Suffolk County Legislator of the Fourth District, Nick Caracappa, was targeted by Newsday on Wednesday with suggestions the money he is raising for an anti-domestic violence group is going directly to his PAC.
Domestic violence and abuse is a pressing issue in the U.S. The National Domestic Violence Hotline found that more than 10 million U.S. men and women in the U.S. are victims of domestic violence.
According to the CDC, about 1 in 10 men experience violence against them brought upon by an intimate partner during their lifetime in the U.S.
On August 10, Caracappa planned to host a White Party fundraiser event with all proceeds donated to the Freebird Organization. This organization focuses on helping domestic violence victims, specifically young men, women, and their children, to end the tormenting cycle of abuse and supporting them with their individual needs.
The first flier was sent out in July with an incorrect email address: “electnickcaracappa@gmail.com.” The mistake was found within the hour the flier was posted.
Shortly thereafter, the location of the venue was changed because it was too small. The new flier was released and included the most up-to-date information detailing the new venue and a corrected email address: “thefreebirdorg@gmail.com.”
While it is not illegal to list an election email address, politics was not Caracappa’s focus for the fundraiser. He was swift to rectify his mistake and has made it clear that 100 percent of the proceeds were to be given to Freebird Org.
Newsday did not post the updated and corrected flier that was made and posted last Monday.
“We wanted to do such wonderful things for those in need, only to be overshadowed by the negativity,” Caracappa told The Messenger in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. “We will do our diligence in efforts to be as transparent as possible, we will have everything out there.”
Newsday reached out to Caracappa for comment.
“[Newsday] did reach out to me, but they only took some of the stuff that I said,” said Caracappa. “I’m being genuine, my heart is in the right place. I did say there were mistakes made in the beginning, but they were corrected right away.”
On Wednesday afternoon Caracappa released a formal statement explaining why the event was postponed and to ensure the support Suffolk Solutions has for the domestic violence victims: “We currently have an expert team reviewing the organization’s donation mechanisms to ensure that contributions made to Suffolk Solutions for this event are dedicated exclusively to supporting victims of abuse. Our mission of bringing awareness and assistance for fellow residents in need will continue unabated. While we await a new date for this important event that will continue to support victims of physical, mental and financial abuse, we appreciate your patience. Rest assured, this will be a memorable event.”
“We are disappointed that the fundraiser had to be postponed for these circumstances,” said Lisa Calla, board member of the Freebird Organization. “It would have provided our organization with additional resources to assist more victims of domestic violence, when it matters most. All our supporters were genuinely putting everything into the event in good faith.”
Caracappa said he continues to hold onto the truth and won’t let the negative media backlash taint his vision in his work.
“To those who think they can intimidate me or chase me away, let me be perfectly clear: I will never run or hide from adversity,” said Caracappa. “I will always stand my ground and fight for what is right and for those who need my help.”
More information is to be released within the upcoming weeks. To stay informed on social media, search “Legislator Nick Caracappa” on Facebook and Instagram.
