8
BROOKLYN WEEKLY, AUGUST 18, 2019
‘We want answers’
Locals demand explanation after Assembly
staffer slapped with embezzlement charges
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
Sunset Park residents gathered
outside of Assemblyman
Félix Ortiz’s district
offi ce on Friday to demand
answers after his highestranking
staff member was
arrested for allegedly embezzling
campaign funds
— but the lawmaker was
nowhere to be found.
“The allegations are
shocking, and we want answers.
We want to know
what exactly happened
here,” said Jorge Muñiz.
“This is a major crisis for
our democracy... we have
that money that people are
giving to better our democracy
ending up in private
bank accounts.”
Maruf Alam, 29, served
as Ortiz’s chief of staff until
his Aug. 8 arrest, when
federal authorities charged
him for allegedly stealing
$80,000 from a campaign
bank account through multiple
cash withdrawals and
personal expenditures between
2012 and 2019, according
to court documents.
Ortiz — a 13-term assemblyman,
who serves as assistant
speaker of the lowerlegislative
chamber — has
denied any knowledge of
Alam’s actions, and fi red the
staffer following his arrest.
“I am personally appalled,
hurt, and disappointed
that an employee
would violate my trust,”
Ortiz said in a statement
on Aug. 9. “My constituents
come fi rst, and they
deserve to know that public
employees are always
working on their behalf.”
But the group of Sunset
Park locals lead by
Muñiz — who has worked
on political campaigns to
unseat the assemblyman
in the past, and harbors a
personal beef with Alam,
whom he claims threatened
to “skin Muñiz
alive” in 2014 — were not
content with Ortiz’s disembodied
statement, and
claimed he’s already lied
once regarding his knowledge
of the crime.
“Mr. Ortiz, so far, has
not made any real statements
Maruf Alam was arrested by the FBI on Aug. 8 for allegedly stealing
$80,000 from a campaign bank account of Assemblyman Félix
Ortiz. Aidan Graham
to explain and account
for what happened
with this money. So, we
have questions,” said Muñiz.
“He said in the press
yesterday that this was the
fi rst time he was even hearing
about these charges.
Meanwhile, the FBI is in
court saying they actually
interviewed him in March,
earlier this year.”
Seeking a face-to-face
meeting with Ortiz, some
constituents gathered
outside the assemblyman’s
Fourth Avenue district
office at 11 a.m., but
the legislator’s new chief
of staff, Karen Broughton,
politely refused to
let them inside. Instead,
Broughton briefly addressed
the crowd to say
the assemblyman was
“traveling, before handing
out a printed statement,
and then quickly
retreating back into the
office.
One Sunset Park man
demanded the lawmaker
come out of hiding, saying
the public deserves
to know how one of his
staffers committed such a
grievous crime.
“We need all of our
elected leaders to come
forward and be transparent
and to be honest with
the public. We need them
to take leadership, take
responsibility for their offi
ces. That’s what we want
Mr. Ortiz to do now,” said
John Santore.
Another demonstrator
said the assemblyman
should accept responsibility
for the misdeeds committed
by his chief of staff
and tender his resignation.
“This is speaking to a
greater frustration that
we have. I think that Sunset
Park, Red Hook, South
Slope, everybody within
District 38 has had a lot of
frustration,” said Whitney
Hu. “He should resign.”
Magistrate Judge Steven
Tiscione released
Alam on $100,000 bail following
a preliminary hearing
on Aug. 8.
2019-2020 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS!
( 718))
368-5596 | www.OnStageAtKingsborough.org
Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Brooklyn
Tony & Grammy Winner
JOHN LLOYD YOUNG’S BROADWAY
NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY OF SIBERIA
THE HIT MEN: Legendary Rock Supergroup
LUIS BRAVO’S CUMPARSITA: THE TANGO
NY FLAMENCO FESTIVAL: ALAS DE RECUERDO
NEW SHANGHAI CIRCUS
UNDER THE STREETLAMP
SPECIAL PRE-SALE BEGINS AUGUST 26TH
FOR BEST PRICES, BEST SEATS & MORE!
(Subscription & Multi-Show Package Sales
Only During the Pre-Sale.)
Photos: Cumparsita: Courtesy of Luis Bravo; Maria Moreno by Paco Lobato
Pawn Trades | Jewelry Buyers (We Will Pay Immediate Cash) | Bring in your Jewelry Furniture, Old coins & More
CASH FOR
YOUR GOLD
WE
Turn your jewelry box into a cash machine...
We’ll pay top dollar on the spot for your unwanted or broken gold
jewelry and scrap gold, no appointment necessary!
BUY
PAWN
SELL
WE DO
APPRAISALS
(alex_sh62)
Jewelry
Diamonds
Antiques
Gold
Coins
Sterling Silver
Platinum
Watches
WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS! PAY CASH IMMEDIATELY!
If you have any inquiries concerning buying,
selling or appraisal contact our expert:
at (718) 942-5693, (718) 627-1514
WE DO
REPAIRS
OPEN 6 Days 11am
Closed Saturday
WE SPEAK
RUSSIAN & HEBREW
A.S. & Son’s
2015 CONEY ISLAND AVE.
(bet. Quentin Road and Ave. P)
Brooklyn, NY 11223
718-942-5693 ALEX & 718-627-1514
jewelryexcorp@gmail.com
www.jewelryex.info
WE ACCEPT
ORDERS FOR
Engagement
Rings
$AVE
facebook.com/jewelryex @jewelryexcorp
spend $50
get
$10 off your purchase
Spend $100
& get $20 off;
Spend $200
& get $40 off;
Spend $300
& get $60 off
Valid on in-store purchases only. Your discount will be deducted
at time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other
discount, coupon or promotion. Coupon must be presented
prior to purchase. Offer expires December 31, 2019
/www.OnStageAtKingsborough.org
link
/www.jewelryex.info
/www.OnStageAtKingsborough.org
/www.jewelryex.info
/jewelryex
link