Community Board Manager Will Take Leave Of Absence While Stalking Review Continues: Source

COBBLE HILL, BROOKLYN — Craig Hammerman, the long-time district manager of Community Board 6, who was recently arrested twice and charged with stalking and harassing an ex-girlfriend, will take a leave of absence from the board for health reasons, a board member told Patch.

Hammerman had remained in his post following the arrests, sending the board's monthly newsletter, answering phones at the board office and speaking at board meetings. It's unclear what health concerns Hammerman cited in taking the voluntary leave of absence.

His criminal case, which was brought by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, is ongoing; Hammerman is due back in court on June 9.

The announcement about his leave was made at a meeting Monday night of the board's executive committee, which includes the chairs of the board's various committees. The meeting was open to the public, but Patch was asked to leave during the meeting so the board could discuss personnel matters.

The source Patch spoke to, who attended the meeting, said Hammerman's leave of absence was then announced to the board.

Sayar Lonial, the chair of Community Board 6, declined to comment in an email to Patch but said he will be making a statement at the board's general meeting Wednesday night.

Hammerman and his attorney, Joyce David, did not return voicemails and an email from Patch.

Community Board 6 is a panel made up of volunteers who advise the city and serve as a community liaison on neighborhood issues such as liquor licenses, bicycle lanes and landmarks preservation. As district manager, Hammerman is the only paid member of the board and serves at the pleasure of the board. He made $111,547 in 2016, city records show, and has been in that position for more than 20 years.

Community Board 6 in Brooklyn covers Central Brooklyn from Red Hook and the Columbia Waterfront east to Park Slope. You can see a full district map here.

The board's personnel, law and finance committee is "reviewing" Hammerman's situation, along with the city's law department.

According to complaints filed by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, Hammerman used his ex-girlfriend's Uber account to follow her to a Bed-Stuy hotel in late March, then made phone calls to the front desk using fake identities to try to speak to her.

Less than two weeks later, he violated a restraining order when he sat down next to her at a Park Slope bar and told her he was following her for her "safety," according to the complaints.

Hammerman was arrested after both incidents. David, his attorney, has said the claims are "absolutely not true." She has alleged that the ex-girlfriend "set him up" by going to a bar that Hammerman frequents when she knew there was a restraining order.

Image: Craig Hammerman, pictured second from left at the front of the room. By Marc Torrence, Patch Staff