BUFFALO, N.Y. — Michael Joseph, the board chairman of Roswell Park, resigned effective Thursday.
A spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul's office issued a statement to 2 On Your Side saying Governor Hochul accepted the resignation and that "Governor Hochul is committed to making Roswell Park a more equitable and inclusive institution for employees, patients, and families."
It comes after growing calls for his resignation and reports that the major real estate company’s CEO has not lived in the state of New York since 2018 according to voting records, making him no longer eligible for the governor-appointed position.
“He didn't get a chance to vote for Kathy Hochul for governor — let's put it that way,” said Geoff Kelly, a reporter at Investigative Post, who has covered this story.
The resignation comes on the heels of a federal lawsuit filed against Clover by former employee Peter Rizzo in federal court, alleging wrongful termination and accusing senior officers of racism and discrimination.
Audio files obtained by our partners at Investigative Post recently reported they were sued in federal court over allegations of racism revealing some executives using the term “Canadians” to refer to Black people and refusing to build senior citizen housing in areas that had too many “Canadians.”
Rizzo: “What is it about the ‘Canadian factor’ that drives kind of our decisions and where we're going? How does it affect our business?”
Robert Jack, Executive Vice President of Development: “Man that's an uncomfortable question. I don't even know how to answer that, Peter. Rich [Greenspan] likes to stay away from those areas.”
Investigative Post says they don’t believe this recent resignation will have any effect on the current lawsuit.
“By the time that this lawsuit goes to discovery, by the time it's gone through mediation, Michael Joseph’s resignation from Roswell Park will be in the rearview mirror,” said Kelly.
The governor also announced Leecia Eve as Roswell Park’s Interim Chair — one of five members who strongly opposed the board’s response to a slew of lawsuits alleging racial and gender discrimination during Joseph’s tenure.
The President and CEO, of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Candace S. Johnson, Ph.D., released this statement:
"A dedicated member of the Roswell Park Board of Directors since 2018, Leecia Eve has a deep connection to Roswell Park’s mission of reducing the burden of cancer for our community and our world. Our team of 4,000 are committed to providing outstanding, compassionate care and services that reach all members of our community."
Michael Joseph also sits on the Buffalo AKG Art Museum board. 2 On Your Side reached out to the museum about Joseph's seat on the board, but we have not heard back.