The correspondence provided in this editorial contains three letters which all relate to Bottalico's violation of the lease agreement for UTU Local Division 77 office space in the Graybar building. You will also notice the ACRE newsletter from the same time period and a page from UTU Local Division 77 banking statement from 2/29/2000.

The dates on these three letters cover the period between early March of 2000 and May of 2000. Bottalico violated his lease agreement and attempted to have the Graybar Building management collect the $209,083.61 due, from the UTU International. You will notice the UTU's response dated May 1, 2000. The UTU International is not responsible for any lease agreement signed for by a UTU General Chairman. Bottalico was personally liable for the rent due on this lease, all $209,083.61.

If you remember, after Bottalico vacated the Local 77 office, ACRE had no office space and the MTA allowed ACRE to use space on the 6 th floor for an office. The date in the ACRE newsletter is Spring 2000. In this newsletter ACRE announces that they have acquired office space in the very building that Bottalico had previously had UTU Local Division 77's office, while he was still liable for the remainder of that lease. How did this happen?

The monies shown on the balance for the attached banking statement that is dated 2/29/2000, was never transferred to ACRE accounts, and was not reported on the 2000 LM2 reports filed by ACRE with the Department of Labor. By May of 2000, all of these funds were gone, except for $21,000.00 that was returned to the UTU. How and for what purpose(s) was the rest of the money ($134,384.48) used for? Anyone have any ideas? Maybe some ACRE members should ask Treasurer Amorello or General Chairman Bottalico.