Vito J. Lopez
Vito J. Lopez | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 53rd district | |
| Assumed office January 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Victor Robles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 5, 1941[1] Brooklyn[2] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Lopez, divorced[3] Angela Battaglia (girlfriend)[4] |
| Children | Gina Marie Lopez Summa, Stacey Anne Lopez Breves[5] |
| Alma mater | Yeshiva University (MSW) Long Island University (B.A.) James Madison High School |
| Profession | Social Worker, Non-profit Program Manager |
| Website | Assembly Website |
Vito Joseph Lopez (born 1941) represents the 53rd District in the New York State Assembly, which comprises primarily Bushwick and Williamsburg. First elected in 1984, he began his twelfth term as Assemblyman in January 2007. He is also the current Chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party.
Chairman of the Kings County Democratic County Committee
He is also the current Chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party, having replaced Clarence Norman who was convicted of fraud and is currently serving a prison sentence.
Fighting the Housing Issues and the Pfizer Land Deal
Lopez introduced a bill in the Assembly seeking to take the property from Pfizer through eminent domain. Pfizer strongly condemned Lopez's attempt to take its land. [1]. Others insist that Lopez is involved in a complex bargain with Bishop DiMarzio of the Brooklyn Archdiocese and Rabbi David Neiderman of United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg (UJO) in which they are supporting his efforts at seizing the Pfizer property in exchange for his attempts to block the Child Victims Act. [2].
Childhood Sexual Abuse Legislation Controversy
Lopez is facing harsh criticism for his efforts propose a competing bill to the Child Victims Act, a bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret M. Markey [3] which would open a one year window to allow all victims of childhood sexual abuse the ability to file civil actions against their abusers.
While in previous years Lopez voted in favor of the bill, he has now taken the position that the bill is not to his liking and has sponsored a competing bill that offers no window but would change current law and allow lawsuits against public institutions without requiring a 90 day notice of claim. The New York Times reported on June 9, 2009 that in an effort to reach a compromise with Lopez's bill, Markey amended her bill to specifically include all public institutions through the waiver of the current 90 day notice of claim requirement and also limited the window to victims aged 53 or younger.[4]
Stance on Gay Marriage
During an October 13, 2006 meeting with the Lambda Independent Democrats, a political club of gay Democrats in New York City, Lopez publicly declared his support for extending the right of civil marriage to same-sex couples for the first time in his political career. He also intimated that he would help to enact legislation that would recognize same-sex marriages, which the highest court in New York State refused to recognize earlier that year. [5]
RBSSC
Lopez created the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc. (RBSCC), which was founded in order to provide services to senior citizens within their respective neighborhoods. However, over the years RBSCC has grown into one of NYS largest not-for-profit organizations. It has been accused by an official City of New York investigation of political conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement. [6]
References
- ^ Assembly Member Vito J. Lopez - Biography, Project Vote Smart, retrieved 2010-09-27
- ^ "Vito J. Lopez - Biography, New York State Assembly
- ^ Barnes, Julian E., The Two Faces of Bushwick; A Troubled Brooklyn Neighborhood Is Mending. But Its Leaders Are Feuding Over the Size of the Gains and What to Do Next., New York Times
- ^ Goldstein, Joseph; Vincent, Isabel; Klein, Melissa, Vito Lopez's gal pal a baroness of Brooklyn housing, New York Post, retrieved 2010-09-27
- ^ WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Stacey Lopez, Sean Breves, New York Times, 2003-08-03
External links
- 'Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez', Member page, New York State Assembly
- 'Vito's Brooklyn Comeback Party', The Politicker, The New York Obsever
- 'Bill Aims to Spur Housing for New York’s Poor', The New York Times
- 'Bishop Avidly Opposes Bill Extending Time to File Child-Abuse Suits', The New York Times
- 'Clarence Norman Successor Faces Questions', The New York Sun
- 'Brooklyn Democrat Vito Lopez emerges Assembly's top hog in handing out pork dollars'The New York Daily News
- 'Pfizer Offering Williamsburg Plant Site for Affordable Housing-So, Why's a State Assemblyman Trying to Seize It?'The New York Observer
- 'Does Vito Lopez have a Norman problem?'The Village Voice
- 'Judge’s Loss Looms Large for Party Chief'The New York Times
- 'Bitter Contest in Brooklyn Dominates Civil Court Races'New York Law Journal
- 'The Judge Who Said No, Brooklyn's Democratic Party Boss Punishes a Rebel'The Village Voice
- 'Democrats in Brooklyn: Vito Lopez Continues the Corruption'The Daily Gotham citing The New York Times, The New York Post, The New York Daily News, etc.
- Julian E. Barnes, 'The Two Faces of Bushwick; A Troubled Brooklyn Neighborhood Is Mending. But Its Leaders Are Feuding Over the Size of the Gains and What to Do Next', The New York Times, February 27, 2000
- Sam Roberts, Tallies in City Understated Obama Vote, The New York Times, February 16, 2008
