DCF secretary steps dow Dec. 2 

It's frustrating to see scapegoats carry the burden for a cheap Legislature and an administration that continues to shrink resources to human services in the state of Florida (based on cost of living index). When compared to other states, our record for funding children's programs remains abysmal.

Lucy Hadi has been a public servant under three governors and deserves better than the beating she has taken for the failure of the Florida Legislature and this governor to provide adequate dollars for the Department of Children and Families.

In all fairness, doing things on the cheap for our children has a history going back to before our current governor took office. None of our legislators has clean hands on the chronic underfunding of our most precious citizens.

Luci Hadi is a hero, as are so many other state employees who try to make things work with limited allocations. It's time to admit whether you call the agency HRS, DCF or privatized services; if the funding is not there, the problems remain. The judge should put the blame where it belongs: on our elected officials.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/05/Opinion/Hadi_was_forced_to_de.shtml