Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith and Senate Colleagues Protest Acts of Violence Directed Against Yonkers Senator

May 22, 2008

(Yonkers, N.Y) Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith joined by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins(D-Yonkers), Senate Colleagues, and other local leaders outside her Yonkers legislative office expressed outrage over recent acts of violence that have occurred there.

“We will not tolerate any forms of violence or intimidation against any elected official,” Said Smith, a Democrat from St. Albans. “Such actions will not dissuade us from our mission to represent our constituents.”

In the last two months, Senator Stewart-Cousins’ office in Senate District 35 has reported different incidents to police on three separate occasions. In one incident, her office was broken into and computer records were accessed. In the next two incidents, what appeared to be bullet holes were found in her office, and shots may have been fired at her office. No one was hurt and all three incidents are currently under investigation by local police.

Senator Stewart-Cousins said: “As a public official, I hold a strong belief in an open-door policy so that all residents of my district have a voice and an opportunity to be heard. For one person or a group of people to jeopardize that openness through scare tactics is unconscionable, and will not deter me from performing my duties in service to our community.

Senate Democrats called for the public to come forward with information leading to the arrests of suspects involved in three separate incidents that recently occurred at the Yonkers office.

Photo: State Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm A. Smith

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Politics