Rochester City Council member Jackie Ortiz is calling for an investigation into Alex Castro’s removal as head of the Rochester Housing Authority. The RHA board voted to dismiss Castro earlier this week, and then named City Council member Adam McFadden to replace him.
The switch has some people accusing the city and the RHA board of playing politics. McFadden, who has long sought the RHA job, is a loyal supporter of Mayor Lovely Warren. It could also be the latest manifestation of the current fractures in the Democratic Party, which seems to be divided between supporters of David Gantt and everyone else. Gantt recently led a walkout of black Dems from the county Dems annual meeting.
Ortiz, in a press release this afternoon, says that she wants “an official and thorough review” of Castro’s ouster by the city’s Board of Ethics and its Office of Public Integrity. She says that she’s also seeking an opinion from the city’s attorney.
“To say that I am concerned is an understatement,” Ortiz says. “What has transpired appears to have been both mismanaged and inappropriate. I look forward to receiving a through (sic) and transparent review. We owe this to the citizens of the City of Rochester.”
Ortiz will address the RHA board at a noon meeting on Wednesday, October 22.
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This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2014.
Whether or not any laws, rules, or formal ethical standards were violated in the removal of Alex Castro as RHA executive director and his replacement within Coucilmember McFadden, it clearly represents the latest manifestation of a 10+ year effort by Chairman Gantt, Mayor Warren, and other members of their faction within the Democratic Party establishment to systematically exclude capable Latinos from positions of influence. It is long past time for more people to speak this truth to their power.
Mr. Schnurr, I don’t suppose Robert Duffy’s Administration waged an “effort to systematically exclude [BOTH] capable Latinos [AND CAPABLE AFRICAN AMERICANS] from positions of influence” — did it? Of course not, or you would have” spoken truth to their power” — right? Or, are you fearful of “speaking truth to [CERTAIN TYPES] of power?” Don’t be hypocritical.
It does seem odd for the board to oust Castro after only a few years on the job – especially as he seemed to have the confidence of his agency’s employees and the population that it serves. The previous board had done an extensive national search to select that director, and now a local party fixture is swapped in without the benefit of anything of the same background in housing that Castro had.
But it’s the mayor’s job to appoint (most of) the board members and its the board’s prerogative to dictate that agency’s leader solely according to its pleasure – so I don’t see what could possibly come of an ethics probe.
Mr. DeCoursey,
How do you know ” he seemed to have the confidence of the population that it serves?” Are you making things up?
Hi Howard – Reasonable question especially as it wasn’t covered in this article. One of the well-known local reporters, Rachel Barnhart, reported separately from Seneca Manor (a large public housing development on the northeast side) and found residents there rallying behind the former director shortly after his dismissal. She has glowing quotes in the article (“whenever Alex is asked to come to one of our sites, Alex comes” and “He was always there for us. All the residents in here liked Alex,”), including a quote from the president of the residents council.
Mr. DeCoursey,
Thank you for responding, and ” Seneca Manor [is ONE of how many RHA] developments? “
It’s troubling how easily we dismiss blatant cronyism, simply because “the other guy” has done it in the past. It wasn’t right then, it’s not now. The residents deserve the best candidate for the job and the Councilwoman was right to speak up on behalf of her constituents. They also deserve a board chair who has integrity.
What I want to know is: how much is the abrupt change going to cost the taxpayers? Castro’s contract was recently renewed, how much do we have to pay him out? And I’d like to hear more from Moses: his explanation about needing a new director to change course rings hollow. You don’t hire an interim to lead a course change, you hire an interim to caretake while you do a diligent search for a permanent director. Will there be a proper search for the permanent gig?
Very suspicious. I suspect Ortiz has called for this investigation after being directed to do so by Joe Morelle. Ortiz is known to be an ally of his. Interesting. They were outhustled fair and square in the election and still can’t deal with it.
Re: “Garretson elected to lead Dems; Gantt leads walkout”
David Gantt used language in a City Newspaper interview earlier this year saying that members of his Democratic Committee “think that we are still on the plantation”. I found this to be inexcusable and wrong. I sent a letter to City Council, the Mayor’s Office and David Gantt’s Office. No response or actions of punishment were taken or given. I even contacted City Council President as I wanted to talk about this issue at a public meeting. I was told it was not appropriate and that my issue did not belong at a council meeting.
Mr. Gantt has helped or endorsed most people that get elected and continue to serve or get re-elected in Rochester,NY. The notion that no one would speak up against such statements and condemn his behavior speaks loudly for City Government. This is, in my opinion, why there are so many problems in City Govt’; the RHA; the RPD; and, more.
Craig R. Moffitt