A Newark city ordinance offers additional reporting routes for city workers who have been victims of sexual harassment.
In a momentous vote for New Jersey’s largest city — and a nod to women everywhere — the Newark City Council on Tuesday approved adding further protections to public workers who are victims of sexual harassment.
The legislation, spearheaded by Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins, prohibits sexual harassment of city employees by other municipal workers, management, union representatives, volunteers or vendors for the city.
It also creates an independent task force to investigate claims brought by Newark employees. The five-member panel will be appointed by the mayor and include a retired law enforcement officer who did not work in Newark, a clergy member, two members of the public who do not work for the city or its semi-autonomous agencies, and a member nominated by Rutgers University.
“For anyone to say that this ordinance is coming forward because it’s political season, that’s a lie,” said Chaneyfield Jenkins, who is challenging Mayor Ras Baraka for his seat in May’s elections. “This is not a political ploy, this is not a political gimmick, this is a convergence of history and time.”
The #metoo movement has swept the country, with women coming forward revealing the men who have sexually abused and harassed them. It has taken Hollywood by storm and toppled lawmakers as well as leaders of prominent companies across the country. And now it’s come to Newark.
On Tuesday, women lauded the sexual harassment measure, with some telling their harrowing stories of being harassed, and even raped.
“For so long we tell our women and our young girls, it doesn’t happen here,” said resident Natasha Levant, 42. “We were shunned, we were told we were liars, we were told it didn’t happen, because we were scared of what we were going to face.”
“Enough is enough, the Me Too movement has come forward,” Levant added. She asked women to stand with her and promised to stand with them.
Loud applause exploded in council chambers as more than a dozen women stood.
Janise Afolo, 63, grew emotional in the audience and was comforted by two women. She later told NJ Advance Media it made her remember a time “when no one was standing with me.”
Afolo said she wasn’t planning on addressing the sexual harassment ordinance during public comment but decided to share her story of being raped when she was a sophomore in college.
“I have never shared my story with anyone, not even my closest friends,” she said. “This is personal, because I am a victim of a rape. My virginity was taken by a man I did not love.”
Thomas Ellis, 58, also approached the council to describe his experience being sexually abused between the ages of five and 16.
“This is very personal for me,” he said. “Men are sexually abused, men are sexually harassed. Women, you have the support of the men, but the men need to speak up.”
While the city already has a personnel policy forbidding sexual harassment, the ordinance bolsters enforcement, clearly prohibiting sexual harassment in the workplace and any place where city-sponsored activities take place. It also allows city workers to report inappropriate behavior to the independent task force instead of going through the affirmative action officer, who is a city employee.
The ordinance passed unanimously and was praised by the council. Mayor Ras Baraka has also expressed support for the measure.
“Never again in the city of Newark will any employee feel neglected, abandoned or overlooked,” Council President Mildred Crump said after the vote received cheers and applause from the crowd.
Newark City Council approves sexual harassment ordinance that strengthens enforcement and creates independent task force to investigate claims @CityofNewarkNJ pic.twitter.com/1uSxI9W2CA
— Karen Yi (@karen_yi) March 27, 2018
The ordinance also requires annual training on sexual harassment for all employees and city council members. Any sexual harassment settlements will be subject to the Open Public Records Law.
The task force will also have legal counsel and any recommendations by the panel will be sent to the director of personnel who will make any disciplinary decisions.
“This ordinance is about protection,” Chaneyfield Jenkins said. “The time was now.”
Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.