Whereas, Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez was found in violation of the Assembly’s Sexual Harassment/Retaliation Policy by the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance and was censured on behalf of the Assembly by Speaker Sheldon Silver; and

Whereas, it has been revealed that Assemblyman Lopez sexually harassed and created a hostile work environment for no less than four (4) female staffers; and

Whereas, investigations by Special District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. and the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) investigated any possible wrongdoing by various officials and agencies as well as Assemblyman Lopez; and

Whereas, though Special District Attorney Donovan did not find sufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing within the confines of Kings County, JCOPE did find indisputable proof of violations of the Public Officers Law by Assemblyman Lopez; and

Whereas, JCOPE has publicly documented many instances of unwarranted sexual activity and language by Assemblyman Lopez to female staffers; and

Whereas, JCOPE has publicly documented that said female staffers were afraid of employment retaliation by the Assemblyman should they have reported the harassment; and

Whereas, JCOPE has publicly documented that said female staffers resigned due to said harassment they feared employment retaliation; and

Whereas, it has become obvious that Assemblyman Lopez is a serial sexual harasser; and

Whereas, Assemblyman Lopez has announced his intention to run for the New York City Council, therefore

Be It Resolved, that the Brooklyn Young Democrats, the official youth arm of the Democratic Party in Kings County, New York find Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez to be unfit to serve as a Member of the New York State Assembly and should resign as a Member of the Assembly immediately and retire from public life as an elected official.

Be it Further Resolved, that if Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez chooses not to resign, then the Brooklyn Young Democrats officially support voting in favor of expelling Assemblyman Lopez from the New York State Assembly.

Brooklyn Young Democrats, Dan Donovan, JCOPE, Kings County, New York State Assembly, Public Officers Law, Sexual Harrassment, Sheldon Silver, Vito Lopez

Last month, City Councilmember Letitia James announced her run for Public Advocate. Immediately, I felt that James was the right person for job. Her passion, drive and willingness to fight for her community and has already made her the people’s advocate. As public advocate, I believe that she will continue to fight for all the residents of New York City and help to improve their quality of life. Councilmember James has been a long-time supporter of the Brooklyn Young Democrats and has attended several of our meetings in the past.

When the opportunity to be on a host committee for a young professionals fundraiser for Councilmember James arrived, it seemed like the right decision. There hadn’t been other people listed on the committee yet so, I was willing to help support my candidate.

This past Friday, April 13th, City and State NY’s blog The Notebook, posted an article titled: "Brooklyn Youngsters Raise Money for Tish James." At first glance, I was excited to see the fundraiser receive some attention.  My excitement was short lived, however, when the post’s author, Andrew J. Hawkins, stated that the host committee was "packed with young Democrats from the anti-Vito Lopez wing of the Brooklyn Democratic Party." Immediately, I took to Twitter to inform City and State that as young democrat, I should not be automatically classified as an "anti-Vito Lopez young democrat" and I never have been. Their generalizations and assumptions that all those listed on the host committee were anti-Vito Lopez were completely false. City and  State NY responded back via Twitter, "There are a number of high-profile anti-Vito folks on the fundraiser. Wasn’t trying to imply that everyone was though." I believe, however, if that were not the case, it would not have been worded as such.

I currently serve as the Executive Vice President of the Brooklyn Young Democrats. My organization does not endorse in primaries. I support Councilmember James as a private citizen. To see myself and several of my fellow young democrats mischaracterized as anti-Vito Lopez is unacceptable in my eyes. The purpose of the young democrats is to engage young people in the Democratic Party and promote Democratic values.  It’s about educating and motivating the young people of Brooklyn to be active in their community. That is what we have done, what we do and that is what we will continue to do for young people of Brooklyn.

Andrew J. Hawkins, City and State NY, Letitia James, Public Advocate, The Notebook., Vito Lopez

Today, on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall, politicians, union leaders, and local activists joined together to stand in solidarity with the people of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Assembly members Vito Lopez, Hakeem Jeffries, Council members Stephen Levin and Jumanne Williams, Senator Eric Adams Borough President Marty Markowitz joined SEIU Local 32BJ, New York Hotel Trades Council, and the AFL-CIO to tell the public that now is the time to end corporate greed and bring jobs back home.

This morning, I, in full disclosure, forgot my camera so I had to photograph and record using my iPod Touch. You can view the photos at http://www.brooklynyds.com/media/photos/march-across-brooklyn-bridge-we-are-the-99/. I tried to record video, but my iPod’s battery was going low, so I was only able to record the remarks by Borough President Marty Markowitz.

AFL-CIO, Borough Hall, Eric Adams, Hakeem Jeffries, Jumanne Williams, Marty Markowitz, New York Hotel Trades Council, Occupy Wall Stree, SEIU Local 32BJ, Stephen Levin, Vito Lopez