Vito Lopez
Encyclopedia
Vito Joseph Lopez is an American politician
, member of the New York State Assembly
, and chairman of the Democratic Party of Kings County
.
, of an Italian-American family, his last name Lopez derives from his grandfather, whom is a Spanish native. Vito Lopez graduated from Brooklyn's James Madison High School
, and received a BS
in Business Administration from Long Island University
(1964), and a Master of Social Work
from Yeshiva University
(1970).
Lopez and his former wife, Joan, have two grown children. His long-time girlfriend, Angela Battaglia, is Director of Housing for Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council
, and a member of the New York City Planning Commission.
Lopez was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993, and in 2010 was treated for a recurrence of cancer.
(RBSCC), a non-profit organization to provide services to senior citizens in Bushwick, Brooklyn
, Ridgewood, Queens
, and surrounding neighborhoods.
, representing the 53rd District (which primarily comprises the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick and Williamsburg
). First elected in 1984, he began his twelfth term as an Assembly member in January 2007.
Since 2006 Lopez has served as the Chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party, having replaced former chairman Clarence Norman Jr.
, which went into effect June 2010, expanded these protections to lofts in manufacturing areas of Williamsburg
, Greenpoint
, Bushwick
, and Long Island City.
. This bill would open a one year window to allow older victims of prior childhood sexual abuse the ability to file civil actions against their abusers.
He has sponsored a competing bill that provides no window, but would change current law to 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.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, and chairman of the Democratic Party of Kings County
Kings County
-Canada:*Kings County, New Brunswick*Kings County, Nova Scotia*Kings County, Prince Edward Island and the related King's County -United States of America:*Kings County, California...
.
Personal life
Born in Bensonhurst, BrooklynBensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of...
, of an Italian-American family, his last name Lopez derives from his grandfather, whom is a Spanish native. Vito Lopez graduated from Brooklyn's James Madison High School
James Madison High School (New York)
James Madison High School is a public high school located at 3787 Bedford Avenue, in the Madison section of Brooklyn, New York, and educates grades 9 through 12. It is part of Region 6 in the New York City Department of Education...
, and received a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Business Administration from Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
(1964), and a Master of Social Work
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work is a master's degree in social workand especiality of sociology.- United States :In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education...
from Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
(1970).
Lopez and his former wife, Joan, have two grown children. His long-time girlfriend, Angela Battaglia, is Director of Housing for Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council
Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council
Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council is a non-profit organization in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Founded in 1973 by Vito Lopez , RBSCC offers housing and family services to neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.-Investigations:...
, and a member of the New York City Planning Commission.
Lopez was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993, and in 2010 was treated for a recurrence of cancer.
Early career
Lopez began his career with the New York City Department of Social Services, at the Stanhope Street Senior Center in Bushwick, Brooklyn. In 1973 Lopez founded Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens CouncilRidgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council
Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council is a non-profit organization in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Founded in 1973 by Vito Lopez , RBSCC offers housing and family services to neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.-Investigations:...
(RBSCC), a non-profit organization to provide services to senior citizens in Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood, formerly Brooklyn's 18th Ward, is now part of Brooklyn Community Board 4...
, Ridgewood, Queens
Ridgewood, Queens
Ridgewood is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It borders the neighborhoods of Maspeth, Middle Village and Glendale, as well as the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick. Historically, the neighborhood straddled the Queens-Brooklyn boundary. The neighborhood is part of Queens...
, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Political career
Lopez is a member of the New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, representing the 53rd District (which primarily comprises the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick and Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
). First elected in 1984, he began his twelfth term as an Assembly member in January 2007.
Since 2006 Lopez has served as the Chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party, having replaced former chairman Clarence Norman Jr.
Clarence Norman Jr.
Clarence Norman, Jr. is an American politician from the state of New York. He was the former chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party and member of the New York State Assembly from the 43rd Assembly District in Central Brooklyn, which includes Crown Heights and parts of Flatbush and Prospect...
Expansion of Loft Law
Lopez was among the sponsors of a bill to expand the original 1982 Loft Law, "...which gave rights to illegal tenants and made their lofts subject to rent stabilization." The 2009 Loft Law Amendment2009 Loft Law Amendment
The Loft Law Amendment created a new window period for recognition of loft tenants that previously did not qualify under the original 1982 Loft Law....
, which went into effect June 2010, expanded these protections to lofts in manufacturing areas of Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
, Greenpoint
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at the Bushwick inlet, on the southeast by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg, on the north by Newtown Creek and Long Island City, Queens at the...
, Bushwick
Bushwick, Brooklyn
Bushwick is a neighborhood in the northern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood, formerly Brooklyn's 18th Ward, is now part of Brooklyn Community Board 4...
, and Long Island City.
Childhood Sexual Abuse Legislation
While Lopez has previously sponsored similar legislation, he has not supported a 2009 bill, the Child Victims Act, sponsored by Assemblywoman Margaret MarkeyMargaret Markey
Margaret M. "Marge" Markey is an American politician who represents District 30 in the New York State Assembly, which is made up of Maspeth and Woodside, as well as portions of Middle Village, Astoria, Sunnyside and Long Island City...
. This bill would open a one year window to allow older victims of prior childhood sexual abuse the ability to file civil actions against their abusers.
He has sponsored a competing bill that provides no window, but would change current law to 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.
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 had refused to recognize earlier that year.Investigations
According to multiple media account in September 2010, Lopez and the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council are the subject of several investigations, led by the US Attorney in Manhattan and in Brooklyn, and the New York City Department of Investigations.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
- '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
- '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" NY Times Online, The New York Times, February 27, 2000
- David Freedlander, The Lion in Winter: Vito Lopez And The End Of County, City Hall, March 1, 2010
- Marwell, Nicole P., Bargaining for Brooklyn: community organizations in the entrepreneurial city, University of Chicago Press, 2007