I’d like to take this opportunity to thank County Executive McMahon for vetoing the pay reductions for our Board of Elections Commissioners. Today I am calling on my colleagues in the County Legislature to learn from this and take this opportunity to put aside such partisan distractions.
Our Board of Elections Commissioners were singled out and punished after overcoming historic challenges all year long, particularly over the past few months, and doing incredible work.
Instead of insulting our civil servants, I ask my colleagues at the Legislature to invest in our county workforce, especially when it comes to our Health & Social Services Departments that the people of our community need more than ever during this Pandemic and economic crisis.
These departments are at historic low levels of staffing. Since 2009, our Health Department has been reduced by almost 30%. Our Department of Social Services – Economic Security has lost 33 employees this year alone. We have the ability to invest in those departments considering the fact that the County has a $77 Million fund balance.
Our Legislature should be about serving the people of Onondaga County. That’s my focus and that will continue to be my focus as long as I have the privilege to serve the people of this community.
Vernon Williams, Jr.
Legislator, 16th District
Onondaga County
