Crown Heights Pol Diana Richardson Booted From Brooklyn Borough Hall

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Former Crown Heights Assembly member Diana Richardson is soon to be booted from Brooklyn Borough Hall, officials confirmed Monday.

The ax comes in response to the reports of a"toxic" work environment created by Richards that saw her berating staff and ignoring COVID-19 precautions, sources told the Daily News.

Brooklyn Borough Hall spokesperson Stephanie Guzman told Patch Richardson's last day will be Oct. 17.

"After a series of conversations, Ms. Diana Richardson will no longer serve at Brooklyn Borough Hall," Guzman said in an emailed statement. "We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors as she continues to help communities grow and thrive."

Both staff and constituents complained that Richardson cursed at staff, set off smoke alarms in her Borough Hall office, refused to use email and had to be pulled away from a fight with a Crown Heights anti-violence program director before it became violent, sources told the Daily News.

Camara Jackson, the leader of the anti-violence program Elite Learners, confirmed the fight to the Daily News but did not offer details.

Richardson was even ordered to work from home as to reduce her interactions with Borough Hall staff, according to the report.

"From the beginning, the Reynoso administration sought to build a Borough Hall that prides itself on excellence, equity, and accountability," Guzman said, "qualities needed to build relationships that would carry our beloved borough into its future."

Richardson's removal comes less than a year after she abandoned her position as 43rd District Assembly member to serve as deputy borough president.

Assembly Member Brian Cunningham replaced her after wining a special election with more than 62 percent of the vote.

Richardson came into Borough Hall after helping get Reynoso into the president's seat, according to the report.

“Richardson got a large percentage of her constituents to vote for him because she supported him," community organizer Alicia Boyd told the Daily News. "He bought her into his administration as a way of paying her back."

Richardson made her way in the Brooklyn political scene riding a wave of support from reform political groups, like the New Kings Democrats, and harnessing anti-gentrification efforts.

But the Crown Heights politician also made headlines with antisemitic outbursts that included a rant blaming Jews for gentrification.

Richardson was arrested in 2016 after her 12-year-old son told the 71st Precinct she beat him with a broomstick and left bruises on his arm, Patch reported at the time. Two months later, the Brooklyn DA's office dropped felony charges.

In 2020, Richardson defended her use of physical force against her son on Facebook Live, the New York Post reported.

"I’ll just call it what it is," Richardson reportedly said. "I beat him."