24,000 square foot homeless shelter planned in the already over-burdened City of Poughkeepsie 

An in-depth exploration of the Caucus' concerns

County Executive Molinaro is proposing to put a 24,000 square foot homeless shelter in the City of Poughkeepsie, the municipality with the Dutchess County’s lowest household incomes and highest unemployment rate.  Once again, the County would be relying on the City of Poughkeepsie to address the County’s woes.  The City of Poughkeepsie already accounts for around two thirds of the County’s affordable housing, even though the City only represents about one tenth of the County’s population.
 
This overburdening of the City of Poughkeepsie’s resources is nothing new for the County. Over the years, we have seen the County take valuable commercial buildings off the City’s tax rolls forcing already stressed City tax payers to make-up for the loss in property tax. 
 
In Dutchess County, we have large warehouses, a future distribution center, and local farmers all eager to hire workers.  Instead of creating programs near these employment opportunities, the County is planning on putting a Homeless Shelter in an urban neighborhood with existing high unemployment, giving those people availing themselves of the Shelter’s services little chance of success.  In fact, being at the end of the Metro North rail line makes it very likely that in addition to serving the entire County, County resources will also be put to use servicing New York City residents.  
 
Had City Legislators and Councilmembers been allowed a seat at the table, we would have identified the failures and grave consequences of this proposal to both the City and Dutchess County.  We would have provided useful insight as the municipality’s duly elected officials who know our community best.  As usual, County Executive Molinaro left Poughkeepsie local officials in the dark until the very end, purposely leaving us with no say as to what happens in our own backyard.
 
The City of Poughkeepsie is the urban and geographic center of our County.  It should be a place that is attracting businesses and building a robust Main Street that benefits it and its surrounding suburbs.  In short, a strong Poughkeepsie means a strong Dutchess County economy.  
 
Please come out and tell County Executive Molinaro and the Republican Majority to stop destroying the City of Poughkeepsie and start treating it as the economic engine for Dutchess County that it should be. 
 
Please, come out and speak and make your voice heard!  This is not a done deal, but if we do not come together as a community and speak out it will be.  
 
County Executive Molinaro likely anticipates that we will not speak out about the injustices being perpetrated upon our community.  Let’s make sure he hears us loud and clear!

Yours in Service,
Craig P. Brendli
Dutchess County Legislator, District 8
 Randall A. Johnson, Sr.
Dutchess County Legislator, District 9
 Barrington R. Atkins
Dutchess County Legislator, District 10
Giancarlo Llaverias
Dutchess County Legislator, District 1
And all the members of the
Democratic Caucus of the Dutchess County Legislature