Richard Tufareillo, the South Shore Press columnist who filed an affadavit challenging Suffolk Legis. Kate Browning's voter registration and citizenship, denied any political motivations in the move.
He said he's been asking Browning for months to clear up her status for him.
"I asked her four months ago, 'Are you a naturalized citizen? She refused to answer," Tufareillo said. "My readership, there were some people who wanted to know of her naturalization. I have the right to ask an elected official these questions."
The Irish-born Browning (WFP-Shirley) told Newsday she was naturalized in Brooklyn in 2000 when we asked her about it on Thursday, and accused Tufareillo of working for her GOP opponent, Betty Manzello.
Browning said Monday that the first time Tufareillo, whose day job is working for former Suffolk GOP chairman John Powell's paving company, Pav-Co., in Holbrook, asked her about her citizenship was in an Aug. 3 e-mail that she ignored on the advice of her attorney.
"They said to me, 'Ignore him, he's an idiot,' " Browning said.
Browning promised to fax copies of her citizenship papers to Newsday and said she may hold a press conference in the near future to discuss the matter.
Comments (28)
What ! No illegal aliens work for paving companies on Long Island ?
I could take Brownings brain, put it in a robin, and the SOB would fly backwards. I do not work in Holbrook, I do not work for Manzella, and I informed Newday Investigative Journalist Sandra Peddie of my obser vations of Browning long before I went to work for Mr. Powell. Send me a copy also Kate, after all, I did ask first. For your attorneys to call me an idiot means as much to me as they do. People must always consider the source. Oh yes, dont forget to show your alleged papers to the BOE. Thats where my inquiry was made.
this guy is a reporter? gotta be kidding. the guy cant spell.
I feel that Mr. Tufariello is beating a dead horse in the Browning issue. Certainly someone who is trying to capture the voting public's attention should at least attempt to appear a gentleman, concern himself with issues affecting his constituency and cease behaving as if he were a street ruffian. If Sandra Peddie did not seem affected by Mr. Tufariello's comments concerning Ms. Browning it is because she is a professional and not moved by the rantings of a spoiled brat. If you are trying to establish a political career you had best put a bit on your tongue. Your impotent commentaries make you seem a fool.
Elaine, my brain dead friend.I am not running for political office. I investigate corruption concerning elected officials. It was my ranblings that discovered the tritium leak at the lab. Do you not know what you read? I have no constituency. My concerns are with the people. You know where you can go with your politcal correctness dont you? I am an investigatuive journalist. Not a politician. Do you know the difference? Lets see the naturalization papers. Elaine, I am sure you can find a good analyst.
Elaine, my brain dead friend.I am not running for political office. I investigate corruption concerning elected officials. It was my ranblings that discovered the tritium leak at the lab. Do you not know what you read? I have no constituency. My concerns are with the people. You know where you can go with your politcal correctness dont you? I am an investigatuive journalist. Not a politician. Do you know the difference? Lets see the naturalization papers. Elaine, I am sure you can find a good analyst.
Columnist? Please. You could barely spell. Does the SS Press pay you, what, $30 a story?
You are part of the machine. Journalists report news. They don't make news. Go back to school you GED moron. Go pave a driveway for Chairman Powell.
Whether or not Browning is and/or was a citizen back in 2000 is not a matter of national security. This columnist has every right to ask and Browning could have avoided this story if she simply would have been courteous enough to have obliged.
The one thing that is not reported in this story is how Browning's opponent Betty Manzella is running a credible campaign is is proving herself as being a capable advocate for the people of the 3rd Legislative District. That should be the story, but unfortunately we live in a society where good is hardly ever recognized because sensationalized stories sell papers and capture peoples attention. However, it is sometimes nice to give credit to the proverbial little guy, or gal, in this case of Betty Manzella.
I first had the pleasure of meeting Kate Browning while at my front door during her first campaign. Since that conversation, I have continued to see what an honorable and dedicated woman she is to her community. I look forward to her continued leadership in the future. Based on the work she has done for us, I know she will have no problem being re-elected. Keep up the great work Kate!
I suggest Mr. Tufariello that you ask Mr. Powell who Elaine Leirer is. She is far from brain dead and was the County Chair of the Conservative party. Your constituency is the people who read your column. You are missing the point of her comments. As a reporter you should be concerned with issues concerning that constituency. You have no standing to conduct any investigation and you are NOT an investigative journalist and are due NO response from anyone concerning their personal life. In fact you are a loser and should never quit your day job. We ( the public ) are laughing at your psychotic ramblings. For many people in Suffolk the leak at the Lab was a known fact. You just jumped on board and are now taking the credit. You are making this story about yourself and not thge election. You need an analyst.
I have to question Richard Tufariello's ethics. By filing an affidavit with the Board of Elections challenging Browning's citizenship he goes way beyond investigating and reporting the story to creating one. This guy is clearly an operative.
Kudos to Mr. Tufariello for raising a question the public is entitled to ask of an elected official.
Jeers to Ms. Browning for rebuffing her constituency and for taking so long to furnish an answer.
Jeers to those, including Mr. Tufariello, who stooped to namecalling and childishness.
And, finally, jeers to Newsday for failing to fully investigate the entire matter once the question was raised.
This turned into a verbal brawl. You attack me and expect me to take it? Wrong guy. Im an Italian American from Bensonhurst Brooklyn, and at 60 will not tolerate anyone attacking me with names or any other tactic or my Italian ancestors etc. Jeers to you for thinkng everyone in the media is gutless and spineless. I am not politically correct. I am Brooklyn correct. What I see is what you get. I still have yet to see those papers, she refused to give them to me, and she has no credibility in my eyes. She is not to be trusted. I want a copy of those documnets and I want her to get them authenticated from the Federal Court building on this very day.
sunofthebeach@optonline.net
sunofthebeach.us
This turned into a verbal brawl. You attack me and expect me to take it? Wrong guy. Im an Italian American from Bensonhurst Brooklyn, and at 60 will not tolerate anyone attacking me with names or any other tactic or my Italian ancestors etc. Jeers to you for thinkng everyone in the media is gutless and spineless. I am not politically correct. I am Brooklyn correct. What I see is what you get. I still have yet to see those papers, she refused to give them to me, and she has no credibility in my eyes. She is not to be trusted. I want a copy of those documnets and I want her to get them authenticated from the Federal Court building on this very day.
sunofthebeach@optonline.net
sunofthebeach.us
TUFARIELLO, YOUR BEHAVIOR exemplifies why people identify Italo-Americans from all over in a negative fashion. If Browning doesn't respond to you it is because she DOESN'T HAVE TO. You are not an authority figure, you are an idiot making all Italian Americans look bad. Go away....
Ms Browning should respond to constituent concerns. Her treatment of Mr Tufariello was improper. The whole matter has escalated into a sideshow, but it began with Ms Browning's refusal to respond to a legitimate constituent question.
Marie..he did not ask a question..he filed a complaint. Most voters in the district are aware of Ms. Brownings arrival in this country and her citizenship issue. Tufariello is trying to make an issue where there is none. Her office handles constituency complaints and questions in a timely fashion. This sideshow did not begin Browning, it began when Tuffariello went to work for Ms. Mazella's relative. This is a phantom issue because her opposition could not find a real one. You are a victim of Tufariello/s fabrication. By the way don;t disagree with me as I am an Italian American from Brooklyn and I might become upset.
I posted a comment re. this blog several days ago--doesn't this blog update?
browning still has not shown me her papers. If she has them and they are not fabricated I have everyright to see them as an American Citzen, a voter in this district, a journalist, a publisher and editor. JohnPowell and Betty Manzella are not related. I no longer work for the paving company and never have been a Manzella operative. I am a Conservative. I asked the question, was blown off, and was compelled to make a legitimate observation to the BOE. In fact it was my duty as a citizen to do so. If you are not an American Citizen by law you can not hold elected office. Until I see proof other wise, browning in my learned opinion, has flown under the radar screen. If anyone has proof of their allegations concerning me, produce it. If not I find these allegations to be libelous and slanderous and worthy of my attorneys attention. Anyone wishing to contact me on this matter feel free to do so. No one is going to tell me I cannot perform my job as a journalist. Not in My America. Never, no way, no how.
www.sunofthebeach.us
Politicans are tampons
People should know the truth that tubbrello is not stating it. As per newsday the paperwork was confirmed which should of been end of story, but its not. the reason its not is because tubby is working on betty manzellas campaign and working for her family. this is all to discredit leg. browning. betty has no real issues to run on. the issue of leg. browning "dropping the ball when it came to the substation in mastic beach" betty is right to say that the leg. before browning put in a resolution for a substation. everything was a go but heres the part that they dont tell you about legislator oleary once he lost the election to kate browning WITHDRAW THE RESOLUTION MEANING IT WAS NO LONGER THERE FOR BROWNING TO ACT ON ONCE SHE GOT IN OFFICE. THIS WAS DONE 11/15/05 THE MONEY ALLICATED WAS NOW GONE ONCE SHE GOT INTO OFFICE. SO INSTEAD SHE WAS ABLE TO GET 99 MORE POLICE ONTO THE STREETS. The presence of police on the street is more important . the issue of a moratorium ON SEX OFFENDERS that tuffy and betty keep speaking about is another half story. approx. three weeks ago ther was a meeting with higher ups state officials, schools, legislators, megans law people etc this meeting was attended by betty manzella also. betty is giving people false hope as to getting a moratorium to stop dumping into this area any longer betty was told by all at that meeting it was tried and brought to court and lost the case because it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL IT CAN NOT BE DONE. betty is aware of this but continues to tell people it is going to be done. IT CANT. so now besides the lies to district three from betty comes the nasty insulting mailings and remarks started by betty and her pals, tubby included. there are many issues that holes can be put into when it comes to bettys contract to the people of district three they are mostly lies. kate browning has done well with our district and will continue to do so when reelected...............
for the record-------pete o'leary had made arrangememts for the mastic beach substation to be at stanzoni's old office at the five corners. steve levy nixed the lease so kate browning made a deal with b x foley to have the station at the nutrition center in the middle of town. she told me personally that the county was ready to move in but she couldn't get the keys. she suggested that i call foley's office and tell them she was waiting on the keys to pass them on to the scpd. i called and spoke to foley's asst. she said she'd look into it and call me back. she never did. i'm also told that the local patrol officers are afraid to leave their personal cars behind the center for fear of vandalism it's also more comfortable at the fire house lounge than at the nutrition center so on any given day you can find up to five or six patrol cars not at the nutrition center but at the m. b. firehouse with its nice comfy lounge and sixty inch tv but no visible presence in town. kate hasn't done all that much for us and ms. bisonette has done even less. she spent more time concerned about the vistas as seen from county road 51 than on the real problems facing us in the tri hamlet area. as for b.x. foley, he said that putting in a few street lights on neighborhood road was a glorious day for mastic beach---that's a quote. he has no clue. IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE rip
i have copies of the pulled resolution that oleary did not kate browning the funding was gone before she got into office as i stated kate did request that they be able to use the nutritution center for a sub station but all this is not the point the point is ido we need a new building or do we need police. i would gather you are a republician and thats why all the defending i am not i am notregistered with any party i vote for the person who is the best for the position and thats not betty manzella.
to anonymous--------if you have no guts to say who you are you have nothing to say. i was told by foleys' assistant that the town had to do some work before scpd could use the office in the nutrition center. works been done. how come it's not being used? your english and grammer is atrocius. rip
to anonymous--------if you have no guts to say who you are you have nothing to say. i was told by foleys' assistant that the town had to do some work before scpd could use the office in the nutrition center. works been done. how come it's not being used? your english and grammer is atrocius. rip
kate browning won...betty manzella lost...
my grammer might be bad but your choice to vote for legislator was worse...........................................
oh speaking of not using my name did you mama put on your birth cert. under name the boy from DA bronx
the only part of that i that seems to fit you is the da.............
KateBrowning is one of the most decent people I have ever met,after winning on 11/6 she reaffirmed her great job she is doing for the 3rd legislative dist.
to anonymous-----i'm not a republican nor am i a democrat. i also think that k.b. is a fine person. and your grammer still stinks and you still can't spell.