Even More Public Defender nonsense, courtesy of Wayne Zyra as seen by the D&C
Public? We don’t need no stinking Public!
This is important and I’ll tell you why in a moment….8 AM, Saturday in the legislature chambers on the fourth floor of the County Office Building, 39 W. Main St.
The suspected Republican “fix” on the selection of a new Monroe County public defender may be drawing nearer. Taxpayers should be outraged by the “my way or the highway” attitude demonstrated by County Legislature President Wayne Zyra.
[snip]
Never mind that the last time a public defender was chosen, there were more than 35 applicants. Zyra’s leadership in all of this has clearly had a chilling effect on attracting a wide spectrum of qualified applicants. He should be ashamed.
So, the D&C steps up the rhetoric. Is anyone listening? Not Wayne Zyra, who is refusing to do the right thing. More myopic thinking. Maggie is still as silent on the public Defender as she is on RenSquare.
Minority leader Bronson says, with regards to this last minute Saturday meeting, that the GOP is keeping the Public out of the Public Defender selection process. Via a press release, my emphasis -
The Republican’s continue to ignore the unanimous call from the public—religious leaders, legal experts, community groups and the Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board—for a selection process that’s non-political and transparent. This is the strongest evidence yet of this Majority’s disastrous thirst to keep the public out of the selection of our next public defender. Many citizens would rightly question why this special meeting is being called days before our regularly scheduled Legislature meeting on February 12. The answer, unfortunately, is the Majority would rather rush through the interviews and select a new public defender with as little public input as possible.
Let’s look at this public meeting called for 8:00 tomorrow morning….
Have there been public announcements by Zyra and crew to actually engage the public? I think not and that is all you need to know about the desire of our local GOP to engage the public. It doesn’t matter- whether it is about Ren Square or the Public Defender.
Public? we don’t need no stinking public!
One more thing- Public Safety Committee, where they will discuss the Public defender selection is:
8 a.m. Saturday in the legislature chambers on the fourth floor of the County Office Building, 39 W. Main St.
That is tomorrow.
Related posts:
On a different subject, but with the same pattern showing, the COMIDA Board has scheduled a special meeting for the evening of February 14…that’s right, Valentine’s Day…apparently to discuss a significant addition to their power to support certain types of projects. Again, with a regular meeting coming up within days, the COMIDA Board felt the need to hold a special meeting, at a time they hope will keep the crown down…to discuss this important change. Coincidence? I think not!
We’re in good company:
Coalition for a Fair and Independent Monroe County Public Defender’s Selection Process
David Gantt, Member of Assembly, 133rd District
Bishop Mathew Clark, Diocese of Rochester
Bishop Jack McKelvey, Episcopal Diocese of Rochester
James Norman, Action for a Better Community
William Clark, Judicial Process Commission (Urban League)
Lovely Warren, Chair, RBBA Diversity Committee
Rev. James Cherry, Aenon Baptist Church
Rev. Errol Hunt, Rochester Faith Alliance
Min. Franklin Florence, Rochester Faith Alliance
Ron Thomas, Baden Street Settlement House
Calvin Lee, Montgomery Neighborhood Center
Sue Porter, Judicial Process Commission
Grace Miller, House of Mercy
Daan Braveman, President, Nazareth College
Robert Brown, Laborer’s Local 435
Joe Brown, NAACP
Sister Beth LeValley, SSJ
Dorothy Borgus, League of Women Voters
Brian Hetherington
Peter Peters, Interfaith Alliance
[...] was this editorial about Wayne Zyra, or this one demanding he stop dragging his feet, or this piece saying the selection process has [...]