San Francisco Democrats are confronting a wave of allegations of sexual harassment and assault within the political community, and criticisms over how they were handled. While California's political culture remains ripe for abuses, reform efforts in San Francisco could be a model for others.
Assemblyman Phil Ting admitted to a "personal failure" after a domestic worker who advocated for controversial labor legislation said they’d had a sexual relationship. Party activists are now pondering: Was this a private matter, or a professional breach?
Among the 700 or so measures before Gov. Gavin Newsom this year are repeats of #MeToo bills that stalled previously or were vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
An investigation commissioned by the California Assembly found that former California Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas of Los Angeles, who resigned abruptly in 2017 citing health problems, likely harassed at least two legislative staff members while he was in office.