Human Rights Commission eliminated from ‘09 budget

By Dazell Green

- For Dutchess County agencies, its budget time once again, which means it is time, once again, to fight off the elimination of the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission funding.

During 2008, the Commission had to do more with less because one of its tow Human Rights Assistant positions was vacant due to the hiring freeze.

Once again, the Dutchess County Executive has eliminated the funding for the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, office and staff, from the budget for 2009. He has not only eliminated the vacant position, he has eliminated the two existing positions, the Executive Director and Human Rights Assistant, who is Spanish speaking. Of the total 43 employees eliminated, three (3) are the entire Human Rights Commission staff.

In addition to eliminating the vacant position, the proposed nine (9) layoffs, include the Human Rights Commission Executive Director and Assistant and elimination of funds to maintain the Commission office.

Unless there is some public outcry, the legislature will allow cuts already made by the County Executive, and eliminate the Human Rights Commission office and staff.

To maintain a viable, fully staffed and funded, Human Rights Commission, all supporters of the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, need to be heard by all Dutchess County Legislators.

Residents of Dutchess County, you, your colleagues, associates, friends and those served by the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, need to call and write letters to their respective County Legislators to support the return to full funding for the Human Rights Commission.

Please call and write your County Legislators, send letters to the Editor, and sign and circulate petitions to restore the Commission budget, and appear at the Public Hearing of the budget, to be held 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Bardavon, to support restoration of funding for the Commission office and three employees.