{TU}-Lauren Stanforth-BETHESDA HOUSE DIRECTOR LEAVES ABRUPTLY!

     The Executive Director of a major provider of services for the homeless resigned abruptly last week and there is no explanation for her departure.

     On Thursday, Bethesda House Margaret Anderton submitted her resignation effective immediately, President Richard Werner confirmed Tuesday. Werner would not comment further. A message on her cell phone said the phone is not accepting calls.

A constant presence at the City Council rail screaming for more taxpayer funding-no amount from the oppressed City taxpayers was ever enough-resigned last week. Walks away from a huge salary without making any comment. This happens every day around here-lol.

      One of the 155 City nonprofits who refuses to pay a PILOT and of course lives outside the City. Wait for the other shoe to drop.

Wow.  If I am not mistaken she has led that organization for near 20 years.  Will be interesting to see if we ever get wind of what really happened.  There is going to be a lot of speculation

People who have talked to some workers at the bethesda house have said that they don't see too much progress with the folks who use their service. Although there is an occasional success story, some say it is nothing more than a flop house!

Now, that is only what I heard and may have no reflection on this latest event.

The City taxpayers dumped $5 MILLION into Bethesda House to move it out of Downtown where the merchants had enough. They also sold their parking lot to Metrograft for much more than market value amounting to another governmental handout, costing the County taxpayers big bucks. But of course, Metrograft doesn't help nonprofits-lol.

     Just what we needed another empty parking lot Downtown? This is more than fishy. Nobody leaves a high paying nonprofit position on a moments notice. The taxpayers have every right to demand a full accounting.

Who's making room for Ed Kosier? Didn't the City just cut his $80K fluff position?

Lumpy is still getting money from the saps in the towns-lol, Maybe he can take over for Mayor SOS? Never say it can't get worse. This is Schenectady County.

Rome started the fall after the government opened the grain($$) silos to the people.....then it burned....apathy kills and apathy can be fed but can
it learn to wield a fishing pole?

What a loss to the community-NOT. This is the best news for the raped County taxpayers in many moons. At the same City Council meeting where she demanded even more taxpayer funding, SICM's Rev Grisbey said they were satisfied with their current funding, they knew that City taxpayers was hurting. The contrast was striking.

      The welcome mat needs to be pulled and more nonprofits need to look away from the taxpayers for support. What happened at the last City Council meeting was a disgrace. One nonprofit after another shilling for funds. But no one from the nonprofit community mentioning the tragedy on McClellan Street. Keeping looking away in unison?

Quoted Text

Anderton unparalleled advocate for homeless

    Re Margaret Anderton’s exit as executive director at Bethesda House (Jan. 11 Gazette):
    Ms. Anderton has been a strong and vocal champion for the homeless in our county. Her empathy and tenacious struggle to assist in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our society should be an inspiration to us all. She has spent the last 12 years ensuring that the most disenfranchised of our citizens have access to food, shelter, support and a welcoming environment that embraces their humanity.
    I commend her for her passionate struggle to highlight the plight of the homeless and her vision to find solutions to address the issue. I have no doubt that Bethesda House will continue to serve the homeless with compassion and professionalism. However, it is my hope that Ms. Anderton’s voice will continue to be a catalyst for conversations concerning the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.

    CAROLE MERRILL-MAZUREK
    Schenectady

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00706&AppName=1

She has spent the last 12 years shaking down the oppressed taxpayers. Putting them on the streets and in the poor house. Keep digging on this story-no one resigns from a $90,000 nonprofit post this hastily.

Quoted Text

Leaving Bethesda House after nearly 14 years

    In response to the Jan. 11 news story regarding my departure from Bethesda House of Schenectady: For nearly 14 years I served the mission, ministry and guests of Bethesda House with dedication, compassion, integrity, honor and a deep sense of responsibility. My record of service and commitment; my passion for justice for our community’s most vulnerable members is what I leave behind. It was a long, often arduous but always wondrous and grace-filled 14 years.
    I am forever grateful to the guests at Bethesda House who, though hurting and vulnerable, trusted me and worked so hard to create better lives for themselves. I learned about the dark side of life, but I also witnessed miracles every day. Our guests continually amazed me with their courage, strength, hope and trust in a higher power in spite of the difficult, painful and often unjust circumstances they endured on a daily basis Knowing them has changed me forever. I also had the honor of meeting people in our community — individuals, groups, congregations, businesses, trustees of foundations — whose acts of loving-kindness and compassion for their neighbor will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life.
    Having shared these thoughts, it is my sincere hope that the news story ends here There is too much important work to be done to allow distractions. Bethesda House will continue to be a leader in working to end homelessness in our community and to pursue the essential work of justice, inclusion and acceptance for all citizens of Schenectady. Bethesda House will continue to provide a safe haven, a sense of belonging and hope to the guests who enter this house of mercy.

    MARGARET M. ANDERTON
    Schenectady

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00905&AppName=1

In other words stop investigating why I left, but why does she want that? Quote: " Having shared these thoughts, it is my sincere hope that the news story ends here".

The Board of Bethesda House still doesn't have the common decency to give a reason for her rushed departure? No one leaves a $90,000 a year non profit job on a moments notice. Where's the beef?

     Since the City/County taxpayers are a main backer of Bethesda House we deserve a full explanation. Over $5 MILLION was dumped into their relocation. If she wants the story to go away-why write letters to the editor?