A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver released a statement Wednesday renewing his earlier call for Assemblyman Vito Lopez to resign his seat after sexual harassment allegations against the Brooklyn Democrat were detailed in a chilling report. Silver’s office quielty reached a settlement last year with two of the complainants,... Read More →
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office says a pair of reports on sexual harassment complaints against Vito Lopez show the AG’s office had a “limited” role in settlement talks, but their policy for legal consultations has since been revised. Schneiderman’s office was consulted by aides to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver last… Read More →
When County Executive Rob Astorino strode to the podium at the Ritz Carlton on Friday night, supporters of the Westchester Children’s Museum hoped that this was the occasion for a major breakthrough in the 13-year campaign to build the attraction. It was the perfect moment. About 400 well-heeled supporters from… Read More →
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics report relates testimony of women who worked for Assemblyman Vito Lopez, describing situations in which the Brooklyn Democrat repeatedly pressured female staffers to share hotel rooms with him, give him massages, wear revealing clothing and express their affection through text messages. JCOPE found that… Read More →
An attorney for embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez said a decision by a special prosecutor not to press charges means justice was served, but did not comment on myriad sexual harassment allegations contained in a report by the state’s ethics committee. Gerald Lefcourt, Lopez’ attorney, issued this statement early Wednesday afternoon:... Read More →
The state Legislative Ethics Committee this morning released a state investigation into the series of sexual harassment charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez, saying he created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in his office and verbally attacked his aides. The 70-page report from the Joint Commission on Public Ethics details… Read More →
Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said today that he will not file criminal charges against Assemblyman Vito Lopez in a sexual harassment case, but he criticized state leaders for a secret, taxpayer-funded settlement with Lopez’s young female accusers. In a seven-page statement, Donovan said there was no criminal conduct… Read More →
The state’s 10 regional economic development councils today will provide an update on their progress and provide details about their funding targets for next year. The regional councils, set up in 2011 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, will each give a presentation to the governor at the Capitol starting at noon…. Read More →
Also coming soon to an upstate city near you: The Ultimate Fighting Championship road show. UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenze Fertitta is taking the push for professional mixed martial arts in New York to three upstate cities on Wednesday, making stops at arenas in Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse with fighters… Read More →
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said she’s not sure whether Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s financial restructuring panel will benefit municipalities. She said they need policy changes. “It’s not about recommendations as much as it is changing the policies that are driving these outcomes,” said Miner, the co-chairwoman of the state Democratic Committee… Read More →
