Allegedly Carpentersville resident Richard Grass read the article that appeared in the Tribune and sent an email to Sarto and more than a dozen others, calling Sarto “a low-life worm” and “sick in the head”.
The section of the article that was referred to is as follows:
Sarto and his wife, Cheryl, had settled here in 1996 because she wanted to live close to her father. When her father had a stroke, he moved into their five-bedroom house. Bill’s parents lived downstairs.Then both of their fathers died within six months. Soon afterward, Cheryl was diagnosed with breast cancer. She and Bill divorced, largely, he says, because she didn’t want to put him through another illness. They remained good friends until she died on Jan. 1, 2005.
Grass allegedly wrote in response that Sarto “…needs a severe punch in the @#$%ing nose! … Not to mention a kick in the @#$%.”
Perhaps Sarto said some things he should not have, but Grass appears to have baited the situation. (UPDATE) In fact, I’ve seen some emails as well as comments on NWHerald.com that display the kind of crass language and lack of sense that is reported in this story. For him to call Sarto ‘a low-life’ is like the pot calling the kettle black. It is obvious that this was a personal attack against, and a threat to, Sarto, whom, the article states, lost his father and wife in the span of a few short years, and only a few years ago.
This kind of behavior is completely inappropriate!
As one who has been part of a long list of recipients on various emails between residents and Sarto, I must say that I think Sarto should take steps to filter those messages worthy of a reply from those that do not. This was one of those emails that did not deserve a reply, but the venomous nature of the statements is enough to elicit some form of reply from those who usually exercise the utmost restraint.
Grass should drop the complaint and apologize for his detestable actions. In fact, Grass’s inflammatory speech may not necessarily have First Amendment protections. Having not seen the actual email, I cannot be certain, but the nature of the limited information released, if it was not the worst of it, might lean that way.
Residents need to contact the Village Board only with appropriate communications on actionable Village business in which they can contribute information. Village Board members need only reply to these items and should seek to appropriately filter those emails requiring a response, or from whom they need more information.
Chicago Tribune: Village leader stands firm as debate rages
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Courier News: Resident calls police on C’ville village president
5 comments
Jun 27, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Anonymous
I guess it’s Ok for Sarto to personally attack residents and Trustee’s using their personal sit6uations agaist them but, When is done to him he goes ballistic and threatens people with all kinds of action. Not only that teh e-mail to Sarto from Grass never stated that Grass should be the one causing Physical Harm. It must be nice to read certain things in the paper. I cannot Imagine we will ever know what was stated over the Phone.
Jun 27, 2007 at 6:52 pm
CarpentersvilleActionNetwork
Well, here’s what I’m thinking.
I don’t believe that Sarto’s previous actions justify those taken by Grass. As they say, two wrongs don’t make a right.
I don’t think it was right for Sarto to use a December 2005 domestic abuse complaint against Trustee Humpfer by his wife. Humpfer was rightly upset by that when it was done.
Likewise, as I posted, I don’t think it was right for Grass to attack Sarto, either. Sarto was rightly upset by that. After all, the man’s wife died of cancer. I don’t care what else has happened, calling someone out on that is pretty low.
I don’t think its right when personal attacks are made, no matter whether residents or elected officials.
With the climate surrounding Village politics in Carpentersville, Grass’ email could have been considered inciting violence against a public official. Criminal? Maybe not, but difficult to be certain.
Looking at the news reports, I don’t find anything that would indicate he threatened people “with all kinds of action”.
What I do know is that police have found no law that was broken and no further action is being pursued.
Jun 28, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Anonymous
As I know it Sarto threatend Grass over the Phone before Grass offered an Apology, An e-mail apology was sent out to all of the receipients of the e-mail. Sarto found it still unacceptable and still wanted a Confrontation. Grass refused and notified the Police as to the status of the acts by both, all e-mails where sent to the police Chief. Grass was not trying to press charges. And as usual the news papers did not get all the info from all the participants.
Jun 28, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Richard Grass
Ok, What I said was wrong and Apoligized and admitted it Sarto and Others Via e-MAIL and a Phone conversation with Bill. Now that this was suppose to be concluded. Sarto was still adamant on a confrontation. That was unacceptable, the Police were called for protectionary measures, not to file a complaint.Nor did I want this all over the Papers because they always turn things into a sensational event especially when Sarto gives his side and Mine was restricted, I will keep my sources in confidence. It’s really to Bad That Humpfer kept his Cool after so many personal attacks by both Sarto and Reece not to mention the other tricks the opposition played to discredit the Trustee’s running against Roeser’s Candidates. So if all of you want to judge me on the information you think you might have, go right ahead, because you can only Assume what’s really going on. I can honestly say that I would never attack anybody personally again or physically. So keep reading those papers and making your uninformed Judgements.
Richard Grass
Jun 28, 2007 at 6:33 pm
CarpentersvilleActionNetwork
Actually, it is my sincere hope that all have learned a valuable lesson from what has transpired.
It is easy enough to fire off emails that may intentionally or unintentionally create feelings of animosity and adversary. Too easy.
The impersonal nature of email and web communications has caused some to lose their sense of responsibility in dialog. I’ve seen it present in the messages that I’ve been copied on.
Folks need to be aware of their words and tone more in these communications; they need to learn to communicate in a new way via these channels.
As I said, it’s my hope that folks learned something through the experience.