Councilman Diaz defends sensitivity training comments

Bronx Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. is under fire again for inappropriate comments he allegedly made during a City Council sensitivity training session last week regarding sexual harassment and bullying.

News 12 Staff

May 13, 2019, 9:20 PM

Updated 1,813 days ago

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Bronx Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. is under fire again for inappropriate comments he allegedly made during a City Council sensitivity training session last week regarding sexual harassment and bullying.
When asked about reporting misconduct, Diaz reportedly said he would not rat out his people.
The Daily News says the new incident happened during the annual training session Wednesday, when a lawyer asked lawmakers what they would do if they overheard a staffer making inappropriate comments to a female co-worker in the elevator.
In a statement Diaz said, "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."
Back in February, News 12 had an exclusive interview with the councilman on comments he made that the gay community controls the City Council. Diaz backed up his comments then and is standing his ground to these new accusations.
Two New York City Council members introduced legislation Monday requiring city officials, including colleagues, to report sexual harassment.
"I'm proposing legislation that would require all public officials, including Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr., to report sexual harassment to the Department of Investigations whenever it arises," says Councilman Ritchie Torres. "Sexual harassment is not a compliment and those reporting sexual harassment are not rats."
In another statement, Diaz says he has no intentions of protecting sexual harassment or bullying. He says he is ready, willing and looking forward to co-sponsoring and supporting the "wonderful piece of legislation."


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