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City official has man dress up as old woman for photo op

The stunt involves a woman who stood next to the Director of Senior Services at a press conference at the Cranston Senior Center.

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In this January 5, 2016 still image from WJAR-TV video, Sue Stenhouse, left, executive director of the Senior Enrichment Center, speaks alongside a man dressed as an elderly woman, right, during a news conference in Cranston, R.I., to promote a program for school children to help senior citizens shovel snow during the winter. The station reported that the man in the female costume worked as the bus driver for the senior center. Stenhouse asked a male city employee to dress as an elderly woman for the conference, sources say, so the conference would look good. She did not return messages requesting comment.

The press conference also featured piles of snow that were dumped in front of the building by city crews who scraped it from the ice rink.

Stenhouse did appear to endorse the defense of her actions posted to Facebook by former City Clerk Marie Ahlert, who retired last summer.

Placed prominently beside Mayor Allan Fung and sporting a wig, pink lipstick and matching earrings, he swayed nervously as Ms Stenhouse spoke. Knowing Sue, I’m sure she was also thinking of the possibility of putting a “real” senior in harm’s way should someone recognize that person and go to their home to take advantage of them.

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Fung’s office told the Journal that it could not comment or provide the reason for Stenhouse’s resignation. City Council President John Lanni said he would ask the mayor for an explanation. “I said, ‘Oh, my God”.

In this Jan. 5 2016 still image from WJAR-TV video Sue Stenhouse left executive director of the Senior Enrichment Center speaks alongside a man dressed