MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro's decision to co-host next week a virtual town hall-style meeting on race, is being criticized by County Legislator Giancarlo Llaverias. “A Listening Town Hall: People of Color Sharing their Experiences in Dutchess County” is will take place July 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will be co-hosted by Molinaro, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights, and the Northern Dutchess NAACP. Llaverias, an Afro-Latino lawmaker who represents District 1, says that Molinaro is hosting the event because of national events taking place rather than based on a true sense of caring. “I am not upset that the forum is happening, I am upset because of the intent,” said Llaverias. He said Molinaro is perpetuating racial tension in Dutchess County by failing to address police brutality and focusing on providing services to those in need only when they are in the county jail. “Why must we be felonized, demonized, and ostracized for us to get the help we desperately need? These concerns are nothing new to the county executive or the Human Rights Commission. This forum does not save his seat nor does it have us forgetting all the damage he is doing and already has done. He has had since 2011 to do right and create legislation, but all he is doing is saving his face so that the community can’t say that he wasn’t ‘proactive.’ He is spitting in our face with this ignorance; he’s always been aware of our problems," Llaverias said. Molinaro said the town hall meetings are one of the steps needed for change in policies. He also cited plans in response to a new police policy put in place by the governor. “Governor Cuomo signed an executive order requiring local police agencies to develop a plan to rethink police strategies and programs. Here in Dutchess County, a collaborative effort is already underway ... This is precisely the time to listen to and learn from one another,” Molinaro said. A link to register for the town hall meeting is available on the WGXC Newsroom page and at dutchessny [dot] gov. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.