PARK SLOPE — The Brooklyn community board leader who is accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend has given his two-week notice to the board, his attorney confirmed Monday.
After 27 years as Community Board 6's district manager, Craig Hammerman is stepping down from the position to pursue other opportunities, his lawyer told DNAinfo New York.
Hammerman has been facing stalking allegations since April when he was arrested twice for hacking his ex-girlfriend's Uber account to follow her to a Bushwick hotel and then when he broke an order of protection to follow her to a Park Slope bar, according to court documents.
"My mantra has always been to do what is in the best interest of the Community Board," wrote Hammerman in a Friday statement emailed to its board members. "Right now, I believe what would be in the best interest of the Community Board, and myself, is for me to step down as District Manager."
Hammerman's resignation will be effective Oct. 20.
The resignation comes after several months of consultations with the New York City Law Department on how to handle the situation.
Hammerman, who has worked on the board since 1990 and is its highest paid staffer at $112,000 a year, took a 60-day medical leave in May that was extended twice and stretched to a five-month hiatus before culminating Sept. 27.
Upon his return, the board's Finance, Personnel and Law Committee met with Hammerman for a performance review. It is unclear if that factored into his decision to resign. The committee chairman, Jerry Armer, declined to comment.
The board’s chairman, Sayar Lonial, also declined to comment and assistant district manager, Ty Beatty, did not return requests for comment.
But now that prosecutors plan on dropping Hammerman's case he has had time to reflect and weigh his options for the future, according to his lawyer.
“Once we knew how the case was going to resolve itself he had several months to think about himself,” said Joyce David. “He has opportunities and I think that has fueled his decision.”
David said that Hammerman's resignation was not a condition of the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office deciding not to pursue charges and would not say what opportunities her client is reviewing.
"It’s comforting to know that I am leaving you vibrant, strong and whole," Hammerman added in his Friday statement. "I'm tremendously excited about having the freedom to pursue other options at this time."
One member who in the past took issue with the the board's resistance to take a firm stance on Hammerman's behavior was glad to see the matter settled, he said.
“We should be appreciative of his service — he’s been a big part of the community board — and now we have to move forward," said Park Slope resident Josh Skaller. "I think the important thing is to go forward and find somebody who is going to be a capable replacement."
Community Board 6 is a city advisory group covering the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, the Columbia Street Waterfront District, Gowanus, Park Slope and Red Hook.
