Not on our watch!
Push bills on city pols’ sex harass reporting
A pair of City Council members are looking to tighten the rules for sexual harassment reporting by city politicians after a Bronx councilman promised not to “rat” out those suspected of sexual misconduct.
Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal, chairwoman of the Women and Gender Equity Committee, will propose a bill Monday to mandate sexual harassment reporting by all city officials to the equal employment office.
Additionally, under Rosenthal’s bill, the Equal Employment Practices Commission would check on the status of complaint investigations every six months.
Also, Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) will announce a bill Monday to require public officials to report sexual come-ons and inappropriate touching to the Department of Investigation.
Under the legislation, the Council would no longer be excluded from a law requiring city managers to report unwanted sexual advances.
The bills come days after Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx), a Pentecostal minister, angrily interrupted a Council training that was teaching politicians the legal requirements for reporting sexual harassment.
“I’m not gonna rat my people out!” Diaz told the Council members, according to those present. “This place is full of rats!”
He later apologized, blaming a “coordinated campaign” to have him removed from the Council.
“As the chair of the committee on women, needless to say I was deeply disheartened when the reverend responded as he did in the sexual harassment training,” Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) said. “I see this as an opportunity to send a very strong message to all New Yorkers that the City Council is going to lead by example, that no staffer, no matter where they work, will be subjected to sexual harassment.”
Torres also condemned Diaz’s behavior and said by looping in the DOI in his bill, he hopes harassment will be treated like other government malfeasance.
“A stop-snitching culture is especially dangerous in the context of sexual harassment,” he said.
“We should treat the reporting of sexual harassment the same way we treat the reporting of fraud and corruption.”
There were 10 sexual harassment claims lodged by city employees last year; six were in the Council.
Torres and Rosenthal plan to announce their respective legislation at a rally on the steps of City Hall at 10 a.m. on Monday.