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Brooklyn District Manager Facing Stalking Allegations Hastens Resignation

 Community Board 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman is stepping down from his role as the group's district manager.
Community Board 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman is stepping down from his role as the group's district manager.
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Facebook/Brooklyn Community Board 6

PARK SLOPE — Wednesday marked the last day on the job for the longtime Brooklyn community board district manager accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend, the board's chairman announced at an evening meeting.

Craig Hammerman was set to step down on Oct. 20 from his 27-year-long stint as Community Board 6's district manager, he initially said in an emailed statement to the board Friday. But upon further consideration, Hammerman chose to leave his post effective immediately, board chairman Sayar Lonial said Wednesday.

"After what can only be described as a difficult time for everyone involved, we thought the decision to make a clean break was the best decision," Lonial said. 

Hammerman has faced stalking allegations since April, when he was arrested twice for hacking his ex-girlfriend's Uber account to follow her to a hotel and then again when he broke an order of protection to trail her to a bar, court records show.

He turned down a June plea deal that would have forced him to admit to a violation while other more serious charges would have been dropped, according to his lawyer.

Hammerman, who was a no-show at Wednesday's meeting, has worked on the board since 1990 and was its highest paid staffer, earning $112,000 a year. He took a 60-day medical leave in May, which was extended twice and stretched to a five-month hiatus, before he returned to work Sept. 27. 

"The institutional knowledge that Craig brought with his years of experience will be missed," Lonial said. "But times change, and with those changes we ourselves must look to change, not necessarily in fear but instead as an opportunity."

The search for Hammerman's replacement will begin after the board consults the city and lists the position, the chairman added. The interview process will be carried out by the board's Fiannce, Law and Personnel Committee.

Board members will vote to approve a candidate once they have made it through the interview process.

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.