BUSHWICK — The scandal-ridden City Council candidate Vito Lopez canceled his second campaign appearance in less than one week Monday — and this time no one learned of the cancelation until 30 minutes after his scheduled arrival.
Lopez — a former assemblyman who resigned from the Legislature this summer amidst sexual harassment accusations — had planned to greet constituents at the Stanhope Street site of the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, a non-profit he helped found.
But as residents gathered outside the center to protest his scheduled noon visit, Lopez was nowhere to be found. And finally, Ridgewood Bushwick staff emerged at 12:30 p.m. to announce he had canceled his appearance. The staff said Lopez was so busy he was running too late to visit the center.
Still, protesters fervently waved their signs on the sidewalk and passed out Spanish and English fliers blasting his campaign to passersby.
"He has no respect. There are real women who have been abused by this man," said activist America Ruiz.
And fellow protester Patricia Mejila claimed she felt unsafe with Lopez in office.
"If we have this guy in office how safe are we?" said Mejila. "We have daughters and granddaughters. We have to prepare the future for them."
Representatives for Lopez did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
