Opinion: Why survivors need Aravella Simotas in Albany

Assemblymember Aravella Simotas (fourth from left) championed the state’s Sexual Harassment Working Group, whom she honored last year. Photo via Assembly

By Elizabeth Crothers, Leah Hebert and Tori Kelly

Special to the Eagle

During the first hearing on sexual harassment in New York State in more than 25 years, survivors of harassment and sexual assault filled the room to tell their stories.  And Assemblymember Aravella Simotas said, “We see you and we hear you.” 

For many of us, this was the first time our harms had been publicly acknowledged, and we felt those words deeply: our abusers had all worked for the Assembly. 

We now say to Aravella, “We see you, we hear you. And we could not have been heard nor made such progress without you.” We hope many others hear that as well.

According to the United States National Institute of Health, approximately 80 percent of women experience workplace sexual harassment. This is a crisis, and it urgently needs to be fixed. 

Progress is driven by leaders who are willing to stand up for MeToo survivors even when it is inconvenient or difficult. Assemblymember Simotas has proved that she is an elected official who cares enough to learn about sexual harassment and abuse to create trauma-informed legislation—exactly what New Yorkers need.  When a knowledgeable, courageous, effective, progressive leader is elected, we must keep her in office.

Making progress is tough work. Yet we continue to see Aravella do the hard work: the difficult conversations, the listening and the undeterred commitment. The result?  Progress that changes lives. 

Aravella was one of a small, bold group of legislators who signed onto an Assembly letter to ask for hearings on sexual harassment. Her engagement was meaningful and constructive: at the hearing, she asked us — people who had actually experienced harassment in New York state government: “How do we better protect targets of harassment?”  She understands that potent policies come from intentional interaction with people, not a vacuum devoid of real experience.

From the start of our 265-day campaign for public hearings, Aravella was one of the few who believed in us and vouched for us. She advocated for hearings both internally and publicly. Her determination led to New York State workers getting not one, but two joint assembly and senate public hearings. 

Each showed how desparately workers needed these hearings. They spanned more than 24 hours, with the Sexual Harassment Working Group testifying and answering legislators' questions for more than three hours. Aravella was one of merely six legislators who was there for every moment of those two hearings, hearing the painful truths of workplace harassment and asking questions to help improve New Yorkers’ lives.

There are few women in office in New York, and no women holding citywide office. Many women are harassed out of government, not supported when they run. There won’t be  progressive women representing voters unless we actively support them.

Aravella was one of the first elected officials to read our policy paper; she then drafted six bills based on our policy recommendations. Then rather then seeking out a safe, established bet for a senate co-sponsor, she partnered with a first-term, progressive state senator, Alessandra Biaggi, to take the lead in that chamber. 

Aravella is a public servant before a politician. She advocates for her constituents rather than focusing on press or self-promotion, trusting that her record is the best reason for constituents to support her.  

Her ego is not in it, her intellect and heart are. 

We are women who walked the halls of power that protected rampant sexual harassment, abuse, and discrimination. We are safer now because there are Aravellas fighting for us and every worker.

At this critical time, we ask you to vote for Assemblymember Simotas, a candidate who actively supports survivors. It matters.

Crothers, Hebert and Kelly are former employees of the New York State Assembly and survivors of harassment and assault. They co-founded the Sexual Harassment Working Group.