BishopAccountability.org

EXCLUSIVE: Long Island milkman urges customers to donate to Democrat who supports Child Victims Act and is running against John Flanagan

By Michael O'keeffe
New York Daily News
September 16, 2016

https://goo.gl/2QJ3wJ

Long Island milkman, Kevin DeBlasi, managed to get 200 customers to fund against State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan.

DeBlasi supports Democrat candidate Peter Magistrale (pictured) who is running against State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, a longtime foe of efforts to reform the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases.

A Long Island milkman hopes to deliver justice to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The owner of Milky Whey Calfeteria has asked his 200 Suffolk County customers to donate this week's bill to the Democrat running against State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, a longtime foe of efforts to reform the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases.

"In lieu of this week's milk bill payment I am requesting instead that you make a contribution to the below campaign," Milky Whey Calfeteria owner Kevin DeBlasi wrote in a letter he began distributing to his customers Wednesday. "Your September invoice will reflect zero charges for the week 9/12-9/18."

The letter includes info on how DeBlasi's moo-juice customers can donate money to the campaign of Peter Magistrale, a Democrat who supports the Child Victims Act, a bill that would eliminate the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse — a caused championed by the Daily News.

New York law bars child sex abuse survivors from pursuing criminal charges or civil litigation after their 23rd birthday.

DeBlasi, 45, began his business 11 years ago, reviving an old tradition, bringing milk to his customer’s doors. His route roughly overlaps with Flanagan's district, which stretches along the North Shore, from Huntington to Port Jefferson. He said his request for donations to Magistrale's campaign could cost his company up to $3,500, but it is money well spent if the Republican leader is defeated.

DeBlasi said he wants to eliminate the statute of limitations because his brother, Joe, was molested as a child and continues to suffer from mental health issues as a result of the abuse.

"I've seen the damage sexual abuse does and I'm not going to stop until this bill is passed," DeBlasi said.

Joe DeBlasi, 47, said he was behind his younger brother’s effort “1,000%.”

“I hope this helps us make some strides and get this bill passed," he said.

Magistrale is a big underdog in his race against Flanagan, one of the most powerful men in New York state politics. Flanagan's Republican district includes a large number of Catholics. Rockville Centre Bishop William Murphy, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and other Catholic leaders have been vocal opponents of statute of limitations reform.

Magistrale said he believes voters will reconsider their longtime support for Flanagan when they learn more about the issue.

"One in five children are sexually abused, and nine out of 10 abusers get away with it," the 25-year-old certified public accountant from St. James said. "It doesn't make sense to me to protect predators and not children."

A spokesman for Flanagan said he's not worried about DeBlasi's milk attack.

"Sen. Flanagan has always run on his record and this year will be no different," said Robert Caroppoli. "He's confident that voters will recognize the good work he has done."

The Child Victims Act's primary sponsor, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, was defeated by Woodside attorney Brian Barnwell in Tuesday's primary. But upstate investor Gary Greenberg, who created a political action committee called Fighting for Children earlier this year to aid candidates who support statute of limitations reform, said he expects another sponsor will step up.

Greenberg said his PAC will hold a rally in Flanagan's district in the coming weeks. His supporters will also canvass the district to talk to voters about Flanagan's opposition to statute of limitations reform.

"It's great that Kevin wants to do something to help Peter because Peter is a big supporter of the Child Victims Act," Greenberg said. "Flanagan is the one who killed the bill in the last session. He voted for predators. We want to make his constituents aware of that."




.


Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.