Dunkin’ Donuts Fuels Politicians

Written by D.F. Karppi Friday, 26 October 2012 00:00

Supervisor John Venditto’s penchant for Dunkin’ Donuts extolled

Dunkin’ Donuts recently took advantage of Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto’s affinity to their brand to invite him to speak at the first dinner for their new charity foundation.

Usually the Oyster Bay Town Board meetings, scheduled for 10 a.m. don’t start on time. Mr. Venditto has often apologized for his being late giving the reason that he stopped at the Dunkin’ Donuts for a toasty hot beverage — his is actually decaffeinated tea. On Oct. 16, the meeting started on time. It was a short meeting. As it concluded, the supervisor said, “Bill Bleyer is 29 minutes late.” [FYI: Newsday reporter Bill Bleyer wrote a short piece about  Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and his being late for town meetings because of a stop at the Dunkin’ Donuts near his home.]

Mr. Venditto said he enjoyed the piece Mr. Bleyer wrote, “having a lot of fun with Dunkin’ Donuts.”

The supervisor said his office received a call and one of his administrative assistants, Anthony Esposito, told him  of Dunkin’ Donuts inviting him to an upcoming event for dinner and an invitation to talk about his love of their brand, and how it “keeps him running.”

Mr. Venditto said, “They offered to send coffee and baked goods to the next town board meeting to be sure I would be on time.

“I attended and got a goodie bag. When I spoke I told them, ‘Dunkin’ Donuts keeps politicians running for office.”

The supervisor told Dunkin’ Donuts he would donate the gift bag and a gift card to charity.

Home Town Chats

It appears that Dunkin’ Donuts is where the supervisor interfaces with the public. The supervisor himself mentioned his Dunkin’ Donuts stops at an Aug. 15 board meeting when he referred to residents complaining to him about the TOB tree ordinance, saying that residents told him it was intruding on their homeowner rights. Those complaints took hold of the supervisor and it became the basis of a hearing to repeal/alter the town tree ordinance. The town held a second meeting on Sept. 4 on the tree ordinance and they are still looking at comments from the public before they decide what to do.

Foundation Dinner

Mr. Venditto attended the Dunkin’ Donuts Baskin’ Robbins Community Foundation dinner held at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Garden City on Monday, Oct. 15.

According to a reliable source, “Mr. Venditto mingled with several franchisees along with the Dunkin’ Donuts Baskin’ Robbins Community Foundation chairs. It was great to have him come out and support the DDBRCF, which has done some great things in the local community.”

The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin’ Robbins Charitable Foundation (DDBRCF) hosted their first-ever charity fundraiser at Ruth’s Chris Steak House with the goal of raising money for local Long Island charities, as well as to present donations to  the Long Island Cares food bank, the Special Olympics  Long Island and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Greater NY.

The event was attended by more than 50 Long Island Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin’ Robbins franchisees, who were excited to give back to their communities and to help support local issues including safety, hunger and children’s needs.