Victims Rally for NY Bill to Extend Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Crimes

By Anne Mccloy
CBS 6
August 9, 2016

http://cbs6albany.com/news/local/survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-fight-for-stronger-laws

Gary Greenberg says he was sexually abused by a hospital worker in Cohoes when he was just 7-years-old.

“My life changed in one second because I faced a brutal scumbag who took so much from me,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg is the co-owner of Vernon Downs Casino and Founder of the Fighting for Children PAC. He’s in support of New York's Child Victim's Act, which if passed, would allow people who are sexually abused as children, to get justice against their attackers as adults, years after the abuse took place, by extending the statute of limitations for child sex abuse. He's says he's putting up 100,000 dollars to defeat state senators who've voted against the legislation in the past.

Judy Russo drove from New Jersey, to help support the proposed New York legislation. Russo says she was sexually abused as a child. Years later she says, her own child was abused too.

“This happened to the youngest of my two children it happened by a pillar of society,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg and his organization have endorsed Republican Chris Davis, who also supports the bill. Davis is running for state senate in Cohoes against incumbent Democrat Neil Breslin, who's held the position in the 44th district for 20 years.

“What happens is we’re affectively letting the perpetrators get away with it,” Davis said.

By supporting the bill, Davis is going in opposition of most Senate Republicans, and some Senate Democrats on the issue.

“Our people who are in power, it's time to vote them out if they're not in support of this bill,” David said.

We reached out to Sen. Breslin for comment, we received this statement from his office:

"Ensuring that children who were victims of sexual abuse have an opportunity to seek justice continues to be one of my top priorities. Unfortunately during this past legislative session the Senate Republican Majority blocked multiple efforts to find an agreeable solution. In addition to the Child Victims Act sponsored by my friend and colleague Senator Brad Hoylman, there were numerous other iterations that were also introduced attempting to provide justice to victims of these heinous crimes. I look forward to working with advocates, victims and my colleagues in the Legislature on both sides of the aisle with the hope of finding a solution that is satisfactory to all parties."