Tyner's words ‘disrespectful and hurtful,' Molinaro says
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. » The comments by Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner that led to him being censured by fellow lawmakers were “inappropriate, disrespectful and hurtful,” County Executive Marc Molinaro said Tuesday.
In a one-page memo the Legislature, Molinaro said he felt “sadness” about the action because the unprecedented censure could have been avoided if Tyner, D-Clinton, had apologized for the comments he made toward a county official.
“Saddness because there was a clear unwillingness to simply admit the comments were wrong,” Molinaro wrote. “Sadness because there was no attempt to make amends. And sadness that a choice was made to fan the flames of discord rather than strive for civility.
“A simple apology would have made this resolution unnecessary,” the executive wrote.
The Dutchess County Legislature on July 10 voted unanimously — with Tyner prohibited from voting
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— to censure the veteran legislator for saying during a Democratic caucus in June that county Department of Public Works Commissioner Robert Balkind, who is Jewish, was “following orders like the Germans 70 years ago” in advancing plans for a county takeover of the city of Poughkeepsie bus system. Tyner has been outspoken in his opposition to the takeover. His remark came after Balkind said bus routes could not be changed because the schedules already has been printed.
The censure resolution also called on the county’s Human Rights Commission to review Tyner’s comment in connection with existing county policies on equal employment opportunity, workplace violence and human rights.
County lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned Tyner for his remarks and called on him to apologize.
Although Tyner said he didn’t mean to insult Balkind and conceded he could have chosen his words differently, he steadfastly declined to apologize.
“Today, it seems too many resort to shouting others down and dismissing those with whom they disagree,” Molinaro wrote. “It’s not necessary or becoming for anyone — especially those in elected office — and it sets a poor example.
“In his popular book, ‘All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,’ Robert Fulghum wrote: ‘Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody,’” Molinaro added. “It really is as simple and profound as that.”