Have you had enough?

Either the stress of the job has gotten to him, or the man
is just plain mean.

This
community, once simply sliding slowly downhill, is now about to implode. The
county is laying off hundreds of people, closing parks, causing massive
cutbacks in library service, and slashing funding to social-service agencies
and arts organizations. And while he’s dishing out the cuts, County Executive
Jack Doyle is throwing mud at decent people: the heads of community
organizations — and his own employees.

At
last week’s County Legislature meeting, numerous speakers urged the county not
to cut funding to the social-service agencies. Doyle’s response? Here is a
verbatim quote, from a WXXI interview following the meeting:

“Most
of their CEOs earn more than I do as a county executive. They ride around in
very large, expensive automobiles paid for by their programs. They have,
basically, small budgets. And yet they are the first to complain when economic
times get tough.”

This
kind of outrageous stereotyping is not only untrue, but it’s divisive at a time
when Doyle ought to be trying to pull the community together.

When
the Federation of Social Workers urged the county to save employees’ jobs,
Doyle said that rather than protest, the federation should encourage its more
senior members to retire. How much worse could the insult be to people who have
given much of their adult lives to public service? (He could, I suppose, tell
them to die and get out of the way.)

Jack Doyle, as I’ve said before, did not cause all of
the county’s current budget problems. He didn’t wreck the national economy. And
a lot of the county’s programs and services are mandated by law.

Many
of his critics — myself included — believe he could have lessened the pain
by raising taxes modestly over the past few years. Many of us believe that the
county could have saved money on the new jail by relying more heavily on
alternatives for non-violent criminals. Many of us believe that we have too
many layers of government.

But
you don’t have to agree on those issues to recognize the harm that Doyle is
doing right now — with the budget cuts, and with his attitude.

This
is a serious time in this community. Doyle and his henchmen have created some
of our problems. Their shortsightedness will continue to feed our decline. And
their arrogance is appalling.

Clearly, it’s time for a revolt. Reports are
circulating that some Republicans have had enough. That they are looking for someone
to run in place of Doyle in the next election. That they have a certain
prominent business leader in mind.

Whether
that is the case, or is just wishful thinking on the part of some dissatisfied
Republicans, I do not know. I do know that Doyle’s reign has to come to an end.

This
newspaper cannot end it. Outcries from the average Monroe County resident
cannot end it. Democrats will say that the way to end Doyle’s reign is to elect
a Democrat in the next election for county executive, in 2003. That may be. But
the community cannot wait until then.

Republicans
could pressure Doyle to resign, sure. But the current party leadership would
simply appoint Maggie Brooks in his place. With all due respect to the County
Clerk, we’d be no better off; the Minarik-Doyle regime would still call the
shots.

Rational
Republicans must begin immediately to take back their party. That must start
with Republicans in the County Legislature, who must move quickly and boldly to
stand up to Doyle.

Outside
of the legislature, there are plenty of silent Republicans, and silent business
leaders, who could put a stop to this. So far, the silent Republicans have been
scared to death of Jack Doyle. And the silent business leaders have stayed
aloof, unwilling to dirty their hands.

That
must end. No one can in good conscience keep silent any longer. Doyle’s
“leadership” is killing the community.

This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2002.