Assault on Sanitation Workers Should Be a Felony, Council Member Says

City Council member Elizabeth Crowley introduced a resolution at a Council meeting Wednesday that urges the state legislature to pass a pending bill that would make assaulting a New York City Sanitation worker a Class D felony.

"It's time we give New York's Strongest the same legal protections as the Bravest and the Boldest," said Crowley.

State law already sets higher penalties for assaults on police officers and firefighters.

Crowley announced the legislation from the steps of City Hall on Wednesday flanked by Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, and union president Harry Nespoli. She was also joined by Senator Martin Golden and Assemblymen Rory Lancman, Joseph Lentol and Michael DenDekker, a former sanitation worker, and the state bill sponsors.

Sanitation worker Faith Flemister said she's had many heated encounters with members of the public while doing her job.

"I've had guns shown to me," Flemister said. "I've had cars try to hit me. I've been spit at. I've had massive crowds of people try to pull me out of a truck."

She hopes the bill passes so that people think twice before potentially harming a sanitation worker.

"When I go to work in the morning, I expect to come home safely in the afternoon," Flemister said.