Totally Unnecessary Library Anti-Porn Bill Introduced by Jamie Feldmar - Gothamist

Remember how some people are really convinced that kids are watching tons of porn at the library? And how that's not actually the case, like, at all*? Well, turns out a few Councilmen didn't get the message, and they'reintroducing a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to watch porn within 100 feet of a child in a public library.

Council Members David G. Greenfield and Eric Ulrich were spurred to sponsor the bill "to protect minors from sexual predators who are accessing pornography on the Internet in full view of children," after New York's public libraries supposedly "refused to use Internet filters to block pornographic websites from view." But we could have sworn that the library's computers are fitted with privacy screens and do have a filter, one that's so strong it actually sometimes blocks even non-porn websites by accident!

Furthermore, "I have had a number of outraged constituents call me about their children encountering perverts viewing pornography in full view of library patrons," claims Councilman Greenfield. We're still awaiting comment from the Brooklyn libraries, but Queens Library spoksewoman Joanne King says the libraries receive "so few complaints about this issue that it's practically nonexistent," echoing similar feedback made by the NYPL.

What's next, Councilmen? Taking art books off of shelves because they show a bit of nipple? "l am a strong supporter of our public libraries and the value and rich experiences that they provide to New Yorkers," said Councilman Greenfield. "Part of that experience, however, should not be traumatizing children by exposing them to sexual predators and debasing pornography.

*A library spokeswoman tells us that they have gotten "almost zero" complaints about minors using computers to look at porn, "no matter what an anonymous patron says." She further explained that blocked sites make up a whopping .5% of their internet use, and of that .5%, they're not even all porn! Sometimes, for example, art websites with nudity get blocked, because the library's filter is so strong. On top of that, without strictly "monitoring" what people are watching, library staffers keep a close eye on computers in general and, just like the MTA, "if they see something, they'll say something. Minors are not allowed to watch porn in our libraries, period," wrote NYPL Public Relations director Angela Montefinise in a statement.

Maltese’s Lawyer Faces Kid Porn Rap by Jeremy Walsh - YourNabe.com

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A part−time legal counsel for state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R−Glendale) was arrested last week on suspicion of possessing child pornography, the U.S. Attorney for New York’s Southern District said.

Robert Groezinger, 53, of Patterson, N.Y., was fired by Maltese’s office shortly after the arrest was made public. He was arraigned Oct. 15 in White Plains federal court on charges of possessing and receiving child pornography, the U.S. attorney’s office said. He was released on $100,000 bond.

A hearing was set for Nov. 12. If convicted, Groezinger faces between five and 20 years in prison, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Maltese’s spokeswoman, Victoria Vattimo, said the senator acted quickly and had no prior knowledge of Groezinger’s alleged conduct.

“He was terminated immediately,” she said. “The senator doesn’t tolerate this at all. He has a strong record against sex offenders.”

The Queens senator is known for taking a tough stance on pedophilia.

In 2006, Maltese introduced legislation that would strengthen the statute against sex offenders who use the Internet to communicate with children, after an ex−lawyer, arrested on suspicion of propositioning a Westchester County police officer posing online as a 14−year−old boy, argued that it is not illegal to seduce minors verbally via e−mail.

Maltese also contributed at least $6,000 in member item funding between 2005 and 2007 to a Long Island−based nonprofit to fight the distribution of pornography over the Internet, state Senate records show.

Groezinger allegedly accessed child pornography via the Internet between December 2007 and January 2008, according to the criminal complaint filed by the U.S. attorney.

Allegedly operating with the username “picluver@yahoo.com,” he frequented a chatroom where a California resident distributed the images to other users, the complaint said.

After tracing the username back to Groezinger, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted a search of his Patterson home, seizing a laptop that contained more than 40 images of child pornography, the complaint said.

Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e−mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 154.

Sen. Serphin Maltese Dogged by Porn, Pork by John Lauinger - NY Daily News

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For State Sen. Serphin Maltese, the arrest of his counsel last week on kiddie porn charges came with a painful irony.

Over the last three years, Maltese has given a total of $9,000 in member-item funding to a nonprofit anti-porn group known as Long Island Citizens for Community Values, state records show.

The Lindenhurst, L.I., group seeks to educate citizens and lawmakers "on the harmful effects and crimes associated with pornography," its Web site states.

Maltese fired his part-time counsel, Robert Groezinger, 53, shortly after he turned himself in to federal authorities on Wednesday.

"That was the first we heard of it," Maltese (R-Glendale) said of Groezinger's arrest for receiving kiddie porn via the Internet.

Maltese, who is facing a tight reelection battle against City Councilman Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), said Groezinger's arrest shows the need for groups like the Long Island anti-porn organization.

"There are people like that out there committing crimes and retaining these disgusting images of children on their computers," he said.

But the Addabbo camp took issue with the fact Maltese has repeatedly funded groups outside of the 15th Senate District, which runs from Maspeth south to Howard Beach.

"The issue is not that Maltese had a pedophile working in his office," his spokeswoman Alexis Grenell said. "It's that he continues to squander taxpayer money and sends it out of his district."

An analysis of Maltese's $2.4 million in 2008 member-item funding shows he has funded many groups outside his district.

He gave $15,000 to the New York State Theater Institute Residency Program in upstate Troy. He gave $2,500 to Brooklyn-based group Sons of Union Vets of the Civil War and $5,000 to the Executive Leadership Institute, also in Brooklyn. He also gave $3,000 to the alumni association at Stuyvesant High School, his alma mater.

By contrast, most of Addabbo's $565,320 in member-item funding for 2008 appears to have been given to groups within his Council district, with the exception of a few citywide groups.

Those include Community Legal Resources Network, which provides legal services to people citywide, and Catholic Charities, which operates a number of senior centers in his district.

Maltese accused Addabbo of "desperate" attacks and noted that during his 10 terms in the Senate, he has brought a total of $34 million in member-item funding into his district.

That doesn't count funding he gets due to his seniority in the GOP majority, such as $55 million for LaGuardia Community College and a grant for almost $2 million to repair five Metropolitan Transportation Authority stations in the district, Maltese said.

Maltese said Addabbo wouldn't be able to match that accomplishment, even if he were in the majority.

"He wouldn't have an ounce of influence," he charged. "He wouldn't command 10 cents in either house."

jlauinger@nydailynews.com

WITH BRENDAN BROSH