Sandra Peddie

When I first moved to Long Island from Minnesota years ago to take a job at Newsday, I truly thought I had landed on another planet! I couldn’t understand the accents, the clothes or the attitude. But before long, I fell madly in love with everything Long Island.

That’s why I am so angered by corruption. Whether it’s a government official taking a bribe or a cover-up of misconduct, it hurts all of us. The costs of it are passed on to us in the form of higher taxes and diminished government services. Worst of all, it engenders a deep mistrust of officials and institutions we should be able to count on.

The opportunity to do these stories is literally what gets me up in the morning.

I take it all very personally.

Fortunately for me, a lot of Long Islanders feel the same way. They’ll pass on tips and even better, records to help me do my job. I know it’s wonky to get excited about records! But I do because they help expose what’s really going on beneath the surface, and there’s a lot going on beneath the surface here.

Still, the best stories are the ones told by people. Unfortunately, there usually are victims in investigative stories. It’s difficult to interview them, but I am always heartened by their bravery and willingness to talk. They somehow know that their real-life stories will make a difference to others. In their own way, they keep me going.

I strive to ensure that my reporting is fair, accurate and thorough. The opportunity to do these stories is literally what gets me up in the morning.

The work isn’t easy. I’ve had many sleepless nights worrying about getting everything right. There are days when I wonder why I’m subjecting myself to the abuse that sometimes goes along with this kind of work.

I keep coming back to the same answer: A deep and abiding love for Long Island and a belief that we can – and will – do better.