NEW YORK
Riverdale Press
By Shant Shahrigian
Posted 8/7/14
Advocates for justice for years of sexual abuse at Horace Mann School and elsewhere are welcoming state Sen. Jeff Klein’s new support of the Child Victims Act, which would end the statue of limitations for sex crimes against minors and open up a one-year window for past cases to come to court.
Advocates previously voiced outrage at the Senate’s inaction on the legislation, with some of them blaming Riverdale’s state Sen. Jeff Klein — one of the most powerful lawmakers in New York — for the bill’s failure to gain traction.
As recently as March 2013, Mr. Klein gave a statement saying he opposes the Child Victims Act. But following a Press story quoting the angry activists, he wrote a letter in these pages saying he, in fact, supports the bill.
“I’m very encouraged by the fresh position expressed by Senator Klein,” said Joseph Cumming, a survivor of abuse at Horace Mann who previously criticized Mr. Klein. “I am happy to withdraw my earlier statement in which I said I would welcome seeing him out of office.”
Mr. Klein, whose office did not make him available for an interview, is fighting a Democratic primary challenge from Riverdale’s former Councilman Oliver Koppell.
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