Female staffers accuse Rockaway nonprofit leader of sexual abuse and intimidation 

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The Rockaway Youth Task Force, founded by Milan Taylor in 2011, organized a rally for prosecutorial reform in January 2019. Taylor has been accused of sexual and emotional abuse by two former staff members. Eagle file photo by David Brand

The Rockaway Youth Task Force, founded by Milan Taylor in 2011, organized a rally for prosecutorial reform in January 2019. Taylor has been accused of sexual and emotional abuse by two former staff members. Eagle file photo by David Brand

By David Brand

Multiple women have come forward to accuse the founder and former head of an influential Far Rockaway youth organization with deep political ties of using his position to sexually assault, harass and intimidate young female staff members.

In a series of tweets Wednesday night, a former top staff member for the organization Rockaway Youth Task Force accused the group’s founding executive director, Milan Taylor, of raping her in February 2018.

“Milan Taylor groomed, manipulated, gaslighted, bullied, harassed, sexually, emotionally, and verbally abused me,” tweeted Andrea Colon, a former community engagement organizer for RYTF. “At the age of 17, on February 24th, 2018, after midnight at the RYTF Office, Milan Taylor gave me alcohol and raped me despite my pleas.”

Colon said Taylor emotionally and verbally abused her during her four years at the progressive nonprofit and used “his position at the Rockaway Youth Task Force as a platform to prey on girls and young women of color.”

Another former staff member, Tamera Jacobs, said Taylor “used his platform as an Exec. Director to amplify his reach to women of color.”

“He has abused and exploited the fire, dedication, and passion of youth organizers for his own personal benefit. I am disappointed that it took 10+ years and victims bravery to address this,” she tweeted.

Since its founding in 2011, RYTF has grown from an upstart community organizing group to something of a local powerbroker, advocating for the needs of young people of color in the eastern portion of the Rockaway Peninsula and promoting members for elected office and community board seats. Taylor and the organization gained national recognition following their work in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

A related political arm, Rockaway Youth Action Fund, has mobilized community members behind specific causes and candidates, including State Sen. James Sanders Jr. and Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson. The political action committee backed Rory Lancman for Queens district attorney in 2019 before endorsing Tiffany Cabán after Lancman dropped out of the race. 

Taylor did not respond to a phone call seeking comment. 

RYTF told the Eagle Taylor “is no longer with the organization and he has not been affiliated with the organization since October.”

Colon and Jacobs did not immediately respond to requests for comment. At least two other women involved with the organization have also said they plan to share their experiences of abuse.

The allegations are not the first time Taylor has faced accusations of abuse and assault.

He was arrested and charged with attacking a young woman inside the RYTF office in 2014. He accepted a plea deal from the Queens District Attorney’s office and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. He was ordered to complete an eight-week anger management course.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, who has in the past nominated Colon and Jacobs for Community Board 14 posts, called the allegations “troubling.”

“They should be investigated thoroughly and Milan Taylor should totally step away from any part of the organization,” Richards said by phone Thursday.

“If these allegations are found to be true, he should be held accountable to the highest standard of law,” he added. “To hear he misused and abused his power at the expense of these young ladies is troubling and he should be held accountable.”

Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato, who represents a portion of the Rockaway Peninsula, urged others to take Colon’s account of Taylor’s “abuse and predatory behavior” seriously.

“I also commend her bravery in sharing this painful account, which I can only imagine hurt everyday she had to bear it alone,” Pheffer Amato tweeted Thursday. “Andrea deserves swift and meaningful support and justice.”

“Andrea’s truth is a disgusting account of a man who used his position of power to take advantage of young people who looked up to him, and used their dreams and passion for a sick and despicable purpose,” she added.

This is a developing story and will be updated with more information.

Clarification: This article originally referred to Taylor as the head of RYTF. He is the founder and former executive director as of October 2020.