Racist, Hatred-Fueled Facebook Post By Wife Of Riverhead Town Attorney Incites Backlash

RIVERHEAD, NY — A racist, hate-fueled Facebook post by the wife of Riverhead Town Attorney Robert Kozakiewicz has sparked heated backlash among residents — and prompted the town supervisor to speak out.

On Sunday night, Dianne Delaney posted an expletive-laced status update that read, "I can't take it anymore! I tried to enjoy a lovely dinner at a local pizzeria business. . You F------- N------! Harrased (sic) the s---- out of the waitress to tears. GO BACK TO AFRICA!!! You f------ G----- "Black Brats". .. you are to (sic) uneducated to know, President Abraham Lincoln gave you, so called SLAVES the Nation of Liberia!! LIBERIA!! to be free!!!?? PLEASE LEAVE AMERICA!!! And take 'a------ neck with you' We should have picked our own COTTEN (sic). GO>>>GO>>GO away!"

Delaney, a former board of education member, was the recipient of an outpouring of rage and disbelief on social media after her post.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter issued a statement Monday that read: "It has come to our attention that the wife of one of our town employees made inappropriate and hateful statements on social media last night. These reprehensible comments were evil in nature and the members of the Riverhead Town Board want everyone to know that we have no tolerance for hate and bigotry in our community. This is a difficult time in our society."

'These comments are the result of pure evil'

Walter added: "These comments are the result of pure evil and we as a community will not tolerate the type of statements that were posted last night. This is a time where we as a community and a country need to stand for unity. We need to stand together, we need to stand for God. It's time we stand for love not hate and it is time to stand for what is right not wrong. It is time for all of us to take down the evil that is online and in our collective hearts and replace it with God's love. Racism and hatred is defeated by God through love and prayer."

Walter said he is truly sorry that the community is being harmed by the statements, which do not reflect that for which the town stands and should be recognized.

"Riverhead is known as a 'light of the world. A city that is set on a hill that cannot be hidden,'" Walter said, quoting Biblical scripture. "Our residents are 'the salt of the earth.' As a town we will let our 'light so shine' before everyone so that everyone sees our good works. For that reason I know that we, as a community, will be on bended knee not only praying for an end to hatred in all communities, but we will be praying for the person who made this statement so that she may know God's love and mercy as she deals with the terrible illness of alcoholism."

Kozakiewicz, a former town supervisor, issued a public statement to the Riverhead News Review that said, “I am not quite sure where to begin regarding the post and recent conduct of my wife. I am at a loss of words as I do not know what words can repair that which was already said. . . I am so very sorry. Sorry for the hatred, sorry for the bigotry, sorry for the prejudice . . .sorry for the rage. . . It was inexcusable."

In the post, he added, "To those who do not know me, let me say that her post does not in any manner mirror my views and beliefs (Those who know me, know that already). Nor does [sic] our families share in the views expressed in any manner.”

But his words failed to soothe a furious public.

“I am writing this on behalf of the people in the Town of Riverhead," wrote Liz Healy, in a message to Patch. "This morning all over social media we saw the awful racist comments made by Dianne Kozakiewicz, aka Diane Delaney, wife of Riverhead town attorney Bob Kozakiewicz," she said. Any "fake apology" issued by either Delaney or Kozakiewicz, she added, would not be accepted and was only issued because she was "outed."

As for Walter's statement, Healy said, "We were told by Sean Walter, the supervisor of the town of Riverhead 'to pray for Diane to get the help she needs.' Shame on you, Sean Walter! Shame on you for trying to smugly downplay what has happened. Shame on you for using Christianity to describe the hateful actions that have taken place . The town officials work for us. They owe us the people of Riverhead more than an empty statement of apology. The Riverhead I know is diverse and beautiful. . . We are not hate, we are not divided. We are Riverhead. #notinmytown."

Added another woman on Facebook, "I do feel sorry for your children Dianne Delaney. I hope you get the help you so clearly need. You are a sick, sick person and I can only hope that your family intervenes. Hopefully they don’t try to save face when they do. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated."

Others sprang to Kozakiewicz's defense.

Sharon Sailor, a North Fork business owner, said she has known Kozakiewicz for more than 20 years, before he worked for Riverhead Town. "He was working as an attorney for someone else. He is one of the nicest, honest, upstanding people I have had the pleasure of knowing. Spending any time talking to him, having had him help me with a matter, it is quite clear to anyone who speaks to him or deals with him that the views and rant that were expressed by his wife are in no way reflective of Bob as a person and/or professional. I have no personal interest in Riverhead politics, just in defending a decent person who shouldn’t be judged for the actions of another."

Kozakiewicz did not return an email and call requesting further comment.

Delaney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Delaney's home number rang, but there was no way to leave a message. Delaney's Facebook page was no longer active as of Monday afternoon.

Patch file photo