HEY, POLS – HELP US

Sex vics’ push in Albany

ALBANY — Child sex-abuse survivors and advocates Tuesday targeted state Senate Republicans for blocking passage of a bill to make it easier for victims to seek justice as adults.

On the day the Legislature returned from its twoweek midwinter break, a group created by former speed skater and child sex-abuse survivor Bridie Farrell paid for at least three trucks parked outside the state Capitol with messages aimed at lawmakers.

One directly targeted Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, the Suffolk County Republican who hasn’t allowed the Child Victims Act to the floor for a vote in previous years.

“How Come Senator Flanagan?” asked one message. “Protect Kids Not Pedophiles,” read another. Inside the Capitol, a group of survivors and advocates lobbied some Republican senators or their staffers and held a press conference to say “enough is enough” — frustrated the bill has been stalled in the GOP-controlled Senate for more than a decade.

“As survivors and advocates, we are demanding that this bill be allowed to the floor for a vote,” said Stephen Jimenez, a survivor and co-founder of New Yorkers Against Hidden Predators. “Stop the obstruction.”

State Senate Democrats held their own press conference with advocates later Tuesday to call on the Republicans to ensure the Child Victims Act is enacted as part of the final state budget.

A key roadblock is a provision to create a oneyear window that would enable sexual abuse victims who can no longer bring civil cases under current law to do so. Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif had no comment.