Quicklink: “Gropez” Needs To Go

A realize a great many folks who follow this site are not terribly interested in politics. Nonetheless (and for those of you who are not in the know), yesterday some rather serious (and downright disgusting) allegations were made against the 53rd district New York State Assemblyman, Vito Lopez. In fact, he was censured and stripped of his chairmanship of the Housing Committee as a result. The New York Times has a pretty good synopsis of what has come to pass. Follows is an excerpt:

…Mr. Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, said that he had decided to censure Mr. Lopez after the Assembly’s ethics committee — made up of four Democrats and four Republicans — ruled unanimously that claims that Mr. Lopez had verbally and physically harassed the employees were credible. “There were multiple incidents of unwelcome physical conduct toward one complainant, wherein you put your hand on her leg, she removed your hand, and you then put your hand between her upper thighs, putting your hand as far up between her legs as you could go,” Mr. Silver wrote, describing the committee’s findings.

He also said, “There was pervasive unwelcome verbal conduct by you toward both complainants from early June 2012 until the time they made complaints of sexual harassment in mid-July 2012, including repeated comments about their physical appearance, their bodies, their attire, and their private relationships.”

He said that Mr. Lopez “required” one of the women to travel with him to Atlantic City last month, where he attempted to kiss her, and that “she struggled to fend you off before you stopped, and that on the drive back from Atlantic City you again put your hand between her legs.”…(This tome can be read in its entirety by clicking here.)

Here’s the deal folks: Regardless of one’s party affiliation/personal politics methinks we can all agree this kind of predatory behavior is unacceptable. The fact the person involved is (ostensibly) a public servant makes it all the more reprehensible. If you agree, gentle readers, please take a moment to sign this online petition demanding that Mr. Lopez resign as the Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman. Thanks!