Councilmember Rafael Espinal (D-Bushwick, East New York) yesterday held a hearing on several pieces of legislation designed to help reduce sexual harassment at the city’s nightlife venues.
The bills demand that all relevant establishments, such as clubs and bars, put up signs discouraging predatory behavior and promoting enthusiastic consent among patrons. It would also mandate that all employees of such businesses be trained to intervene in incidents of sexual harassment or assault.
Espinal told a group of reporters that the legislation will “make consent in nightlife forefront.” “It should create a safer space for all New Yorkers and reduce the amount of harassment we’ve seen,” he said. “It will also promote awareness around the city for personal space. When we interact with others, it must be in a respectful manner.”
When asked to elaborate on the appearance and positioning of the signs in nightlife venues, Espinal compared their prominence to that of a choking victim sign. “Businesses can make their own signs to fit the aesthetic of the establishment,” he said.
After this reporter asked about the effectiveness of such legislation and whether it had been tried in other places, Espinal told Kings County Politics that “the bill is the first of its kind in the nation that I’m aware of.” He further elaborated, saying that the approach was inspired by that of the nightlife industry itself, many of whose venues post analogous signs without such laws on the books.
