Thursday, December 09, 2021

9 December 2021: NY Lawmakers Drafting Letter Calling for Malatras Removal as SUNY Chancellor

SUNY boss Malatras must go for smearing Cuomo sex accuser, 31 Assembly pols say

James Malatras' documented misconduct in attacking female co-workers when he served in the Cuomo administration and at the State University of New York (SUNY) is prompting a large number of New York state lawmakers to demand his removal from the SUNY chancellorship. Here's an excerpt from this report:

Embattled SUNY Chancellor James Malatras’ days appeared numbered Wednesday as more than 30 Assembly members signed onto a letter calling for his resignation or firing, The Post has learned.

The draft letter being circulated will be sent to the State University of New York’s Board of Trustees.

The groundswell calling for Malatras’ ouster for smearing one of disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment accusers comes just days after Gov. Kathy Hochul refused to say he should resign.

“We, the undersigned members of the New York State Assembly, call upon the Board of Trustees of The State University of New York to terminate the Chancellorship of James Malatras, to appoint an interim replacement, and to initiate a national search open to all qualified candidates including women and people of color,” says the letter, being circulated by Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright (D-Manhattan).

“Chancellor Malatras has lost our confidence that he has the credibility or character to lead the nation’s largest public university so vital to the educational aspirations of hundreds of thousands of SUNY students. We agree with his recent statement, issued to the SUNY community, in which he admitted being responsible for `failing to live up to the standards that leadership of this institution entails.’ He described his behavior as “inappropriate, disrespectful and wrong,” the letter reads.

“Actually, his reported comments, included in transcripts released last week by New York’s Attorney General were misogynistic, abusive, and irresponsible. The SUNY system, which we all strongly support, deserves better. The students, faculty, and staff deserve better. The alumni, whose careers are impacted by the reputation of the system, deserve better. New York State deserves better. The time to act is now.”

Here is more background on Malatras' role in several of Andrew M. Cuomo's scandals from the timeline:

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