I harassed staffer: pol
Councilman quits as panel chairman to avoid hearing
City Councilman Barry Grodenchik copped to sexually harassing a female Council staffer and resigned as chairman of the Parks Committee on Tuesday to avoid a full disciplinary hearing.
The Queens Democrat admitted to harassing and discriminating against the staffer because of her gender by regularly paying unwelcome and inappropriate attention to her for more than a year.
“I understand that my actions caused the Council staff member to suffer embarrassment, stress and discomfort and emotional distress and that her work environment was adversely and negatively affected,” Grodenchik said during a hearing Tuesday. “I am deeply sorry for my conduct and for any harm suffered by the Council staff member as a result of my conduct.”
Grodenchik blew a kiss at the staffer – and only her— during a professional meeting and also hugged and kissed her to the point where she avoided meetings and Council business. He also commented on her weight. The unwanted attention violated the Council’s anti-discrimination and harassment rules.
A former assistant U.S. attorney who led the corruption case against ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was set to prosecute the case against Grodenchik this week.
Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s office hired attorney Carrie Cohen to present evidence at Grodenchik’s disciplinary hearing before the Standards and Ethics Committee, originally scheduled for Monday. But the hearing was pushed back after Grodenchik (photo) told committee staff he didn’t want to contest the charges and “would like to resolve the matter without a formal hearing,” said Councilman Steven Matteo (R-S.I.), the ethics panel’s chairman.
Cohen told the committee the case against Grodenchik was “strong,” Matteo said.
The ethics committee also consulted with the Council staffer he harassed before voting unanimously Tuesday to accept Grodenchik’s mea culpa and resignation as Parks Committee chairman. He’s also being forced to take sexual harassment training.
“He has expressed remorse for causing the staffer harm because of her gender and a desire to change his behavior,” Matteo said during a public hearing after the ethics committee held a closed-door session. “We believe the consequences here are fair, appropriate and reflect the values of the City Council.”
Grodenchik told the Daily News last month Johnson was overreacting to the case, “with an excessive punishment that is harmful to this body.” He said he’s supervised “dozens of women” and hasn’t been accused of “any misdeeds” in his three-decade career.
On Tuesday, Grodenchik said his public denials “did not fully or accurately reflect my conduct” because he hadn’t reviewed the full charges.