{"id":124344,"date":"2020-12-02T06:47:10","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T03:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nyc-lawmaker-under-fire-for-recording-secret-assembly-meeting\/"},"modified":"2020-12-02T06:47:10","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T03:47:10","slug":"nyc-lawmaker-under-fire-for-recording-secret-assembly-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nyc-lawmaker-under-fire-for-recording-secret-assembly-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"#NYC lawmaker under fire for recording secret Assembly meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#NYC lawmaker under fire for recording secret Assembly meeting<\/strong>”
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A Bronx lawmaker recorded a behind-the-scenes Zoom conference fight involving Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie \u2014 and was barred from a follow-up meeting when the video emerged with his face in the corner, The Post has learned.<\/p>\n

Assemblyman Jose Rivera (D-The Bronx) \u2014 a longtime Heastie rival \u2014 is also facing possible expulsion from the Assembly\u2019s Democratic caucus for breaching the secrecy of its annual, pre-legislative-session gathering, sources said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

The annual, two-day event is normally held in a conference room behind the Assembly chamber in Albany\u2019s Capitol building or at a local hotel but took place online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

On Monday night, a 49-second clip of Heastie (D-The Bronx) arguing with Assemblyman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) was leaked to political commentator Gerson Borrero, who posted it on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the heated exchange, Barron said he needed to publicly explain why he cast the lone vote against nominating Heastie for another term as speaker \u2014 prompting Heastie to angrily exclaim, \u201cPut out a statement for however you feel!\u201d before muting Barron\u2019s microphone.<\/p>\n

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Exclusive\u2026Just got this vid from a source in the room. It\u2019s part of the exchange this afternoon between \u2066@CarlHeastie<\/a>\u2069 and Charles Barron. The Brooklyn Assemblyman was the only \u201cNo\u201d vote against the Speaker. Others spoke but Barron was shut down, as this shows. pic.twitter.com\/sxQ5MFLWzK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gerson Borrero (@GersonBorrero) December 1, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

At several points, the camera that recorded the video shifts slightly and shows Rivera in a small window in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.<\/p>\n

One source said the 84-year-old former trade-union activist deserved a \u201cKnucklehead of the Year Award\u201d for failing to hide his identity before the video was leaked.<\/p>\n

An Assembly Democrat said the meeting \u201cis supposed to be private,\u201d and another said that \u201cpeople are livid\u201d over Rivera\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n

In retaliation, Heastie barred Rivera from participating in Tuesday\u2019s session and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) is pushing to have Rivera expelled from their party\u2019s caucus, sources said.<\/p>\n

That move could affect Rivera\u2019s ability to dole out pork-barrel grants and pass legislation, sources said.<\/p>\n

Pretlow didn\u2019t deny that he wanted to see Rivera ousted and said it \u201cabsolutely\u201d could happ<\/a>en.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers want to know they can say what\u2019s on their mind in conference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want members having a fear of speaking out because someone\u2019s going to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rivera \u2014 who frequently posts cellphone videos to Facebook<\/a> and often carries a selfie stick in the Assembly chamber \u2014 acknowledged recording the dust-up between Heastie and Barron, calling it \u201can exciting moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also didn\u2019t deny leaking the video to Borrero.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people have a right to see us in action in the Assembly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will continue to speak up for transparency.\u201d\n <\/p><\/div>\n