POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, an outspoken Democrat and community activist, apparently ruffled feathers among those attending a party caucus discussion Monday night about Dutchess County’s takeover of the City of Poughkeepsie bus system.
He called the county a fascist state saying that Republicans and Democrats alike are marching in lock step with the administration of Republican County Executive Marcus Molinaro.
County DPW Commissioner Robert Balkind, who is in charge of the county bus system, discussed the potential assumption of the city buses. Tyner accused the county of attacking poor people and the handicapped who would lose out with some routes being eliminated.
Tyner suggested that Balkind was blindly following the administration’s directives much like soldiers in Nazi Germany. He reiterated his comment on Tuesday.
“What I said was, ‘Wow Bob, just following orders, right, just like the Germans 70 years ago,’ Tyner recounted. “I’ve known Bob for a while and I wanted to rattle his cage, I wanted to ring his bell because he knows better.”
Tyner’s comments riled Balkind, who is Jewish, and lost family
members during the Holocaust. Balkind could not be reached for comment
Tuesday afternoon.
Minority Leader Micki Strawinski said she “cannot, and will not,
minimize or excuse the statements” made by Tyner. “They are
not reflective of any other members of the Democratic Caucus, or for that
matter, this legislature.”
Assistant County Executive Christopher Baiano, who was at the caucus, said in an email on Tuesday that Democratic caucus leadership and Tyner owe Balkind an apology. But Tyner isn’t going to offer one. The bus transfer “damn it, is an attack on people with disabilities, on people of color, on people of low income, on union members and an attack on the people of Poughkeepsie,” Tyner said.
As for his language, he said he “might not use those words in the future. It is unfortunate that some people’s feelings are hurt.” He said he is the only county legislator “who gave a crap” about city residents.
Tyner also pointed out that he married a Jewish woman five months ago and his brother has been married to a Jewish woman for years.
trawinski, who is not seeking reelection in the
fall, said they are dealing with the situation as best they can.
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