COUNCILWOMAN LINDSEY HORVATH RESPONDS TO LETTER FROM COALITION OF WOMEN DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM BOB HERTZBERG

Councilwoman Horvath Urges Seriousness, Responds to Senator Hertzberg’s Actions of Unwanted Touching and Sexually Aggressive Groping

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Councilwoman and Supervisorial Candidate Lindsey Horvath released a statement responding to a letter from a coalition of women leaders against State Senator and Supervisorial Candidate Bob Hertzberg.

“When women come forward and speak their truth, we must hear them and believe them,” said Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath. “Powerful men, with influence and connections, have escaped accountability for too long; unwanted touching and harassment are completely inappropriate, intimidating, and – quite frankly – inexcusable. I stand with the women who have faced physical, emotional, and psychological harm from State Senator Hertzberg’s harassment, unwanted touching, and sexually aggressive groping.

Despite the gains made by the #MeToo Movement, women are still afraid of Bob Hertzberg, and survivors are still afraid to come forward. I have spoken with many women whose names are not on this list but who are unfortunately all too familiar with Senator Hertzberg’s unwanted behavior – women who have experienced it themselves or who have witnessed his behavior. There are retired officials who remain disgusted not only by his behavior but by the downplaying and cover-up by their colleagues. There are staffers who remain in the Senate and who are still afraid to speak out because they fear retaliation if Bob’s son, whom he is trying to install into his own Senate seat, is elected.

I have spoken directly with former Assemblywoman Linda Halderman. I believe her. We must believe her. Bob Hertzberg engaged in sexually aggressive groping of the Assemblywoman, and we need to seriously ask why the investigation into his behavior found little wrongdoing. A survivor’s party designation or rank within the Capitol should not determine whether she is believed or whether her perpetrator is held to account.

At the time, Kevin De León chaired the committee that investigated his behavior; the committee issued a letter of reprimand but Bob was not called upon to resign nor did he lose his leadership positions. Today, De León has endorsed Bob in this race – an endorsement that Bob still has not renounced, despite De León’s offensive comments, including downplaying the seriousness of the investigation into Tony Mendoza’s sexual harassment, in the recently leaked Knock LA tapes.

Bob says he will clean up the mess in Los Angeles, but he IS the mess. Harassing and bullying his way through politics, while protecting himself and other entrenched politicians, Bob’s actions have prevented the policies and undermined the people that we need to move Los Angeles County forward. We must take the allegations against him seriously, and we must demand better. Bob Hertzberg is unfit for office.

I support the actions outlined in the letter issued this morning. They are meaningful steps toward accountability and healing.”