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On behalf of the thousands of families who have been left impoverished and broken as a
result of being defrauded by unscrupulous, unconscionable and in my opinion, criminal
contractors, I would like to offer our thanks and support to Nassau County Legislator
Diane Yatauro.
After a long, exhaustive and textbook process of due diligence in finding and selecting a
contractor to renovate our home, we still, more than 6 months into construction, found
ourselves in the horrifying position of feeling extorted by our general contractor who
took our life savings, left subcontractors unpaid, left our home uninhabitable and who
continues to put our families' livelihood at risk.
In our time of desperate need, Legislator Diane Yatauro and her staff have been there not
with a hollow ear or empty promises, but with genuine and unwavering support in our
search for truth and justice. By shepherding our case through Consumer Affairs
and the District Attorneys office Diane not only exhibited strength but also much needed
warmth and humanity. At a time when we felt most cynical and suspect of everyone and
everything, our accessibility to Diane and her staff brought back a sense of safety
and cautious optimism. I cannot tell you what that means in this time that is otherwise
full of instability.
With no other viable alternative but to fix the home, we have now hired a new contractor
who has proven to be skilled and trustworthy. However, we are still and will continue to
be in financial crisis for many, many years to come.
Though painfully private and personal, I hope you take away two suggestions from our
experience: Firstly, no matter how much homework you have done in selecting a
contractor, or where they fall in the spectrum of bids (ours was high), you
must communicate directly with your SUBcontractors and continually confirm they have
been paid (seeing them there doing work does not imply payment for services).you may
save yourself tremendous heartache and loss.
Secondly, as ironic as it may sound in an election year, put politics aside and please vote
for Legislator Diane Yatauro. She is what all voters demand. She has proven to work,
care, listen, and serve her constituents long after the promise and frenzy of Election Day
has gone. She is a rarity.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Espinal
Glen Cove, NY
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Espinal October 11, 2007, 1:29 PM
