Angela's out at City Planning

Photo from Daily News

From Crains:

While the giant nonprofit and alleged patronage mill founded by former Assemblyman Vito Lopez figures to survive his political demise, the same cannot be said of Angela Battaglia's post on the City Planning Commission. She is likely to be replaced before the end of the year, an insider said.

The longtime girlfriend of the disgraced politician has been a "holdover" on the commission for 11 months since her last term expired. She had been reappointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in February 2008 to the five-year term that began July 1, 2007. At the time, Mr. Lopez, who resigned May 20 because of a sexual harassment scandal, still had plenty of political currency. He generally supported Mr. Bloomberg's mayoralty and backed his controversial extension of term limits in 2008, even though Mr. Bloomberg had always run on the Republican line and Mr. Lopez was chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic organization.

But because of his lurid behavior toward his young female staff members, Mr. Lopez has now lost all vestiges of influence, except for his relatively unimportant Democratic district leader post (there are 42 such positions in Brooklyn alone). After the harassment allegations came to light last year, his Assembly Housing Committee chairmanship was the first to go, followed by the county Democratic chairmanship and finally his Assembly seat itself.

As for Mr. Bloomberg, he will be out of office in seven months. Politically, there is no reason for him to reappoint Ms. Battaglia. The insider reports being told by an administration member that the chances of Ms. Battaglia getting a new term are "zero to none."

The reason, said the source, is "guilt by association" with Mr. Lopez.