L.I. Activists Demand Skelos Quit State Senate

By MICHAEL HEUSNER & EBONA MAIS

A group of Long Island progressive leaders on Tuesday demanded that indicted State Senator Dean Skelos quit the legislature and expressed doubt that merely stepping down from his post a majority leader would do much to expunge corruption in Albany.

“We want to send a message, replacing him is not enough,” said Long Island Progressive Coalition Director,Lisa Tyson. Tyson said she suspected that Skelos’ successor Republican John J. Flannigan, would follow in his footsteps and block bills and fight reforms the group considers vital.

Skelos resigned as majority leader on Monday afternoon on charges of extortion to provide funds for his son Adam Skelos, who was also arrested.

Some of the progressive organizations at the rally outside of Skelos’ Office on in Rockville Centre demanded the legislator to step down as senator indefinitely, while others just pressed for reform.

Moveon.org members presented a petition to end corruption in Albany signed by nearly 10,000 persons, urging the passage of the fair elections law. However, other groups called for a purge of lawmaker in trouble with the law.

“Be smart and resign,” said activist Frank Guzman. “You need to pay for your crimes; our communities are frustrated and indignant overyour anti-immigrant stance and refusal to pass the Dream Act.”

“The system is broken,” said Tyson to the small, but lively crowd. “As long as wealthy donors can pay to stop all of our issues from moving forward, it doesn’t matter that there’s a different name behind that majority leader, the system has to change.”