A member of the New York City Council faced an embarrassing situation in the street while being interviewed on live television. During an interview with CBS New York in Brighton Beach on Thursday, Brooklyn Council Member Ina Vernikov, a Republican representing the 48th district, was kissed on the cheek by a passerby, according to the network's reporter Hannah Kleiger.
Before the reporter finished asking her a question, a man wearing a hat suddenly appeared on Vernikov's left, kissed her, then turned and smiled before continuing on his way. The council member screamed in shock. The next day she stated on the platform X: "This is not the kind of love I expect from voters! It’s a very frightening moment."
Later, some city council members criticized the man's behavior. Bronx's Marjorie Velazquez said: "This disgusting behavior is unfortunately very common in women's daily lives," adding, "We cannot let sexual harassment become a natural part of our public interactions." Queens Council Member Lynn Schulman described the unwanted kiss as "horrific and disgusting." She wrote on X: "Unfortunately, this kind of unacceptable behavior typically happens to women, even in 2023." Queens Council Member Robert Holden stated: "It’s not funny at all."
