'Hate Packets' Thrown On Clarkstown Lawns

Clarkstown police have stepped up patrols at the home of a Rockland County lawmaker after "hate packets" about her were thrown on lawns across her neighborhood, according to NBC4 New York.

The packets contained rusty nails plus fliers calling Laurie Santulli a Nazi. She also received hate mail recommending she commit suicide.

Santulli had asked the Rockland County Legislature to condemn lawmaker Aron Wieder for yelling at someone after their press conference supporting educational standards for yeshivas. His rant was caught on camera, according to News 12.

Santulli's effort was overshadowed by her local political party's publication of a video warning that Wieder and the Hasidic bloc vote he represents are a threat to "our way of life."

Then anonymous hate mail began arriving for and about Santulli.

Asked about the hate mail, Wieder told NBC reporter Sarah Wallace that it was all about free speech.

That infuriated Rockland County Executive Ed Day. "May I remind you of the reaction of your colleagues, including myself, in county government when, in December of 2014, YOU were the victim of hate mail. I called the threat 'one of the most vile and despicable renderings' I had seen adding 'To direct this message to an elected official attacks the very core of the freedoms so many have given their lives to secure and protect.'

"The only thing more disturbing than your predictable reaction and conduct is the deafening silence of so many legislators of your Party."

That doesn't bode well for Legislator Nancy Low-Hogan's plan to call tonight at the Legislature's meeting for a summit moderated by an outsider to work this all out for the future of Rockland.