More than a year after over 50 employees of Evanston’s public beaches filed a petition with the city alleging sexual misconduct by their co-workers, and two months after those allegations were revealed to the public, City Council members issued a formal apology.
“We apologize for a workplace culture that allowed sexual harassment to occur, and we’re sorry you had to experience oppressive, uncomfortable, and dangerous behavior,” reads a letter signed by all nine council members and Mayor Daniel Biss, who spoke the letter into the record at the opening of Monday’s council meeting.
The letter further promises to release the outcome of an independent investigation commissioned
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by the city after the allegations became public.An investigation by WBEZ published in July first revealed the existence of a petition that outlined years of sexual misconduct and the abuse of beach employees by their supervisors.
Residents largely led the push for a formal apology in public comment and on social media.
“As these incidents have come to our attention, residents understandably have lost some faith in the ability of their government officials to handle delicate and serious situations,” the letter reads. “We take responsibility for this situation and will do everything in our power to right these wrongs.”
Those wishing to report incidents of sexual harassment at Evanston’s lakefront or within the city should contact Katie Hill at Salvatore, Prescott, Porter & Porter, the outside firm investigating the complaints at 312-283-5711 or [email protected], according to the city.
Joshua Irvine is a freelance reporter.