These had been some biting accusations.
A New York Metropolis councilman was slapped with an ethics criticism for allegedly mocking a fellow council member accused of biting a cop throughout a protest towards a homeless shelter.
Brooklyn Councilman Justin Brannan allegedly referred to Councilwoman Susan Zhuang as “Susan Fang” and introduced “mock tooth” to Metropolis Corridor, Asian-American activist Tim Regulation claimed in a letter obtained by The Publish.
“Might I remind you that Councilwoman Zhuang is Brooklyn’s first Chinese language American Councilwoman and we have fun that reality. I need to be very clear about this,” stated Regulation, a member of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York Asian American and Pacific Islander Fee.
“As an Asian American group chief and as an grownup schooling educator, I’m disgusted and deeply offended by this slur towards not solely Councilwoman Zhuang, however towards all members of the Asian American group,” Regulation claimed within the letter, addressed to Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Ethics Committee Chair Sandra Ung.
Regulation, who backed Ari Kagan over Brannan in a Democratic Celebration Main final 12 months, claimed the reference to Zhuang was an anti-Asian slur.
“For much too lengthy, many Asian Individuals have needed to take care of hate crimes and hate speech, from former President Trump calling Covid the China virus to Councilman Brannan mocking Councilwoman Zhuang’s title—which is a slur all too accustomed to Asian Individuals since many deliberately mispronounce our names to mock our id,” stated Regulation, founding father of the Chinese language American Social Providers Heart in Bensonhurst,
Regulation additionally claimed Brannan “proceeded to convey mock tooth to a council press convention to additional bully and harass Councilwoman Zhuang.
“Bullying memes on social media, slurs towards Asians, and mock tooth at a press convention is the conduct of a hateful bully. It shouldn’t be the conduct of a sitting Council Member,” he stated.
Regulation famous that Brannan was the topic of an earlier ethics criticism filed by Charles Ragusa, a Democratic state committee member and district chief who accused the councilman of cursing him out over a political disagreement.
Brannan defended his habits and shifted the main target again to prison defendant Zhuang, who was charged with second-degree and third-degree assault and resisting arrest for the conflict over a Gravesend homeless shelter.
“Susan Zhuang has been charged with felony assault for biting a police officer on video. This ridiculous letter is nothing greater than a determined try by a disingenuous opponent to distract from that inconvenient fact,” a Brannan spokesman stated.
“Councilman Brannan is a well-known and nicely documented pal, funder, and fighter for Brooklyn’s Asian group. Sadly, Mrs. Zhuang has proven zero regret for biting a cop. She ought to take duty for her personal actions, cease deflecting, and begin by apologizing to the NYPD as a substitute of organizing a parade in her personal honor.”
Mayor Eric Adams stated final week he was “just a little stunned” by Zhuang’s motion and arrest, and supposed to speak to the councilwoman.
Distinguished Asian leaders — together with Congresswoman Grace Meng and state Sen. John Liu — declined touch upon the ethics criticism towards Brannan.
The Asian-American Authorized and Schooling Fund additionally declined remark.
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