Ashley Balcerzak, NorthJersey.com Published 2:17 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2020
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The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce said it plans to make changes to its annual landmark event held in February to make the “Walk to Washington” train ride a safer environment for women.
This response comes in the wake of a news report recounting dozens of New Jersey women’s allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, is working with Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, to form a committee to investigate the “toxic culture of abuse.”
NJ.com included the stories of 20 women who described sexual misconduct over the course of their careers, when they worked on campaigns, as lobbyists and served in elected offices. Many of the allegations, which ranged from being marginalized or verbally harassed to being groped or raped, took place at bedrock annual events in New Jersey politics: the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce train trip from Newark to Washington, D.C. and the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City.
In response, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce said during next month’s event it would increase security on the train and at the event’s hotel, ban hard liquor on the train, create a phone number that people can call and report harassment, and enhance sexual harassment training for Chamber employees.
The League of Municipalities said it would “identify where problems exist and explore remedies.”
Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said Wednesday he would not attend the Chamber of Commerce train ride or parties at the League of Municipalities convention until the “toxic environment” is addressed. The chamber’s changes “are not enough to bring systemic change to the pervasive culture of misogyny in New Jersey politics,” he said.
Weinburg announced Monday that she is forming a committee to fix the “toxic climate of misogyny, harassment and sexual assault that continues to pervade New Jersey politics,” according to a press release. She said she would ask lobbyist Jeannine LaRue, political strategist Julie Roginsky, and Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, to serve on the panel.
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“It’s a pretty shocking article,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “I wish I were completely surprised, but I wasn’t, and I suspect must of us weren’t. But it was pretty shocking.”
Oliver sent a letter to Weinberg recommending 17 additional committee members, many in the Murphy administration, including herself, First Lady Tammy Murphy and Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio.
“The governor was appalled — as was I — at the behavior described in the story and we are committed to doing what it takes to change the toxic culture of abuse and entitlement that has been allowed to exist across decades,” Sheila Oliver wrote.
Sweeney said he would have existing Senate committees hold public hearings “in an environment that is safe and respectful for women.”
The report comes in the wake of legislative hearings that examined sexual assault allegations and inspired a package of workplace harassment bills. Murphy campaign volunteer Katie Brennan accused Al Alvarez, a former Murphy aide, of assaulting her during the 2017 campaign, an allegation which Alvarez denies. A Senate committee found Murphy’s staff “seriously mishandled” the claim.
Ashley Balcerzak is a reporter in the New Jersey Statehouse. For unlimited access to her work covering New Jersey’s legislature and political power structure, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: balcerzaka@northjersey.com Twitter: @abalcerzak
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