Monserrate Appointment Is A Slap In The Face to Women

ALBANY, NY (01/09/2009)(readMedia)-- According to a January 7, 2009 report by Daily News, a "Queens state senator who denies beating his girlfriend was caught on security cameras dragging the scared, bleeding woman from his apartment."

NOW-New York State is demanding answers from the New York State Democratic leadership. By all accounts, Hiram Monserrate, also accused of cutting his girlfriend with a broken glass, does not deserve a seat in the NYS Senate. Further, Monserratte's appointment as the Chair of the Consumer Protection Committee is a slap in the face for every woman in New York State. Does the NYS leadership really believe that rewarding Monserrate will win them points in the minds of voters?

Domestic violence is a crime. No person should be awarded a position of power while such heinous charges are pending. NOW-NYS calls upon Governor Paterson, Senator Majority Malcolm Smith, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to take appropriate steps to address this problem. If they do not, they are also guilty.

Karla Giraldo, the woman described as Monserrate's girlfriend, first told a doctor at Long Island Jewish Medical Center that Monserrate had beaten her. Later she changed her story and requested that prosecutors drop assault charges. Sadly, this is typical pattern for domestic violence victims, who retract their stories in fear of retribution. The problem usually escalates; and the women do not fare well.

If our leaders insist on seating Monserrate as Chair, this proves they are either insufficiently educated on the issue or worse, do not care. NOW NYS demands answers on behalf of all NY women. Leadership is about taking a stand for all citizens. Women constitute over fifty percent of these citizens and we deserve better from our leaders.

This weekend, NOW-NYS is co-sponsoring the Battered Mothers Custody Conference at the Wolf Road Holiday Inn in Albany, NY, where the focus will be on domestic violence victims. We invite the leaders of our great state to attend and learn about this issue that so greatly affects women.

NOW-NYS is forced to wonder about the real reason behind the NYS Democratic leaders' inability to deal effectively with Monserrate. Further, we call upon the women of the legislature to stand up to the leadership, and to demand that their colleagues take seriously this very serious crime of domestic violence.