ERIE COUNTY – “The Collins’ administration has once again showed its misplaced priorities and disregard for the public’s health needs by failing to address the growing rodent population in many county suburbs. Worse than that, the administration appears to have given up combating the issue as its budget director declared such an effort to be a ‘losing battle.’ ”
“Instead of working to rid our county of a serious but preventable health hazard, the executive is telling the citizens of the County to hire exterminators to handle the issue. Instead of addressing a public safety concern, Chris Collins is throwing in the towel and giving up, thereby putting our public at risk. Unfortunately, many of our citizens can’t afford to hire exterminators, just like many can’t afford eyeglasses and dental care and other necessary services that Chris Collins doesn’t want to properly fund.”
“Furthermore, it’s inappropriate for the budget director to be rendering decisions about whether it makes sense financially or health-wise to be catching rats. That is the Commissioner of Health’s job. Why are Collins and his cronies there in the first place if they’re not willing to do the work of the people? Rather than spending $130,000 on a real estate expert that the Control Board says we don’t need, Collins should have invested that money in rodent control.”