Sexual harassment in city government

SF City Hall

Patrick Monette-Shaw in the Westside Observer:

San Francisco City government is no more immune from sexual harassment scandals than other jurisdictions. The Time’s Up and #MeToo movements need to focus on our City government.

The sexual harassment bombshell that exploded around Harvey Weinstein and the entertainment business quickly spread to Washington, D.C. ensnaring Senator Al Franken, among others. It spread to our state legislature in Sacramento, where five sexual harassment settlements cost $950,000 over two decades.

In contrast, at least 34 sexual harassment and sexual discrimination lawsuits filed by City employees against the City have cost at least $9.1 million since 2007. City Attorney time and expenses fighting the lawsuits cost $5.2 million (57.2%), and $3.9 million (42.8%) was paid as settlements to plaintiffs. Eight lawsuits remain outstanding, so costs will increase. Another five sexual harassment unlitigated claims added another $565,946, bringing total costs to $9.6 million and total cases to 39.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) declared sexual harassment a violation of the Civil Rights Act in 1980.

Why are Civil Rights Act violations tolerated 38 years later in City government? Why has San Francisco retained at least 22 (52.4%) of the 42 Defendants accused of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination across the 34 separate lawsuits, who are still on the City’s payroll rather than being terminated?...

See also on the Westside Observer: Quentin Kopp on the high-speed rail project.