Democrats Vote to Deny Park Funding

(Poughkeepsie) - In a pure partisan move recently, nine Dutchess County Democrat lawmakers voted against parks improvements in county facilities.
County Executive Steinhaus said, “The block vote of nine democrat county legislators to defeat the necessary monies for two new county parks, and upgrades to three exiting parks was the most blatantly political partisan power play I’ve seen in my 30 year association with county government. I’m at a loss to understand why these Democrat lawmakers, led by Minority Whip Sandra Goldberg, can so disregard the importance of having quality parks for our families.”

The Executive stated, “The highly partisan democrat block vote in the county legislature was designed to damage county parks and was anti-family, anti-children, anti-senior citizen and anti-quality of life. Thousands of Dutchess residents and working families who look to our county parks to provide respite, relaxation and recreation have now been denied that enjoyment by these nine democrat politicians who clearly could care less about them and their families.”

Steinhaus noted, “We have spent the past few years developing a comprehensive strategic parks improvement plan that would create attractive enjoyable county-wide park sites for the families of Dutchess County to include: a new 12 mile Rail Trail Park through the middle of the county from Poughkeepsie to Hopewell which legislative democrats voted to kill. We are planning our first-ever county government waterfront park in the town of Poughkeepsie north of Marist College that democrats voted to deny necessary funding. Improvements for three existing parks - Bowdoin in the southern part of the town of Poughkeepsie, Wilcox in northern Dutchess, and Dutchess Stadium in southern Dutchess, host to two million Renegades fans - all are now denied critical funds for maintenance and upgrades by the democrats in the County Legislature.”

The four-term elected Executive said, “Clearly the democrat block in the Dutchess Legislature is trying to drive the Renegades minor league baseball team out of Dutchess County and shut down Dutchess Stadium. They apparently look with contempt at the two million fans that have come to the park to have safe affordable family time.”

Mr. Steinhaus concluded, “This vote by democrats in the Dutchess Legislature was indefensible and irresponsible. As a result, the quality of life for families and visitors to Dutchess County will suffer due to their callous disregard for what’s important to the working families of our county.”