of people we are. Remember, you can disagree with someone but you have to have mutual respect.

It appears that someone somewhere is a little paranoid.

Due to the above stated, we ask your readers to read any coverage of the village with a discerning eye. They should definitely question how things are covered and what is stated. We welcome anyone to contact us at (516) 294-5414 or (516) 902-5603 if they have any questions or concerns after reading your paper.

We assume that your editorial is an indication of why the April 8, 2006 police hearing was not advertised to residents except in the legal notices you received. It is also an indication of why this April 8 police hearing wasn't covered until the April 24, 2006 edition after Trustee Linda Fairgrieve called you to find out what was going on.

Good journalism is getting both points of view when something is covered. This is definitely not done by your paper all the time. We suggest you start doing this. Perhaps if you have a Mayor's report, you have a minority party report. If the mayor or the majority party member is quoted, there should be a quote from a minority party member. Fair is fair.

In addition, the village has chosen to selectively choose what meetings/hearings are shown on the public access channel and for how long and when. As we are writing this letter (on April 27), the April 8 police hearing, at which many residents raised questions and concerns about the creation of a Mineola Police Department, and challenged the mayor on several points, has still not been shown.

This is not about politics, it is about what we believe in and what is best for Mineola!

If this letter is not published in the May 3, 2006 edition or is changed significantly, we ask that you call us and we will circulate it ourselves.

Trustee Linda Fairgrieve

Trustee Paul Cusato