In 2003, the Director of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Enforcement division was arrested on felony charges related to rigging an exam for his fiance, whom he also supervised.
After this charge came to light, Richard Gentles left the Parks Department and was hired by New York City Animal Care and Control, where he currently makes a six figure salary and enjoys such benefits as a company car and an assistant. I’m sure the fact that the New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Adrian Benape, is an NYCACC board member is strictly coincidental. Despite having had no experience whatsoever with animal shelters or fundraising (development), Gentles has served in various capacities, poorly, since then – credited as Spokesman, Director of Communications, Director of Operations, Director of Administrative Services, Director of Development, and his current title Director of Communications and Development – anything to keep him busy. Rarely seen in the shelters, Gentles works from the comfort of AC&C’s executive offices in downtown Manhattan, far from the action of actual shelter facilities.
Today I got this generic fundraising plea masterminded from the office of this morally compromised incompetent.
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Some thoughts immediately leap to mind:
– Open your window. Mar 20th was the first day of Spring. It was 70 degrees today. I know denying reality is your stock in trade, but… oh wait, are you already preparing in advance for next year?
– You’re paying for stock photography. According to the draconian agreement that all volunteers must sign, you own all pictures taken by ACC volunteers. Surely there are a few actual animals you could promote.
– This section just makes me laugh:
This is a shelter infamous for the callousness of its abuse, where I routinely pull animals with horrific untreated injuries and illnesses, where animals are left to die in their own waste, where they have no phones, where email goes unanswered as the slaughter continues.
Here’s a suggestion: look, as known killers and animal abusers, not a lot of people are going to donate to you – and you’re one of the few organizations I know of that actually loses money doing fundraisers because you’re so bad at them. I know a way you can book a quick six-figure savings.
Fire Richard Gentles. After all, NYCACC actually laid off good, useful employees during budget cuts – employees who helped get animals out, employees who were hard working and honest. Your continued employment of this clown is a joke. Cut him loose, save the money, and perhaps consider hiring someone competent and experienced.
