You should know that yesterday, Wednesday May 8, 2019, I was a participant at the mandatory closed door training specifically for New York City Councilmembers – not staff, not press, no cameras, no recordings. The training was about sexual harassment and bullying.
At some point after the training, an unknown person called the press and reported a distorted version of what happened.
It is important for you to know that I have always protected women and have immediately addressed any sexual harassment or bullying if I have even suspected that a woman has felt uncomfortable when someone is violating the rules.
However, at yesterday’s meeting, I did express that I will not report any person who gives a compliment to a lady or a man, in the same way that I will not report any of my colleagues who compliment me about how good I look in my hat.
Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you that I have no intention of protecting sexual harassment or bullying, and I apologize to any and all women or men who may, because of the way I have been misrepresented, have misguided concerns about my behavior in this coordinated campaign against me by people who are distorting facts and trying hard to get me out of the New York City Council.
I am Councilmember Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr. and this is what you should know.
