How 7 Women Helped Put Sexual Harassment on New York’s Agenda

How is it that a former elected official was hired at the state economic agency and the head of HR at Empire State Development has not been fired? This person knew, allowed this behavior to happen.

The laws are only as good as the people entrusted to enforce them. Survivor of years of retaliation for saying NO to Government Corruption in NYS.

The ongoing aggressive harassment in Public Unions also needs to be addressed. It is sooo bad in Albany and many legislators turn their backs due to the money they receive from the thug unions. Supposedly the union is not your workplace - so NO help from the Employer - NYS. Oh, and who can interfere with Internal Union policies? Much hidden abuse. We, the female public employees have no rights - nor a choice because of "exclusive representation". It's really sad. I can only hope our daughters aren't forced to participate in these abusive unions! Change MUST happen!! I have a recording of what the current PEF President calls women leaders. It's disgusting!!! There are several people who listened and can't understand why he is not in jail. Oh yeah, he continually tells us about how connected he is to the Governor. Please...

Hello! What is new about this? Countless women since 1980 have done this, complained, sued and won. Don't bash 95% of men who are not predators. Don't wait 20 yrs to do something, complain only when the promotions/roles stop, accept money from known predators like Weinstein because he is contributing to your cause or worse start the sexual activity to get ahead. When you do this like Hillary, you help elect an ego maniac demagogue like Trump.

What does it say about the culture of Albany, and the refusal of my party to genuinely speak truth to power (Sheldon Silver, who should be in jail, and Vito Lopez), that only 24 Democrats signed onto last summer's letter to the Speaker calling for hearings? And of those, less than ten women? Where is career politician Deborah Glick, so called protector of the rights and safety of women? Nowhere to be found. A Silver enabler who needs to leave Albany. What a lazy electorate so called progressive Greenwich Village and the rest of that district has become.

Bravo Ladies. Please accept the thanks of all New Yorkers sick of business as usual.

All I can say is that I am in awe of these women. Pain, courage and fortitude. This standing up to these horrible perpetrators and the indifference of Albany shows profound strength. Thank you.

I like all women and I too don't like overt unwelcome harassment inflicted on women, but perhaps the women just aren't receptive to men. I have an interesting observation regarding the adjoining photo; All the women are wearing drab black which might reflect the personalities of all except the one with the bright white dress. She is the only one with a smile. It's a pretty angry photo you should not be proud of. Isn't there enough hatred and anger in America now?

Kudos to the women in this article who fought for justice - for themselves, and for those who come after them. I applaud their courage.

Thank you to these brave women for speaking out.

Albany is like a giant small village. A huge but tiny town that is the capital of a very important state. Many people who work with the legislature are using this job as a “stepping stone.” They are just passing through town on their way to something much more important. On the TV series “Blue Bloods” a male character on the police commissioner’s staff said: “...and you think those hillbillies in Albany are going to pass a law to deal effectively with this very complicated issue?” THAT is the problem in New York State. NYC is so different from Upstate NY. Apples and oranges. People who think of themselves as very urbane simply regard lower level employees—-especially young women—-as cave dwellers. Unevolved people. Easy targets for abuse. No one of influence to protect them. Like a third world country where there is a caste of people who cook and clean and a much higher caste of people who are treated as gods or royalty. Or like the Catholic Church, where the priesthood is on a pedestal and children and nuns don’t matter. Disposable humans. So, when the Catholic Church changes is when Albany, NY will change. Not holding my breath....

I'm so proud of these women for staying in the fight!

The legislature operates in secrecy. The Legislative Ethics Commission is one of the only ones in the country that does not publish its agendas, decisions, etc. Sunshine would be good for Albany.

I have always wondered: What is it with these non-disclosure agreements?

I'd like to see a Times story on the negotiations over years for and against the Child Victim Act and, for example, why the final bill this year didn't simply eliminate the statute of limitations. I'm 78. I was sexually abused, not in the Catholic Church, not by a priest, not by my own family, and not in New York. But it wasn't until I found a competent, caring psychoanalytic practitioner in my late fifties, my fourth try, that I fully understood the powerful, very broad, and lifelong effects of having been abused at the ages of 10 and 11. Litigation and healing are not the same thing. There may, in the end, be no true healing for sexual abuse and its profound effects but there certainly is the solace of knowing one is not alone; there is the ability to identify and name and understand the event, the perpetrator, and the effects; and the ability to confront and force the perpetrator and the enabling institution to confess and change and, if one wishes, to extract appropriate punishment and payment. And, as these courageous women are doing, to change backward laws that protect the abusers and the leaders of the institutions. There is so much more, in so many more settings, to identify and prevent sexual abuse, and to help the victims. Including the prevention of suicide.