Cuomo, Heastie and Flanagan's Calls of Duty: Time to Declare Where They Stand on Child Sexual Abuse

New York Daily News
May 11, 2016

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/cuomo-heastie-flanagan-calls-duty-child-sexual-abuse-article-1.2632253

Time for truth-telling. The Daily News Editorial Board on Wednesday will call New York’s infamous Three Men in a Room to account about justice.

Gov. Cuomo, Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan stand notified to expect a request for a telephone interview at the heart of which will be the question:

Do you support denying childhood victims of life-scarring sex crimes their day in court against their abusers?

Cuomo, Heastie and Flanagan have gone behind closed doors to negotiate legislative matters, including, for instance, extension of mayoral control of the schools.

None expected the end-of-session agenda to include extending or eliminating statutes of limitations that bar prosecutors from charging many offenders and prohibit many victims from filing civil suits.

Trio, time to perform (TIM ROSKE/AP)

But then the revelation that New York’s overly tight statutes had prevented full prosecution of an alleged serial abuser prompted The News to ask: What the hell?

While a crime like rape can be prosecuted forever, prosecutors have slim time to bring charges against a coach, teacher or priest who fondles children.

And the victims have until the age of 23 to file civil suits. Worse, if the pervert happens to work for a government agency, a 90-day notice of claim regulation may apply.

Since many victims take years into adulthood to come to terms with their young victimization, the 90-day regulation must go and the statute of limitations must be expanded or eliminated.

Bills have been filed in the Assembly and Senate to accomplish both, but they have differing terms. They are also complicated by a provision that would give past victims one year to bring previously barred actions — a measure that is opposed by, among others, the Catholic Church.

Last week, abuse victims got the got the brush-off in the Legislature, including a spurning by the Senate’s second in command, John DeFrancisco, in favor of a pizza party for the Syracuse women’s basketball team.

So, this board invites Cuomo, Heastie and Flanagan to answer identical questions about where they stand on the particulars of the statutes of limitation, as well as why they believe their positions are correct.

Perhaps we’ll find common ground. At least, we’ll fully report their responses — that is, if Cuomo, Heastie and Flanagan accept their obligation to inform the public about the public’s business.