BY KENNETH LOVETT / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) signed off on a secret settlement with two women who made sexual harassment claims against former Assemblyman Vito Lopez rather than refer the matter to an ethics committee.
ALBANY — The drive to legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York is likely to become a new casualty of the Vito Lopez sexual harassment scandal.
Women’s groups that have long opposed the sport, calling it sexist and barbaric, are upset at Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for his mishandling of sexual harassment complaints against Lopez.
A source close to Silver said passing a mixed martial arts law now might further inflame the women’s groups — as well as exacerbate tensions between Silver and several assemblywomen that have developed since the scandal.
“I don’t think this is the year,” the source said. “I think it’s unlikely.”
Lopez (D-Brooklyn) resigned from the Assembly last week after two investigations accused him of inappropriate conduct toward eight female staffers.
The investigations also faulted Silver (D-Manhattan), finding that he signed off on a secret $103,000 settlement to two of the women rather than refer their harassment complaints to an ethics committee, as required by Assembly rules.
A source close to Silver also says a push to legalize mixed martial arts could further alienate female assembly members.
New York and Connecticut remain the only two states that ban MMA. The state Senate has repeatedly voted to legalize the sport, only to see the legislation die in the Democratic-controlled Assembly.
During a closed-door discussion last year, Silver cut off debate and called it a draw even though the bulk of those who spoke supported the bill, sources said. The bill never reached the floor for a vote.
But promoters of the controversial sport seemed to be making headway this year in getting New York to lift its ban, especially after Gov. Cuomo said in March that “It’s something we’re looking at as a possible source of revenue.”
Silver is expected to discuss the matter with his Democratic members next week. “The question is does he do what he did last year or does he play it straight?” said one MMA supporter.
One factor may be that opponents feel more strongly about the issue than supporters, sources said. Some of those opponents are close to Silver, such as Assemblywoman Deborah Glick of Manhattan.
Assembly bill sponsor Francisco Moya (D-Queens) acknowledged that MMA has “become an issue that’s raised real concern among the female legislators.”
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There is clearly more to this story but the reality of the situation is that the Fertittas get no love in NY, mostly because of their union issues.
This is another example of Zuffa's dominance being a problem. Their are other promoters in the sport, albeit much smaller, that all can't do shows in NY because of the baggage of Zuffa and the Fertittas. Besides the HUGE, historic UFC show at MSG, locals like me are missing out on all the really small shows that could happen at venues all over NYC and the rest ofthe state.
As usual, we are in a wait and see mode but it doesn't look good again this year