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Salinas City Council takes up the #MeToo social media campaign

UPDATE 11/28/2017 6:10 p.m.:

A new push in Salinas to join the fight against sexual harassment and joins the #MeToo social media movement. On Tuesday, the Salinas City Council unanimously approved a resolution to reinforce its stance that they support victims of harassment and will not tolerate that kind of behavior.

It started with movie exec Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey, then politicians Al Franken and John Conyers. Every day it seems like we are hearing more stories of people in power, allegedly abusing that power. Salinas council members say it can affect all industries, all levels.

Farm worker Carmen Luquin said she was the victim of sexual harassment by a supervisor she worked with in the fields.

“I did not feel comfortable going back to work, I really wanted to quit my job,” Luquin said.

She is one of countless employees who have been harassed at work.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, anywhere between 25-85 percent of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

The city of Salinas said it doesn’t want any of it.

“We’re really serious about any type of harassment that should occur that we are supporting our employees and were not going to support any type of harassment discrimination retaliation,” said Council member Gloria De La Rosa.

That’s why the council is pushing a resolution to reinforce the city’s policies against that type of behavior.

One of the city’s largest departments is the police department with about 200 employees. Of the 153 sworn officers, 11 are women.

Chief Adele Frese said before any officers are hired, they have to go through extensive vetting, which includes a handful of psychological tests and background checks. Once a year, they have to undergo sexual harassment training.

“We want a healthy environment here to work in and every single person, whether woman or man, deserves that, you know healthy drama-free environment,” Frese said.

While her experience in the Marine Corps has helped mold her into who she is now, Frese said one thing has kept her going as she has worked her way up in a male-dominated industry.

“My first rule of thumb has always been and will continue to be: Not to have this presence of mind that I am a woman officer, a female officer. I am a police officer. That’s what I do. That’s my profession,” Frese said.

The Salinas City Attorney said while there has been harassment and discrimination complaints in the past, there are none that are open or pending that he is aware of.

ORIGINAL POST:

The Salinas city council is taking up the “me too” social media campaign. They want to reiterate to staff, harassment and discrimination are not tolerated.

Council members Gloria de La Rosa and Scott Davis are behind the resolution that will be talked about Tuesday night.

From movie producers to politicians, there have been a number of people in power accused of abusing that power by harassing colleagues. We’ve seen it with Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken, most recently, Michigan representative John Conyers.

City staff said if it can happen in the upper echelons of the entertainment industry or in politics, it can most certainly happen in other sectors, other departments.

Tuesday night council wants to emphasize to city workers that harassment will not be tolerated and they will listen to the victims.

“We do have a strong policy and we take it very seriously but I understand that it can be difficult to step up and say something about it when it happens to you,” said Scott Davis.

Council member de La Rosa said she wants to take it a step further, saying no one needs to put up with harassment or discrimination and she encourages any victims to come forward and speak up, whether an employer an outside organization even council members.

Coming up at 6 p.m. KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more from the Salinas Police Department about how it addresses sexual harassment in the workplace.

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