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LOVETT: Abuse survivors rip Boy Scouts for hiring ex-state senator to lobby against Child Victims Act
By Kenneth Lovett
ALBANY — The Boy Scouts of America has hired a former state senator to lobby against legislation that would make it easier for child sex abuse victims to seek justice as adults. The Boy Scouts this year are paying Dentons US $12,500 a month to lobby on three bills, including against the Child Victims Act. Former Sen. Craig Johnson, a Long Island Democrat, is a principal for Dentons’ public policy and regulatory practice and one of two people from the firm registered since February to represent the Boy Scouts in Albany, according to filings with the state ethics commission. Johnson referred questions to the Boy Scouts. In an email, a spokesman for the organization confirmed Johnson was hired to work “on a variety of legislative matters in New York that impact youth-serving organizations” — including the Child Victims Act. The spokesman did not respond to a followup email asking why the scouts are fighting the legislation. The organization is said to oppose for financial reasons the push to create a one-year window to revive old sex abuse cases that can’t be pursued under current law. Online records dating back to 2011 show that it is the first time the Boy Scouts have had a lobbyist registered in Albany to work on the issue. The group has had lobbyists for other issues in the past while the Catholic Church has led the charge against the Child Victims Act. Child sex abuse survivors like Kathryn Robb and bill sponsor Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) criticized the Boy Scouts for spending tens of thousands of dollars this year to fight the Child Victims Act. “An institution like the Boy Scouts should be more concerned with protecting young children from sexual abuse than protecting their interests by fighting legislation that protects kids and exposes sexual predators,” Robb said in an email. “After all, they call themselves a 'values-based youth development organization,’ one would hope they value the safety of kids, truth and justice!” Added Michael Polenberg, of Safe Horizon: “So often, an abuser may first pretend to assume a caring or mentorship role in a child's life in order to build trust. Safe Horizon believes that exposing those who sexually abuse children allows parents and organizations to best protect the children who are entrusted into their care — it's deeply disappointing that the Boy Scouts think otherwise." Hoylman, a former Eagle Scout, said the Boy Scouts likely hired a lobbyist “because they feel like it’s getting closer than ever to getting done.” “Opponents are taking it more seriously,” he said. Hoylman’s version of the Child Victims Act would do away with the civil and criminal time for adults who were abused as kids to bring cases, open a one-year window to revive old cases, and treat public and private institutions the same when it comes to sex abuse cases. —————— Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye has withdrawn his name from consideration to head the MTA, sources told the Daily News. Foye was recently one of two finalists interviewed for the job by a panel created by Gov. Cuomo. A third finalist pulled out before the interview for personal reasons, sources said. Foye’s decision leaves acting MTA Executive Director Ronnie Hakim as Cuomo’s likely pick for MTA CEO, insiders say. She would be the first woman to head the massive mass transit system. Two sources couldn’t say definitively why Foye, who couldn’t be reached for comment, pulled out. But they noted the decision came after the MTA on May 15 announced it would push legislation to separate the chairman and CEO positions. “If I were Pat Foye I would not want that job if I weren’t also chairman, especially with all that’s going on right now,” one source close to the process said. “You end up with all the aggregation and all the responsibility but with no or divided authority. It’s not worth doing.” If the top jobs are split, one name being mentioned as a possible board chairman is Larry Schwartz, Cuomo’s former top aide who is a current MTA board member. A Cuomo spokesman said that “the process is ongoing and you shouldn't believe every rumor you hear.” ————— A year before being named Cuomo’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa publicly disclosed as a gift the engagement ring she received from her now husband, who is an executive at Uber. In her 2016 state financial disclosure filing covering 2015, DeRosa, who at the time was Cuomo’s chief of staff, listed the engagement ring she received from Matthew Wing as costing between $5,000 and $20,000. Since Uber had business before the state and Wing wasn’t yet a family member, those close to DeRosa said she was being cautious to avoid anything that could look like a potential conflict. After Cuomo recently promoted her to serve as the powerful secretary to the governor, DeRosa took heat because of Wing’s job and the fact her father is a longtime top Albany lobbyist. DeRosa has said she recuses herself from any issues involving her family.
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