More hate mail in Milan

MILAN — Two women responded Friday to a social media post on the Talk of Milan Facebook page about receiving hate mail. Tracy Thom, a public records and rights advocate, made the post after considering what she believes is hate mail sent to a village mayoral candidate, Mary Bruno. Bruno Bruno was mailed a card with a disparaging message earlier this month and turned it over to the Erie County Sheriff's Office after talking with elections officials about it. The sheriff's office is attempting to determine who mailed the card through a greeting card company that promises senders anonymity. Thom said she began wondering if others had received similar mail. "It dawned on me that it is women being targeted: Mary Bruno and another resident who reached out about a mailing she received," Thom said. "If there's two, maybe there's more out there, I thought." Within hours of posting the question on Friday Thom received copies of notes sent to two other women. "I think it's safe to say the whole town is done with you and your little friends," one of the messages states. "You're not the voice of the village. You're the nuisance of it. Perhaps another town could use your detective skills." The other mailer is similarly demeaning. "Silly girl. Posting on Facebook. Acting oblivious to what's going on in town. We all know you're the one with the camera," the second mailer to another woman states. Another woman reported previously that she also received a hate mailer. "You're a typical liberal fool that is without a clue. Don't you know that the sign you placed in your yard will alienate half your customers? Think about it..." that typed note states. The sheriff's office is investigating the mailer sent to Bruno. Thom said she was sending the other mailers — which all seemed to have similar fonts done on a computer — to the sheriff. Bruno said she was so disappointed in receiving the mailer and the hostility some people are exhibiting. "This is Milan," she said. "We're better than that." She doesn't know if the person who mailed the card to her is trying to intimidate her, or get her to reconsider running for mayor, but she's not getting out of the race. "If that is what it is — intimidation — I hope whoever is doing this stops. It's not appropriate," she said.