The following is the complete text of the press release issued by the City Council after the dismissals of two CACCboard members during their public testimony at a City Council hearing the day before.


[seal]
The Council of the City of New York

PRESS RELEASE

June 17, 1997

Statement by Council Member Kathryn E. Freed Condemning the Abrupt Dismissal of Center for Animal Care and Control (C.A.C.C.) Board Members Dr. Louise Murray and Rosemary Joyce

" 'The board should speak as one' is the angry retort [CACC Board Chairman and Sanitation] Commissioner [John] Doherty offered before storming out of the Council's C.A.C.C. hearing yesterday. Doherty was angry because two other Giuliani-appointed C.A.C.C. Board Members challenged his misinformed rosy perception of reality. Hours later, the Mayor's Office spitefully fired these two Board Members for telling the truth -- that the Mayor does not care how the C.A.C.C. is managed or why it is squandering taxpayers' money. Open government be damned. The people do not need to know. Ask Doherty how theC.A.C.C. is doing and he'll go to the Mayor before giving you an honest answer because Doherty knows that with Giuliani it's: One voice, one way -- his way."

A press conference regarding the firings of Dr. Murray and Ms. Joyce will be held by Council Member Freed on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday, June 17, 1997, at 12:30 P.M.

For information contact: Mike Clendenin (212) 788-7113