NJ Chamber of Commerce banning hard alcohol on its train to D.C.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced steps, including barring hard alcohol on its chartered train, to address sexual harassment on its annual Walk to Washington Tuesday.

“The State Chamber believes that harassment of any kind is unacceptable behavior,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “We are committed to making the environment at all of our events safe and welcoming for everyone, but the recent Star-Ledger article has prompted us to take additional measures beginning with the upcoming Walk to Washington.”

Last month, NJ.com published a report that said sexual harassment and assault were still prevalent in New Jersey political circles despite strides made under the #MeToo movement.

That report specifically pointed to the Chamber’s Walk to Washington and to parties held during the League of Municipalities’ annual conference as hotbeds of sexual predation.

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg has created an ad hoc committee to address concerns raised in the NJ Advance Media report.

The Chamber is also increasing the presence of security personnel on its train to Washington, establishing a hotline to allow event participants to immediately report instances of harassment and providing additional sexual harassment training that includes coaching on how to handle on-site harassment to its employees.

“It is critical that the issue of harassment be resolved,” Bracken said. “The State Chamber stands ready to work with state leaders to help resolve this problem and we look forward to working with Sen. Loretta Weinberg and her committee as it looks into these issues.”