County
Executive Jack Doyle has been getting an earful from people unhappy with his
proposed social service cuts. And in an interview with WXXI radio broadcast on
August 14, Doyle responded with a mouthful of criticism.
           Regarding social service agencies
with which the county contracts to provide services, Doyle told WXXI: “Most of
their CEOs earn more than I do as 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.
           “What they should be doing is
figuring out how they can streamline their services and work more productively
and cooperatively with us,” he said.
           “Obviously, that’s a diversionary
tactic,” says Joe Calabrese, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater
Rochester. He says Doyle’s “trying to keep the community’s attention off the
effect of these dramatic cuts.”
           As for the car comment, Calabrese
says, “I don’t know if he’s talking about me, but I drive a four-year-old
Oldsmobile that was donated to the United Way. If [Doyle] needs a lift to work,
I can swing by and pick him up.”
           Such public sniping indicates a
significant rift in a county-agency relationship that’s been good for quite
some time. “The county’s proving itself to be an unreliable partner, and that’s
unfortunate,” Calabrese says. “We’ve had a strong working relationship with
Monroe County, jointly funding health and social service programs for decades…
We’re very disappointed the county’s proposed these Draconian cuts without
discussion.”
           “Will [the cuts] hurt our
relationship in the future?” Calabrese asked. “You bet it will.”
           As for his right to complain about
the cuts, Calabrese says, “As a citizen, I have the right to speak my mind, and
the organization has a tremendous right to speak on this issue… This is the
good fight.”
           The county executive’s spokesmen did
not return calls seeking comment.
—
Chris Busby
This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2002.
