12:55 pm Aug. 27, 20122
A former supporter of Assemblyman Vito Lopez said the embattled Brooklyn boss has no shot at keeping his chairmanship of the Brooklyn Democratic organization in a party election next month.
Democratic district leader Betty-Ann Canizio, who said she considered Lopez a friend and good leader, said today, "If he does not step down, and goes to the meeting, he won't get one vote."
Also: "I can't condone a predator. As much as I like him, I can't."
Canizio, who works for a member of the Assembly, said other Lopez loyalists are abandoning him, and at least one rival will seek to replace him at the party's next meeting. Canizio declined to say who it was.
Two names floated by City and State were Assemblywoman Annette Robinson and district leader Jo Anne Simon.
On Friday it was announced that a bipartisan investigation by the New York State Assembly's Standing Committee on Ethics and Guidance found allegations of sexual harassment by Lopez against two female Assembly employees to be "credible."
Lopez has denied any wrong doing and his girlfriend told The News "I believe it's a setup."
Canizio said she was skeptical about the allegations at first.
"I felt there were holes in it. Where was the police report?" Canizio recalled thinking.
Then, over the weekend, the Times reported another sexual harassment allegation against Lopez had been quietly settled, with the victim being paid a settlement from the Assembly, and having been represented by Gloria Allred, a famous lawyer from Los Angeles.
"That woke me up," Canizio said. "I just got sick and disgusted. Although he always treated me with respect, I can't stand by him. I'm a mom, I have a daughter."
Canizio, added, "I think it's time for him to enjoy the rest of his life and stay out of politics. He's going to drag down anyone else that's running."
During a telephone interview today, Canizio repeatedly expressed mixed feelings towards Lopez, whom she has known and suported for years.
"I would like to slap him across the face," she said. "Emotionally, I feel sorry for him that he would do something like this. But I can't rule with my heart. I have to rule with my head and what's best for the party and he's not best for the party."
The revelation about Vito Lopez is shocking but just as appalling is Sheldon Silvers ‘role in this situation. Shelly ought to shoulder just as much blame; he is the leader and his protective pattern of shielding sex abusers is long, there was the Boxley 2001 and 2003 affair. Boxley, his own counsel, as was noted in the New York Post, June 14, 2004,article, "Pretzel Popper Silver dissed my rape Claim," where the victim recounted her experience with Boxley and how Shelly dissed her complaint by popping a pretzel in his mouth. Boxley had Shelly’s protection and the free reign to do what he will and he did it twice on Sheldon;s watch. There was also,” How Pols Bag Sex Interns,” NY Post, May 13, 2004 where Power was removed in handcuffs for the assault on an intern, all on Sheldon’s watch. And now the NYT reports that "Sheldon Silver, the New York State Assembly speaker, authorized a secret payment of $103,080 to settle sexual harassment claims against Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez this year." and, he kept it a secret.
Why would Sheldon participate in such a cover up, yet he was too willing to testify against Clarence Norman, although his testimony wasn't taken serious because the jury rendered a verdict of “not guilty," in that case. In comparison, here is Sheldon responsible for the millions Vito received for his nonprofit front, which is ran byVito's girlfriend. It makes you wonder if Sheldon has a dark side that is being satisfied through these various sexual episodes and his need to give protection. Of course, having no other chose in the matter, Sheldon had to send Vito a letter stating the obvious. Naturally Brooklyn deserved a better leader, and the State deserves a better Speaker because the fact is this environment is as much his doing, it’s his universe and he ought to be held accountable. Hence, Sheldon, as the leader must shoulder just as much of the blame, just as Clarence Norman did when his underlings acted badly.
When I said" "I would like to slap him across the face,"It was taken a bit out of context, it was part of a statement where I was said that he did so much for his community, was a good leader, that it hurts me so much "I would like to slap him across the face,"because he made this his legacy.
It was a phone conversation, and I was very emotionally because I really liked and respected Vito Lopez. so I am not blaming Azi, as a matter of fact, he said it was a good quote about making this his legacy. Azi did the best of what I was saying. However, I just wanted to get my full quote in.