Abuse-case stance riles NYC mayor

NEW YORK — Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticized Friday the Brooklyn district attorney, Charles Hynes, over his handling of child sexualabuse cases in the borough’s large ultra-orthodox Jewish community.

Bloomberg said through a spokesman that he “completely disagrees” with Hynes’ decision not to object to the position of an influential ultra-orthodox advocacy group on reporting allegations of child sexual abuse. The group announced last year that adherent Jews must obtain permission from a rabbi before reporting such allegations to district attorneys or the police.

The group’s position could conflict with a state law that requires teachers, counselors and others to report allegations immediately to the authorities.

“Any abuse allegations should be brought to law enforcement, who are trained to assess their accuracy and act appropriately,” said a spokesman for the mayor, Marc Lavorgna.

The mayor was responding to an article in The New York Times on Friday that examined Hynes’ record on these cases and his relations with ultra-orthodox leaders.

District attorneys in New York are elected, and the mayor has no authority over Hynes’ conduct. But the mayor was adding his voice to growing criticism of Hynes’ record on child sexual-abuse cases.

Asked Friday about Bloomberg’s criticism, Hynes’ spokesman, Jerry Schmetterer, declined to comment.