POLITICAL ARENA

Diaz Sr. blasted for harassment stance

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Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. — father of the Bronx borough president — got himself in hot water this past week over his position on sexual harassment, and it’s earned the ire of lawmakers at the state level.

State Sens. Alessandra Biaggi and Gustavo Rivera as well as Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou condemned the older Diaz over reported remarks he would not “rat” if he saw sexual harassment.

“Rev. Diaz demonstrated total and complete disregard for the safety of people in the workplace,” the lawmakers said in a release. “Since it is the obligation of city council members and other managers to report sexual harassment, the council must make it clear that Rev. Diaz or anyone else who refuses to perform this important duty will dace substantial discipline.”

In what seems to be in response to Diaz’s position on sexual harassment reporting, two of his colleagues on the city council — Helen Rosenthal from the Upper West Side and Ritchie Torres from the central part of the Bronx — are set to introduce legislation at the city level requiring all elected officials and managers to report sexual harassment.

“Sexual harassment is not a compliment,” Torres said on his Twitter account. “Rev. Ruben Diaz is dead wrong. We must always report it.”

Diaz expressed support for the measure, congratulating the two council members in a statement for “introducing the much-needed legislation for elected officials and managers to report sexual harassment.

“I am ready, willing and looking forward to co-sponsoring and supporting this wonderful piece of legislation.”

 

Engel pushes climate crisis bill

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel is sending a message to President Trump: Climate change will soon become a climate crisis.

“Today we sent a message to the president, to the American people and to the world that we recognize the seriousness of the climate crisis and that we intend to do our part to address it,” Engel said in a statement, after H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, passed the House.

“Climate change is a grave threat that transcends borders and requires international coordination. We are already seeing its effects at home and abroad, in stronger storms and increased flooding in Westchester and the Bronx, to famine and rising instability in other parts of the globe.”

The bill is expected to stall in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.

Ruben Diaz Sr., Alessandra Biaggi, Gustavo Rivera, Yuh-Line Niou, Helen Rosenthal, Richie Torres, Eliot Engel, Michael Hinman,

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