By Julie BUTCHER

When Assemblymember Laura Friedman received her committee assignments at the beginning of the California State Assembly’s 2017 legislative session, little could the newly-elected legislator have anticipated that her membership on the Assembly Rules Committee would put her front and center in the “#MeToo” movement exploding across the country and in Sacramento, highlighting and challenging sexual harassment and, in some cases, sexual assault.

Friedman is one of more than 140 prominent women legislators, staffers, lobbyists and women’s advocates who signed a bipartisan open letter, “We Said Enough,” organized by lobbyists Adama Iwu and Samantha Corbin. The Oct. 17 letter begins: “Last week millions of Americans were shocked to learn of the behavior of billionaire mogul Harvey Weinstein. We were not. This same kind of inappropriate, sexually harassing behavior cuts across every industry and facet of our society. No matter a woman’s age, weight, religion, sexual orientation, race, social status, or position of power, she is not insulated from this behavior. It is pervasive.”

As just one of three women on the powerful Rules Committee, Friedman was assigned to chair the Subcommittee on Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Prevention and Response, tasked initially with a routine 10-year update of the body’s policies. The Subcommittee held its first hearing in the Capitol on Nov. 28.

Opening the afternoon hearing, the chair thanked Speaker Rendon for his commitment of time and resources to the work of the committee, and acknowledged the bravery of the women who have come forward, “to tell their stories, risking their privacy, subjecting themselves to public scrutiny. Without them here, there would be no hope of justice. It is our aim to create a safer work environment for everyone engaged in California politics, to begin to change the culture of silence and protectiveness. We are not unique as we see what’s happening across the country, but we will be unique in addressing our systemic problems with the public involved every step of the way.”

With that, Friedman gaveled the hearing to order. It lasted nearly six hours. At least two additional days of hearings are slated for January 2018.

Christine Pelosi, chair of the California Democratic Party Women’s Caucus, testified that, “We have rapists in this building. We have molesters among us. There are perpetrators, enforcers and enablers in this building and … a lot of us know who they are. We find out through that whisper network. People do talk; they just don’t come forward.”

Lobbyist Pamela Lopez told the Subcommittee that a current legislator had trapped her in a hotel restroom at an event in Las Vegas and masturbated in front of her. Jennifer Kwart emphasized the vulnerability of interns in district offices and shared her story about being invited to the hotel room of Tony Mendoza during the 2008 Democratic Convention in San Jose. She reports that he offered her alcohol even though she was only 19 at the time.

“What happened to me happened hundreds of miles from the Capitol,” Kwart reminded the committee.

State lawmakers and administrative staff detailed current procedures and their legislative history. After much probing, Debra Gravert, chief administrator for the Assembly, acknowledged that they track investigations but not complaints; she could not provide complaint data of any kind prior to her three-and-a-half-year tenure. In her recollection, a member of the State Legislature had never been expelled for misconduct.

Two members of the Assembly have stepped down in recent weeks: Raul Bocanegra and Matt Dababneh have both resigned following accusations of inappropriate behavior; Tony Mendoza remains in office pending the completion of an investigation. He has been stripped of key leadership assignments.

After the hearing, Assemblymember Friedman was surprised at the extent of the problem.

“Women have been hiding this pain, carrying these scars. Careers have been lost, lives destroyed. Justice cannot depend on who the perpetrator is. There are agencies who do this right, and we need to look at best practices to change our culture [and] institute a reliable system to seek justice.

“At the staff level, we seem to have done a credible job. The training is good, consistent. At the level of senior staff and members, however, our procedures are subjective and murky, [and] too dependent on relationships and ‘leadership.’”

Friedman characterized the first hearing as an opportunity to listen to the stakeholders, victims, constituents and advocates.

“We want input from everyone,” she said.

Folks can send comments to the Assemblymember through her website.

“If people want to provide comments anonymously, they can type it up and mail it to our office,” she encouraged. A hotline is being established to explain the detailed complaint process as well as to provide referrals for legal and counseling services.

In addition to future hearings, Friedman plans immediate legislative work. Last week, she announced that she, Eloise Gómez Reyes and Marie Waldron plan to introduce legislation to extend the time to file claims of sexual harassment beyond the current one year when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

“This is a bipartisan issue. It cuts across all sectors of the U.S., in corporations, and in Hollywood. The Capitol is not immune. And it makes me think about all of the women who don’t have enough of a voice, women working in restaurants and on farms and in hotels.

“I am determined to set up a way to hold people accountable, whoever they are. The hotline will provide immediate help, but we’ve got lots of work to do, to counter the culture of fear that exists. I anticipate working with the Ethics Office to make sure everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them. I’d like to explore potential roles for victims’ advocates, perhaps including ombudsmen. Most victims just want the bad behavior to stop. We can, and we must, take steps to start stopping this,” Friedman added.

“I want to turn the ‘Boys’ Club’ into the ‘Boys and Girls’ Club.’ The more women who are members of boards and in positions of power, the better off we’ll all be.”

  Julie BUTCHER