The former MTS employee who sued Nathan Fletcher for sexual harassment has published a blog post touching on multiple subjects related to her accusations against the disgraced San Diego County Supervisor.
On Sunday, March 26, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher made a shocking announcement that he would be entering rehab to address PTSD and alcohol-related issues, as well as would drop his campaign for California State Senate. Then on Tuesday, March 28, Fletcher quietly resigned from his position as chairman of the board of San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).
The following day, we at SanDiegoVille broke the news that Fletcher and the San Diego MTS were both being sued by former MTS Public Relations Specialist Grecia Figueroa for Sexual Harassment, Failure to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Retaliation, Sexual Assault and Battery, and Whistleblower Retaliation. In the lawsuit, it is alleged that Fletcher's wife, former California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, joined her husband in threatening to sue Ms. Figueroa for extortion. Gonzalez has denied any contact with Ms. Figueroa or her attorney.Fletcher released a statement admitting to a "terrible mistake engaging in consensual interactions" but claimed the allegations in the lawsuit to be false. Later in the day on Wednesday, March 29, following back-and-forth between SanDiegoVille's staffers and Nathan Fletcher's office about our impending story of an additional woman coming forward accusing Fletcher of sexual misconduct while she was an intern for his non-profit, Nathan Fletcher announced his impending resignation from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, to be effective on May 15.
Today, former MTS Public Relations Specialist Grecia Figueroa published a blog post on her personal website entitled "A Crumbling Façade" wherein she discusses the "self-interest" of our leaders and hypothesized reasons why "75% of sexual harassment cases in the workplace go unreported." She even included an audio file on the site where she reads the post aloud. Fletcher was not directly mentioned or addressed within the post.
Nathan Fletcher is yet to be served with Ms. Figueroa's lawsuit against him. Fletcher's office claims he has been out of state seeking treatment since late March, but we received an email from an anonymous source earlier this month alleging Fletcher was actually staying at his country cabin in the Fawnskin area of Big Bear, CA. We reached out to Fletcher's office requesting information on the exact state where he was seeking treatment, but they refused to provide more details.
This coming Tuesday, May 2, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will convene to determine the future for the District 34 Supervisor seat currently occupied by Fletcher. The board can decide to call a special election, make an appointment, or make an appointment until there is a special election. Fletcher remains listed as a "Professor of Practice" at University of California San Diego. The school has yet to respond to multiple inquiries and a public records request seeking information about Nathan Fletcher's history and details about the second accuser, who was a UCSD student at the time she alleges she was sexually assaulted by Fletcher.
Below is the full text of Ms. Figueroa's blog post.
A Crumbling Façade
“If you stand for nothing, Burr, what will you fall for?”
-Hamilton- The Musical
It’s frustrating.
How do we expect to make progress and find common ground when self-interest reigns in the hearts of so many of our leaders?
I’m not speaking to criticize. I’m simply sharing an observation.
Some use the phrase “believe women” as a façade, when, in practice, they mean “believe some women…if it’s convenient”. So which one is it? Because it can’t be both.
It’s no wonder people feel they’ll be judged when speaking up about sexual harassment, if seeking vindication of one’s own rights leads them to be called a liar, a mistress, a gold digger, and far worse names.
It’s no wonder 75% of sexual harassment cases in the workplace go unreported. Because even other women will label the situation a “salacious scandal” before a single piece of evidence has hit the courtroom or an investigation has at least begun. That is an insult, and it’s no wonder women feel threatened to come forward.
When those in power are able to influence others’ perception of who to believe or support, the vulnerable will always be deterred from sharing their truths.
But with power comes responsibility, and those in power have an even greater responsibility for their actions.
- Sexual harassment in the workplace and intimidation are unacceptable.
When leaders in the community choose what they support based only on their personal interests and ambitions, we all lose.
Choosing to come forward is not an easy feat, and it should be respected. Choosing to do what is morally right at the cost of your future and livelihood should at least be protected.
So, where do you stand? Because if you stand for nothing…what will you fall for?
Grecia Figueroa
