Sexual harassment claims become the norm at Sacramento City Hall
Sexual harassment claims have become the norm at Sacramento City Hall.
Even the mayor's own political party wants more supervision.
The Sacramento County Democratic Party called for an independent city ethics commission to investigate city hall on Wednesday. This is in light of recent multiple sexual harassment allegations and alleged misuse of public funds by a city council member. The county Democrats don't think there's anything independent about the city investigating itself.
What makes the request by the county Democrats unique is the fact that both the recently accused Mayor Kevin Johnson, and councilman Allen Warren, are both Democrats.
I asked Kerri Asbury, the chair of the Democratic Party of Sacramento County if it was a bit of an unusual move. "Well, at the end of the day, we're about holding our elected officials accountable no matter whether they're democrat or republican," said Asbury.
Sacramento County Democrats also said an independent review board was needed because complaints revealed a "shocking work environment" at city hall. That, and the fact that the mayor was using paid government staff to promote his personal brand and ego, according to Asbury. While it's unusual to hear criticism from one's own party, it's not surprising between the mayor and county Democrats.
It's probably no secret that the Sacramento County Democratic Party has had a chilly relationship with the Mayor Johnson through the years."Yes, it's true. We did not endorse him in 2008 and he did not seek our endorsement in 2012," according to Asbury.
Democratic Party vice chair Terry Schanz said in a prepared statement that he wonders "how many more negative national stories will be written about Sacramento before citizens react."
This is not the first time that an independent city ethics commission has been called for.
When Asbury was asked, she said, "Ultimately at city hall, you feel it's the fox watching the hen house. I think we need to have some transparency in our city government. Some oversight being done outside city hall."
The City of Sacramento through spokesperson Wendy Klock-Johnson issued this statement: "The city's policy and procedure on discrimination and sexual harassment complaints is available online. The city attorney's office is handling the investigation into the recently submitted claims."Sexual harassment claims become the norm at Sacramento City Hall:
