Letters

I do not know John Leonard. I have not followed his performances on the Zoning Board of Appeals and environs, as Jose Reyes has [“Storied Past,” Letters, January 23]. Even when forced to acknowledge the litany of objections raised to his fitness to run for office, I had no interest in his mottled career.

It was enough for me to find him personally reprehensible and politically unfit, as well as dumb, when he decided to make his bones by going after Gayle Lombardi. Gayle Lombardi! That long-standing, close-researching, unstinting, unselfish, unassuming, devoted, brave and honored member of her community.

Like a cheap gunslinger in a B Western, he rode into town looking for a fight to establish himself. And, hero that he isn’t, he set his sights on a diminutive woman — gracious to a fault, even in opposition — who devoted herself to her community, while he racked up professional violations in California.

In an editorial lauding her and condemning another unworthy opponent, Jay Schneiderman, The Press stated: “[She] taught herself the mechanics of writing an Article 78 lawsuit, then filed one challenging the Southampton Town Board’s decision last year to approve a new zoning code for the Hampton Bays downtown.” And she won.

Continuing, The Press castigated Schneiderman for his ill-tempered reaction: “Shame on the supervisor and his administration for not recognizing Ms. Lombardi’s desire to simply shine a light on the town government and to use the system to ensure that plans for her hometown are in the best interest of its citizens …

“Mr. Schneiderman’s criticisms aside, the issues that Ms. Lombardi raised with the Hampton Bays Downtown Overlay District, which was approved unanimously by the Town Board in February 2020, were mostly technical concerns about the way the legislation was adopted.

“Rather than criticize Ms. Lombardi for exercising her rights as a citizen activist to challenge the legislation, Mr. Schneiderman and the other town officials cited in the noxious press release should be applauding her for her love for and concern about the community that she holds dear. They should also be grateful for the opportunity to address any flaws in the legislation pointed out by Ms. Lombardi in the lawsuit before some future developer was able to shoot down the zoning code, or to drive a truck through a loophole, perhaps literally.”

Never referred to is the fact that she became legally blind midway through her exemplary life.

Mr. Leonard, mewling about his “depression,” had best saddle up and get out of town on the horse he rode in on. He more than met his match — he was outclassed by a superior.

Frances Genovese

Southampton