So what there was "effort exerted" and you saw it first hand yourself. Where is the results? Do you know that the salary for Affirmative Action is paid with CDBG funds? AND that the City and County should be seeing results, because that is what CDBG funding expects? Otherwise, why does the the funds keep getting paid for no results? Isnt that the same standard the non-profits have to face? Yes! The non-profits in the City of Schenectady that apply for CDBG funds are told the same thing every year, that cuts will take place across the board and to expect less funding, and you need to show results! Why then is Ms. Cajuste still not able to prove her results? Why is she not subject to the same requirements as the other CDBG funded agencies? Why is she not required to show documentation and proof? Well, ya cant show something if its nothing I guess. The CDBG funds used for the salaries of the Affirmative Action could be put to better use for the other community resource non-profit agencies that need it. Otherwise, the Affirmative Action should start showing results to the WHOLE community that its worth having that department even funded! Why not ask the minorities in the community how effective that department is? I hope Marion Porterfield does start asking, and more than just "random" people at that. Okay, so lets applaud Ms. Cajuste for exerting effort, but at a cost of over $50,000 a year?! A lot of qualified people in Schenectady would love to earn that much salary for not doing much but network information at the computer world. How about the salaries of the staff that run those non-profits that serve the community? Ms. Cajuste's salary can cover the cost of at least four non-profit agency staff people. After all, those non-profit community agencies are expected to keep digging deeper into empty pockets! Why doesnt Ms. Cajuste spend a week doing the work of one of those non-profit staff members who have to do more with less? Then lets see how she feels.

The title of the article says it all! How does the City/County continue to spend money on a salary for a department that by all means is not getting the results this City needs? Study sessions for the civil service exam? Thats a joke! You are on your own with this one. I have a hard time seeing money spent on a salary only to hear excuses. Affirmative Action, nope, pencil pusher, yup. Anyone can sit at a desk and cyber distribute information...the real action that needs to happen isnt happening. And dont get me going about the "inside" job hiring list. Take that exam, but if there is someone working in a department that has to take the exam to keep their job, your score isnt gonna make a difference, because there is no mandatory hiring from the list. That person will keep their job and another exam will be given at another time. People have no idea what a waste of money this is, at it could be spent on better things for the City. I am a minority, but the Affirmative Action Director is of no use when you have things like this said...."Affirmative Action Director Miriam Cajuste said she cannot do much to improve the numbers." I rest my case.

I don't think they will openly publicize where the actors will be staying, but rest assured, its dang cool to have the likes of hollywood people quietly floating through in our City! Schenectady and Troy are rich in history and have been filmed in before. Its nice to have the area not only considered, but hopefully remembered for more than just the negative stuff you hear.