Weinberg Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in NJ Politics to Issue Recommendations at Public Meeting

Workgroup schedules Zoom meeting and press conference today, Thursday, January 14, at 1 p.m.; panel members will discuss recommendations and release report

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics  announced that they would hold a public meeting and press conference today, Thursday, January 14, at 1 p.m. to issue recommendations and release their report.

“Last January, we convened as an ad hoc workgroup outside of government to hear from women in politics, government and the public sphere about their lived experiences relating to harassment, sexual assault and misogyny, and to gather ideas on steps that can be taken to positively change the political climate for women in New Jersey,” said Senator Weinberg “The recommendations and report we will issue grow directly out of their experiences and the ideas for change they proposed in months of public and private listening sessions, in written recommendations and in follow-up discussions.”

The Workgroup’s Zoom meeting will be open to both the press and the public, and will start at 1 p.m., followed immediately by a Zoom press conference. The public and press can access the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994482728, by one tap mobile at +13017158592,,82994482728#, or by phone at 646 558 8656 (Meeting ID: 829 9448 2728).

Senator Weinberg created the workgroup in the wake of a Star-Ledger/NJ Advance Media report in which 20 women told of being groped, propositioned, harassed and even sexually assaulted while serving as campaign staffers, political operatives, legislators and lobbyists.

The workgroup includes: Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver; Alison Accettola, Senate Majority General Counsel; Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer, New Jersey State AFL-CIO; Elizabeth Coulter, Director of Public Health, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey; Sonia Delgado, Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group; Rosa Farias, Deputy Executive Director, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority; Jeannine LaRue, Senior Vice President, Kaufman Zita Group; Sabeen Masih, Vice President of Public Affairs, Capital Impact Group; Debbie Parks, International Vice President, AFSCME; Crystal Pruitt, Franklin Township Council; Lisa Randall, Commissioner, Bergen County Improvement Authority; Julie Roginsky, Co-Founder, Lift Our Voices; Christine Shipley, Executive Director, New Jersey Senate Minority Office; and Patricia Teffenhart, Executive Director, New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA).