Three Women Claim Mendocino County Homeless Advocate Sexually Assaulted Them and They Were Fired After Reporting the Abuse

Tony Marsh in 2018 [Photograph provied by a Ukiah resident]

Tony Marsh in 2018 [Photograph provided by a Ukiah resident]

WARNING: This article contains direct quotes of the sexual harassment these women allegedly faced while working at Manzanita Services. This language could be disturbing to many. We have chosen to share the lewd and explicit language so the public could understand the nature of the abuse these three women claim they experienced from Tony Marsh.

Tony Marsh, a well-known homeless advocate in the Ukiah Valley, stands at the center of three civil lawsuits filed by former female colleagues who allege he sexually assaulted them when he was their supervisor at Manzanita Service Incorporated. Their lawsuits further claim that when they reported the abuse to their supervisors, they were fired out of retaliation. 

Manzanita Services Incorporated later merged with Tapestry Family Services Incorporated, another non-profit organization. Both are private contractors that the County of Mendocino pays to provide services to many of the county’s vulnerable populations.

Three separate civil lawsuits filed by three former employees of Manzanita Services (referred to throughout this piece as N.T., M.B., and B.F.) allege between 2021 and 2022, Tony Marsh, the man charged with directly supervising and training the three employees, engaged in sexual harassment—bombarding them with explicit propositions and come-ons escalating to inappropriate physical contacts such as touching their buttocks, inner thighs, arms, and shoulders. 

The behavior allegedly escalated to sexual battery when Marsh followed N.T. into their shared work bathroom and placed his hand “between [her] legs on [her] vagina and pulled his hand back tracing his fingers along [her] vagina, inner legs, and butt.

In the case of M.B., Marsh allegedly “grabbed [her] butt like it was a piece of meat” and despite her repeated pleas for him to stop, he continued to grope her.

B.F.’s alleged treatment by Marsh included grabbing her butt, sexual groping, and at one point telling the married woman “let me just get that pussy, I would eat it and make you want to leave your husband.”

All three plaintiffs claim that after reporting Marsh’s purported behavior to their bosses, they were met with hostility and retaliation by the organization with administrators questioning their work practices instead of offering consolation. Within weeks of reporting the harassment, all three plaintiffs were fired on the same day which they allege was an act of discrimination and retaliation. 

Now, armed with a team of Sacramento attorneys, the three former employees have each filed an unlimited civil lawsuit against Tony Marsh, Manzanita Services, and Tapestry Family Services demanding a jury trial where their claims of abuse and antagonistic workplace will be put to the test. 

Who is Tony Marsh?

At the center of the lawsuit is the alleged sexual battery and harassment committed by Tony Marsh. Marsh has lived in the Ukiah area since his teenage years and found himself at the wrong end of the law in his twenties and into his thirties. He was caught, convicted and sentenced for burglarizing commercial businesses and storage units–eventually serving time in state prison for his crimes. Sometime after 2000, he changed course and became well-known in the community for his homeless outreach–becoming a part of Mendocino County’s homeless services apparatus.

In his youth, Marsh was involved with religious organizations–even traveling to Mexico as part of missionary outreach.  In a brief Ukiah Daily Journal article from March 22, 1991, entitled “Foursquare youth off to Mexico” 15-year-old Marsh appeared, along with four other youth,  traveling to Mexico where they would meet other missionaries to perform skits and puppet shows in the parks of Mexicali.

The Ukiah Daily Journal spread that featured Tony Marsh providing his perspective on gun ownership

The Ukiah Daily Journal spread that featured Tony Marsh providing his perspective on gun ownership

On September 6, 2000, the Ukiah Daily Journal published a weighty AP newswire feature piece made hyper-local by Laura Clark entitled “America’s Teenagers on Guns” exploring young people’s perspectives on gun ownership. Clark interviewed several Ukiah locals including then 24-years-old Tony Marsh. Marsh told the reporter he had been exposed to “all kinds of weapons – from the smallest pistol to large-caliber machine guns.” Marsh first shot a gun at six-year-old but advocated for a required safety course for gun ownership for even the most experienced. 

Marsh went on to advocate that everyone should own a gun: “If everyone had a gun, everybody would be cautious about committing an illegal act.” He told the reporter, “I think Adolph Hitler was a psychotic man, but some of his ideas were sound. I’m referring to his quote: ‘This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future.’”

The Ukiah Daily Journal article that described Marsh’s arrest for multiple burglaries in the Ukiah area

The Ukiah Daily Journal article that described Marsh’s arrest for multiple burglaries in the Ukiah area

Three years after he admired one of Hitler’s ideals, police popped Marsh for burglary. On September 6, 2003, the Ukiah Daily Journal published an article entitled “Suspected burglar arrested”. Then 27-year-old Tony Lee Marsh was arrested at his Clara Street Apartment where police located multiple stolen items from a “recent rash of burglaries” including tools, cellphones, checks, money, laptops, and wine. Ukiah Police had yet to identify the owners of the stolen items and asked potential victims to come forward.

Approximately three months later on December 10, 2003, a District Attorney report published in the Ukiah Daily Journal stated that Marsh committed at least ten commercial burglaries in Ukiah during March and August of that year. As a result, Marsh was sentenced to five years and eight months in state prison for “commercial burglary” and possession of the stolen property. 

The report provided details of how Marsh carried out the crimes. He would gain entry to the businesses by “smashing windows with bricks, prying locks, or prying the doors.” On top of burglarizing the businesses, Marsh reportedly “left the businesses a mess”. During one of the burglaries, Marsh left a road flare near an open and leaking gas line which suggested to prosecutors he “may have intended to burn down the building as well.”

He served time, how much we could not determine. Despite his stint behind bars, Marsh would re-offend seven years later. A Press Democrat article from October 10, 2010, describes the 35-year-old Marsh being arrested by Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deputies for burglarizing multiple storage containers on the outskirts of Ukiah. Marsh reportedly stole goods from four to five containers amassing his wares in another storage container where police found them. During the course of the investigation, he confessed to stealing $3,000 worth of DJ equipment from one of the containers. 

The civil case filed by the Ukiah woman alleges Marsh has a history of meth abuse.  We were unable to find documentation of methamphetamine use in Marsh’s past other than the civil complaint.

Tony Marsh is a large man. The lawyers representing the plaintiff specified in their complaint that he stands at 6’2”. 

Marsh’s transition from ex-con to homeless advocate is unclear, but we found documentation of his role in the county’s homeless support infrastructure beginning in 2017. That year he was intimately involved with opening Building Bridges, Ukiah’s homeless shelter. 

Marsh referenced his experience helping open the shelter in 2017 in a letter to the editor published by the Anderson Valley Advertiser on February 14, 2020. In that letter, he endorsed then-candidate for Mendocino County’s 2nd District Supervisor Mo Mulheren celebrating her direct involvement with the shelter’s staff and guests. 

Marsh’s LinkedIn states he began working as a Team Supervisor at Redwood Community Services in February 2017. His LinkedIn has no end date for his employment, which still reads “Present”, indicating he never updated his LinkedIn.

Tony Marsh in 2018 [Photograph provied by a Ukiah resident]

Tony Marsh in 2018 [Photograph provided by a Ukiah resident]

Multiple documents from 2019 indicate Marsh was no longer employed by Redwood Community Services. He was once a member of the Mendocino County’s Point-In-Time Ad Hoc Committee, a group charged with organizing the annual count of the county’s homeless population. All those documents (such as this one) indicate he was no longer a member of the committee because he was no longer working at Redwood Community Services. 

The civil case documents offer an explanation for his exit from Redwood Community Services: he was fired for sexual harassment. 

Despite attempts to corroborate this claim, the civil suit stands as the only source associating Marsh’s exit from RCS to sexual harassment. We asked RCS Chief Executive Officer Victoria Kelly if she could speak to the claim. Her response was,  “[T]hank you for the inquiry but at this time RCS has no comment and will not be providing the requesting information.”

The next documentation of Marsh’s professional life comes from June 29, 2021, in a Ukiah Daily Journal article written by local reporter Carole Brodsky. Manzanita Services Executive Director LaSara Firefox-Allen described Marsh as “our newly-minted housing outreach coordinator and navigator.” She went on to say, “Tony is out there in the community looking for folks who have fallen through the cracks. He works with the county’s housing outreach team and helps people obtain housing vouchers.”

Lasara Firefox-Allen is no longer employed by Manzanita and when asked if she could speak to her workplace experience with Marsh, she said, “I’m sorry, I am unable to comment.”

As recently as April 21, 2022, an agenda from the Mendocino County Homeless Services Continuum of Care Coordinated Entry & Discharge Planning Committee listed “Tony Marsh, Manzanita, Co-Chair” under the “Invited/Attending” section indicating he was still considered an employee of Manzanita. In a review of subsequent months, Marsh’s name had been removed from the agendas. This could suggest he was no longer part of that planning committee or he was no longer employed at Manzanita.

N.T.’s Account of Tony Marsh’s Alleged Sexual Abuse 

N.T.’s complaint begins when she was hired by Manzanita Services in September 2021 and found herself under the direct supervision of Marsh. There is no mention of a period of grooming behaviors or initial goodwill between the colleagues besides making his new female colleague oatmeal or bagels in the mornings and buying her espresso shots. 

For simplicity, the following is a list of the sexual comments Marsh is said to have directed at N.T., despite her bringing up multiple times that she was married and not interested in him:  “I can make you orgasm like you never had before.” “I want to throw you on the bed and floor” “I want to bend you over and fuck you”. 

He would often invite the woman to a hotel to have sex. He told her “he had dreams about having sexual intercourse with [her] and that he could not stop envisioning it.” He repeatedly told her to just give him a chance.

He spoke of “wanting to perform oral sex on [her’]” explaining that “he would go down on [her] until she orgasms” promising to perform oral sex if they got a hotel room. At one point, Marsh told this female colleague to “drop her pants and he would eat it right now.”

N.T. also allegedly suffered perpetual physical harassment committed by Marsh. He reportedly walked behind her when she sat at her work computer and “smelled her while touching [her] back and shoulders.” 

On at least 15 separate occasions, Marsh purportedly followed N.T. into the bathroom they shared and would proceed to “place his hands on Plaintiff’s hips and/or butt. She would make her discomfort known by saying “Get your fucking hands off me.” Marsh would “laugh and state, ‘you know you want it.’”

Around their workspace, Marsh would grab N.T’s butt, arms, inner thighs, thighs, and shoulders despite the woman repeatedly telling him directly to “stop!”

The most egregious physical harassment was described in detail: “Defendant Marsh followed Plaintiff into the bathroom, from behind, Defendant Marsh placed his hand in between Plaintiff’s legs on Plaintiff’s vagina and pulled his hand back tracing his fingers along Plaintiff’s vagina, inner legs, and butt.”  

According to the N.T.’s complaint, she watched as Marsh walked up to one of the other plaintiffs from behind, wrapped his hands around her waist, stuck his hands in her sweater pocket, and placed his “pelvis and genital on [B.F.’s] butt.”

How Tony Marsh Purportedly Sexually Harassed M.B. 

M.B. had a significantly longer tenure at Manzanita than N.T. working there between 2015 to 2018 and then from December 2020 till when she was “wrongfully terminated” in April 2022, as per the civil complaint. 

In early 2022, like N.T., Tony Marsh became M.B.’s supervisor and trainer. While in this role, Marsh allegedly made numerous sexual remarks to M.B. such as “look at that tight little ass, “I just want to bend you over and tap that,” and, “you’re so sexy. Look at that butt.” Marsh reportedly “repeatedly made gestures towards [M.B.] as if [he was] performing oral sex.”

At one point, Marsh attempted to kiss M.B. Another physical form of sexual harassment M.B. experienced was Marsh grabbing her butt “like it was a piece of meat” and, after she said “stop”, he continued to grope her.

M.B. attempted to break through Marsh’s hardened exterior as the sexual assault and harassment continued by asking how things were at home with his wife. He reportedly replied, “everything is fucked up at home.”

The Alleged Sexual Abuse B.F. Suffered from Tony Marsh

Like M.B., B.F. experienced Marsh making physical gestures towards her that indicated he wanted to perform oral sex. Marsh would put his arms around B.F.’s shoulders and waist while standing “extremely close.” 

Similar to his alleged treatment of N.T. and M.B., Marsh would grab and squeeze B.F.’s butt. Despite her objections, he continued to grope her. At one point Marsh told the married woman “let me just get that pussy, I would eat it and make you want to leave your husband.” 

One specific moment that demonstrates a clear connection between B.F.’s job security and her willingness to tolerate Marsh’s behavior was when he told B.F. “if you shave your monkey, I will lick it until you can’t stand anymore.” B.F. told Marsh that he could not speak to her like that. From there on out, he refused to train her.

An experience with Tony Marsh unique to B.F. is her knowledge that Marsh would hoard canned food intended for distribution to homeless people in his personal storage unit. At one point, B.F. asked Marsh for some cans for a homeless person and he “provided [B.F] with a limited number of canned goods.” He told B.F., “when Armageddon hits, my family will be okay.”

The Merger and Promises of Job Security

In March 2022, the Board Chair of Manzanita Services Susan Era announced to the staff that their organization would be merging with Tapestry Family Services. An internal communication included in all three of the plaintiff’s complaints said the merger, “is a strategic move for us that will benefit both agencies and allow Manzanita greater opportunities in addressing our challenges.”

The two entities would retain their names and the organizations’ leadership and staffing would remain while Executive Director Natalie Shepard was brought in to facilitate the merger and lead the transition.” The communication assured staff that all permanent staff will retain their positions.

Though these two entities merged, staff remained specific to the organization that originally hired them. Tapestry Family Services Chair Kathy James told us that neither the plaintiffs nor Marsh were ever employees of Tapestry, “despite what the lawsuit claims.” In light of the lawsuit, James said, “no further comments can be made.”

B.F.’s civil complaint has a footnote that the Executive Director Sheperd and Marsh were long-time friends and previously roommates, a potential conflict of interest when these women allegedly suffering under the sexual abuse of Marsh would finally report his behavior. 

Time to Tell Someone

In March 2022, N.T. and B.F. felt compelled to tell a higher-up of the ongoing harassment. She reportedly reached out to Marsh’s supervisor, a woman named Lori Fisher, about the “harassing, abusing, and repeatedly sexually assaulting” they were experiencing.

In early April 2022, the N.T. and B.F. proceeded to file formal complaints regarding Marsh’s alleged behavior, including reporting him for hoarding canned food. Marsh was initially placed on a leave of absence while the administrators investigated their claims.

On April 11, 2022, M.B. would report what she had been experiencing to Manzanita administration and Tapestry Supervisor Helen Falandes. 

Later that day, a Tapestry employee referred to as Sydney texted M.B. saying, “I am in no way trying to pressure you…I am texting from my personal phone so nothing is work-related” but I talked to [N.T.] and I just want to make sure you’re okay woman to woman.”

In response, M.B. said, “I just sat down with Helen and let her know what is going on.”

Tony was inappropriate with me and I was going to just live with that. What is wrong with me!”

She got another check-in text from Deborah Rodgers, a Tapestry employee asking if she was okay. M.B. responded, ” [Y]es just really fucking upset… So no lol.” Rodgers responded, “I’m here for you.”

M.B. reached out to Rodgers again that day saying, “Tony is texting me wanting me to call him and I can’t do that. This is all way too much. What is going on…I feel like I have so much anxiety right now over all of this.”

Rodgers reassured her saying, “you do not have to call him. Reminder to breathe and know you are a highly valued employee and injustices happened to you and I recommend you file a report.”

M.B. responded, “I did. I did it with Helen”

Job Uncertainty

After reporting Marsh for his alleged perpetual sexual harassment and assault, N.T. began to notice the new Executive Director of Natalie Shepard “micromanaging [her] work and critiquing everything [she] did.”

Approximately one month after sending a memo to Manzanita staff that their jobs were secure during the merger, Shepard told staff on April 8, 2022, in a memo that 6-8 positions “are subject to potential layoffs and/or salary reductions” claiming that if these steps are not taken they will not be able to meet payroll.” In the memo, Shepard cited multiple factors influencing the decision to cut jobs including “budgetary reductions” and “the cost associated with administrative salaries.”

In an attempt to confirm Shepard’s claims of Manzanita’s financial insecurity, we reached out to Dr. Jenine Miller, Mendocino County’s Behavioral Health Director. 

She told us in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, before the merger of Manzanita and Tapestry,  the County of Mendocino paid out $1,162,380 to Manzanita Services for their work providing specialty mental health services to adults and the operation of two wellness centers. In the same year, Dr. Miller said Tapestry was paid $2,838,957 for their work providing specialty mental health services to children and transitional age youth.

Tapestry saw an increase of over a million dollars for the 2022 fiscal year with the County of Mendocino paying out $3,910,000.

This year, during the fiscal period that Executive Director Shepard described Manzanita’s declining revenue, Dr. Miller did confirm Manzanita’s pay from the County of Mendocino decreased by over 75% receiving $251,720. She told us that this was associated with a downsizing of their services. 

What remains unclear is how the finances of these once separate entities have evolved in the aftermath of their merger. Manzanita saw a decline in cash flow this fiscal year while the organization they merged with saw a dramatic increase. It stands to reason if these organizations merged, there could have been a sharing of fiscal resources. 

It’s worth noting, Manzanita Services Incorporated was awarded over half a million dollars from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, with $255,625 approved in April 2020 and $264,231 approved in March 2021. Tapestry Family Services, the agency merging with Manzanita was awarded $437,500 by the same program. Nearly one million dollars had been granted to these two agencies by the federal government for their payroll. Two years later, they told their employees that six to eight of them would be without a job.

The ‘Mama Bear’ Instinct

On April 13, 2022, N.T. caught wind of Marsh allegedly trying to force a kiss on another female colleague, M.B. Counting herself, there were now three colleagues allegedly victimized by Marsh.

N.T. texted Lori Fisher, the administrator she had reached out to previously regarding her concerns with Marsh’s behavior. 

Fisher responded, “[T]his kind of thing is not okay.”

She said via text, “[H]e literally tried to kiss [M.B.] at work up in Willits last week…I am so angry at him and felt l[i]ke the mama bear and want to scream at him.”

N.T., even after allegedly being victimized by Marsh, demonstrated her loyalty to her work family by apologizing for her “mama bear” instincts: “I’m so sorry this is all coming out and non[e] of us need any extra drama or stress from work we all are so amazing and gre[a]t work team, and family but this causing that to not be ok.”

Reported Interrogation

On April 18, 2022, five days after reporting the forced kiss to Lori Fisher, the N.T. met with Fisher and the Finance Manager overseeing both Manzanita and Tapestry referred to in court documents as Tom. 

What was intended to be a conversation about the ongoing abuse became an interrogation. Tom asked N.T. why she was openly talking with the other women who were allegedly sexually harassed by Marsh about their experiences.

The Thursday Workday Massacre

On April 21, 2022, mere weeks after bringing the sexual harassment and battery to the attention of their superiors, all three women were fired. The civil complaint describes the motives of that termination as discrimination and retaliation.

The civil complaint states that Tony Marsh was placed on administrative leave as a result of the complaints lodged by the three women, but never state if he was terminated as a result.

In summation, the lawsuit alleges these three women who suffered the non-consensual sexual advances of a superior had the courage to report their experience to their superiors. Instead of being supported, the three were met with skepticism, hostility, and ultimately termination, losing their jobs because they reported their abuser. 

No Justice, No Peace

California law requires employers to have a sexual harassment protocol in place to protect employees who fall victim. If an employee is experiencing harassment and is met by an apathetic employer, the next step is filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal body that investigates harassment and discrimination and non-responsive employers. 

If the EEOC intervention fails to bring an employer to the table, the EEOC will issue a Notice of Right to Sue and an employee can file a civil suit against that employer in California civil court. California’s employment lawyers typically work on a “contingency-fee basis”, meaning a plaintiff will not pay attorney fees unless the case is won.

These three women want justice. Of course, their attorneys are swinging hard on the sexual harassment and battery they all suffered and the retaliatory nature of Manzanita’s response. Compounding the legal liabilities of the defendants, a number of the verified civil complaints are associated with Manzanita’s alleged failure to pay minimum wage, overtime, provide a meal break, or itemized wage statements. 

We reached out to Susan Eram, the Manzanita Board Chair, for comment on the case. She responded, “Because of the need to both ensure the confidentiality of multiple Manzanita Services employees and because it is improper to publicly comment on ongoing litigation, I am not able to respond to the allegations made by [N.T].”

The civil suit was filed on June 27, 2022, with the Mendocino County Superior Court. That day the court issued a summons for Manzanita Services Inc, Tapestry Family Services Inc., and Tony Marsh.

All three plaintiffs are scheduled for a case management conference on December 16, 2022. Lawyers will discuss the status of the case. A settlement could be proposed. All three plaintiffs requested a jury trial and Tony Marsh has posted jury fees for all three cases indicating he is preparing for the possibility these charges could go to trial.

For full disclosure, this reporter briefly met Tony Marsh once previously in 2018. 

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Billy Wonky
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Billy Wonky
1 year ago

Scum going down the drain!

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
1 year ago
Reply to  Billy Wonky

It’s probably never a good idea to hire a Sociopath…

“Able to talk to Homeless People” is a low grade of recommendation…

guest`
Guest
guest`
1 year ago

They made a nazi sympathizing criminal arsonist ex-con a position helping the homeless get housing. Why would they do that?

This is terrible for the women who worked with him and the women who needed a housing voucher who we will not hear from. He sounds like a rapist.

Stillwantstoknow
Guest
Stillwantstoknow
1 year ago

Many VICTIMS of men and young men (teenagers) never speak out because they are silenced (victim blaming) and don’t realize that’s what’s happening until much later. But they suffer years of silent shame due to societal rampant “ victim blaming”. It’s horrifying to try to find someone who you can trust who will believe you. So they never speak. They just carry on their silent shame, crying their silent tears, day and night. For what seems like forever….😢Hoping and PRAYING that someday that day will come. GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. And I hold out hope that SOMEDAY that truthful day will come…

well . . .
Guest
well . . .
1 year ago

That’s why sexual assault should be reported to the police, as well as your boss.

Country Joe
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  well . . .

Spot on as companies have a tendency to cover it up.

NoGovernment
Guest
NoGovernment
1 year ago

i wanna know who hired him. they should be fired

Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
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Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  NoGovernment

I want to know how many people work for Tapestry, and Manzanita!? Could they have more admin than there are homeless in Mendo? 4 million dollar annual budget! 1 million in paycheck protection money!? GTFOuta here! They could have just paid each homeless person. I bet they wouldn’t be homeless if they had the incomes these “outreach”ers had. “This is my full extension” Maybe I should start a business reaching out. I will call it “Bay Laurel”, or “Wall Carpet”.
Time to interview homeless women he had contact with. Who else is betting he tried to get favors for whatever it was the organizations were providing. These women would have even less structural protections than the women who were fired.

Stillwantstoknow
Guest
Stillwantstoknow
1 year ago

I don’t mean to undermine men and boys experiences. I know they are victims as well and need a safe place for healing and support as well My prayers go up for all the victims this morning.

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
1 year ago

It appears that “Manzanita Services” is a fraudulent agency 100% concerned with scamming government money and delivering sketchy services using unqualified and low-paid employees while ignoring Federal and State employment law and abusing the few employees they actually attract.

That this man would physically assault women at work and not be immediately terminated, is disgusting and is a disservice to men who work jobs everywhere.

On the other hand, unnamed women whose photos do not appear here, are accusing this lovely male person of assault. They don’t just want him fired, they want damages and legal repercussions, based upon their verbal reports only.

This is discriminatory, on the face, unless there is some video, direct witnessing etc.

That all three women were fired, reportedly for reporting these assaults, is interesting, disgusting and probably completely illegal, but nobody really knows exactly what happened here, and, workplace stuff grows more complicated, by the minute, in Mendocino County…

This is a private agency disguised as an NPO, and based on these reports, and anybody’s knowledge of the low pay, poor benefits, and an apparent tendency to hire absolutely any person regardless of their background, education, criminal history etc, makes theis agency a very badly recommended workplace.

Everyone is cautioned to check out the employer, as the employer should be checking out the employee, because there are some very poor quality employers out there!

If you have had experiences like these, collect evidence, make a fuss, and if things don’t improve, quit, and if you have a case, take em to court…

Usually, the man is the one fired, but like I said, we don’t know what happened here, in fact…

Many of the players, have left the agency, and, it’s a tough space to work in for anyone!

The mission may have been laudable, but the application was extremely low-value, and I would say that it’s not a worthy expenditure for the County.

An investigation of the NPO status should follow, and an inspection of employment policies and procedures is recommended.

Don’t work there!

Nono
Guest
Nono
1 year ago

I get the story and all that jazz but will there be an update if found not guilty?

That’s the problem with puff pieces, they expose pending litigation and muck juries.

There is a huge reasoning behind newspaper outlets not running stories like this. I don’t mean to discourage the victims, I feel for them. However, it’s usually the defense team that approaches a media firm and contracts per puff piece x amount of dollars. This is used to build the damages. More people know if your wronging, more money your entitled to.

Look at B.A.T, perhaps the founding caselaw In workplace harassment of sexual nature. John Burgess ran Burgess, Anderson & Tate. That was the first time and last time 60 minuets touched a WSH case. That said, after he was found guilty in a criminal court, not guilty in a civil court… The not guilty in civil court allowed him to countersue the victims, of which he won and destroyed their lives financially. The only way this scum bag won in civil court was cause the 60 minuets puff piece. Took my mom 20 years of bankruptcy to get out of debt to her abuser.

Just Saying
Guest
Just Saying
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

I don’t think you know what a puff piece is. This is not one.

Nono
Guest
Nono
1 year ago
Reply to  Just Saying

“between [her] legs on [her] vagina and pulled his hand back tracing his fingers along [her] vagina, inner legs, and butt.”

I added the quote at the end for you.

“let me just get that pussy, I would eat it and make you want to leave your husband.”

What the fuk? Are you writing a Louis L’ Amour novel or just “reporting” on some extreme vulgar level?

Please do explain a puff piece to me, this article must be taxing on the victims, though you got your 30 seconds in the Sun pushing some feministic agenda at the expense of victims.

You could have made a clear portrait of this POS without all the vulgarity and pussy talk.

Let’s be frank, if I wasn’t quoting this article, kym would never let this comment fly. Thats my point.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

I’m not sure where to start with your level of misinformation:
A) we did not get paid
B) The Oxford Languages definition of a puff piece is “an article or story in the media that is excessively complimentary about a person, product, event”
C)Louis L’Amour would never have written anything so disgusting. I was a huge fan in my youth and I’m pretty sure I’ve read every word he ever published.
D) When we report, we routinely state things that we would not allow people to say in the comment section. “I’m going to kill you,” would be deleted instantly and probably result in a ban if it came from a commenter. However, we’d report it with no concern if an assault victim described the attacker as saying it to her. Similarly, vulgarities such as that are deleted with distressing regularity from commenters but we felt it was important to post here WITH a WARNING so those who might be stressed by reading this could avoid it.

Last edited 1 year ago
Nono
Guest
Nono
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I stand corrected, it reads more like an Iceberg Slim novel. 😉

Regardless of my opinion of how it’s written, it is cold hard news that we are fortunate to have.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

I didn’t know who Iceberg Slim was…I looked him up. Yikes…Not a pleasant fellow.

Two Dogs
Guest
Two Dogs
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

I too was stunned at the level of vulgarity deemed necessary to paint the picture. The delivery here was not in good taste or judgment, even if it was copy and paste. Brings into question in my mind whether or not maybe Matt has a few repressed desires himself.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Two Dogs

What the hell?! Ya it’s vulgar but it’s pertinent. There is an attached warning with the article as well.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Actually

Matt and I discussed this extensively. I was pretty shook after reading the draft he sent. BUT, that’s the point. If those allegations are true, then we should be horrified.
Otherwise the information readers have is that a man is alleged to said some vulgar things and touched one of the women intimately.
The level of danger that the women were allegedly exposed to would not have come across. We felt that the continuous oppressive nature of the vulgarity needed to be shown–as obviously did the attorneys who wrote the case up for a judge to look at.

guest`
Guest
guest`
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I for one, am glad Matt isn’t glossing it over Too often the language around these assaults is degendered and minimizes the actual offense. “Person assaults person.” I think clear language is illuminating and you can see some men here either don’t know what to say or try to tone police because they see themselves in these reports.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Two Dogs

Matt’s piece was edited by me as is the case for everything but press releases and columns such as Humboldt Last Week and HappyDay. I’m pretty sure I don’t have any repressed desires or if so, it must be to feel nauseous because that is how I felt while editing this piece.

Speak Your Truth
Guest
Speak Your Truth
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I would like to speak with you about another recent workplace situation that we have not been heard on. We are seeking assistance with and through this.

guest`
Guest
guest`
1 year ago
Reply to  Matt LaFever

Thank you for covering this story. It must have been hard to write.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago

Matt is the author and covering the story. He would love to speak with you.

Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
Guest
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

When it got too much I used the powers of my mind to allow my eyes to dart ever so much faster over the part I didn’t want to go into my brain. The pro readers call it “skimming”, or even “skipping ahead”.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago

Hard to edit that way…

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
1 year ago
Reply to  Matt LaFever

It’s akin to telling people not to look directly at a solar eclipse and then they do it anyways and complain that their eyes hurt. 🙄

Two Dogs
Guest
Two Dogs
1 year ago
Reply to  Matt LaFever

I fully understand the gravity of the accusations involved here, and the difficulties victims of this type of crime endure.
I don’t think most women would bring these sorts of experiences forward any more readily, knowing they were to be further exposed to humiliation by an enraged reporter with a lousy filter and low communication skills.
It says a lot about any person’s priorities and values when they print offensive language in such base form, thinking they have accomplished some sort of social coup.
If I were you I would quit while you’re ahead, as your last paragraph has some stuff in it that could be examined through a critical eye, and give the impression you are being heavily, subliminally influenced.

guest`
Guest
guest`
1 year ago
Reply to  Two Dogs

The victims did nothing wrong here. I don’t know why you are focusing on shame the victims should feel at their story being told instead of the shameful horrible acts of the psycho excon arsonist dude.
What the ef is wrong with you, Bro? You seem to want to silence these women who have a right to be heard and get some sort of justice.

ABA
Guest
ABA
1 year ago
Reply to  Two Dogs

“Exposed to humiliation by an enraged reporter with a lousy filter and low communication skills.“

So, which article are you reading?

Artemis
Guest
Artemis
1 year ago
Reply to  Two Dogs

Please return to your bubble wrapped reality and leave the real world adulting to those of us who are strong enough for it. Your opinions are like fruit flies in a kitchen….

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Two Dogs

Please define offensive language. Pretty please with a cherry on top.

Artemis
Guest
Artemis
1 year ago
Reply to  Matt LaFever

Yes! Well said, Matt! Thank you for a truly transparent report and brilliant retort for Two Dogs.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

Did you not read the disclaimer at the beginning? If you’re easily offended then skip to the next article. You have no one to blame but yourself.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

If that’s what was said and done, that’s what should be printed.

Truth trumps fragile sensibilities and unrelated histories.
Especially when a warning is posted for those who may be triggered by the content.

There are quotation marks around the women’s remarks and they have a right to be heard.

Last edited 1 year ago
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
Guest
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

You trust a DA and judge to handle it responsibly in quiet? Privately. Sure helps the abuser. How has this worked recently in Mendocino? One of Kevin Murray’s accusers was never contacted to testify by Eyster. Ostensibly the prosecutor in the case. Her lawyer heard about the sentencing in the media. Maybe the DAs office should hire an overpaid top heavy private firm to do outreach to victims and witnesses of the cases they’re prosecuting.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
1 year ago
Reply to  Nono

It was not a puff piece but it certainly was full of extraneous repetitions serving no purpose but to attach every internet favored condemnation to the accused. What does a 20 year old interview about gun ownership or repeating a bit of internet misinformation about Hitler and gun registration have to do with sexual harassment? The only point seemingly is to paint a picture of a person it’s okay to hare. And it certainly successful at that. Hardly anyone has expressed a desire to be careful about deciding guilt based on a news article.
The chances of the accusers being held libel for defamation because of it in California these days is luckily almost zero. Even if the accusations are false- and that seems very unlikely- he would never be able to recoup any damages. He can’t even claim job loss because it seems the employer is denying he is an employee and, even if he was, they have the right to fire him at any time. He is not in a protected class.

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
1 year ago
Reply to  Nooo

Didn’t you take exactly the opposite view on the article about 2 feathers?
Or am I remembering incorrectly?.
I’m pretty sure you were ready to hang him out to dry.

Last edited 1 year ago
Nooo
Guest
Nooo
1 year ago
Reply to  HotCoffee

Not me… But it’s not that I think he is innocent but just that a lot of it has nothing to do with the purported crimes. Whether he is a gun toting believer in being armed or repeated that common bit of misinformation on Hitler does not mean he did or did not do the things alleged. So what was the point of writing about them? The only thing I can come up with is to paint him as a stereotypical bad guy and thus must be guilty.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Nooo

I found the portrait of the man to be interesting. I don’t hate on gun ownership, being a thief and then in a position of power involving people with little to no power is interesting. Do you dispute the claims of the article? It seems like another exhaustive investigative piece of journalism provided to you the reader for free. I don’t get your beef.

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
1 year ago
Reply to  Actually

No, I don’t dispute them. I have no basis for any judgement in either direction except it seems that there’s a lot of ugliness alleged and, if true, he should suffer the consequences.

Why are you interested in his portrait? To decide if his prior gun ownership means he is guilty of the accusations? Because it doesn’t follow that one leads to the other. It would be like saying the victim wanted sex and it was not rape because she dressed in a short skirt. It just demonizes without proving the assertion His thoughts twenty years ago on owning a gun is just not relevant to the crime. Unless I suppose if he used a gun in the crimes.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Nooo

Uh, because I love journalism which more often than not a portrait of humanity. Which as a lover of journalism, I will always find interesting regardless of my own biases. Obviously you as well find it interesting or else why even bother commenting…

Also I love how you assume all sorts of things about the type of interest I have. We all have biases, I could very easily be thinking “yeah man, dude totally made a good point about hitler/guns why they being so harsh innocent until proven guilty y’all”.

I don’t know the dude, but everything Matt lefever wrote was well researched from public records. This is a well done piece regardless of “offensive language”(please define that for me I’m all ears) and I found it interesting.

Again regardless of the relevancy to the crime everything written about is public knowledge. However you feel about this does not negate the right for journalistists to investigate and report these things.

I dunno once I realized this basic fact about America and the world at large, I slowed my roll quite a bit and tried to leave a positive record of my existence…

Last edited 1 year ago
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
Guest
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  Actually

I thought it interesting, his take that if everyone was armed there would be less crime because criminals would be afraid of getting shot… then he goes and robs a bunch of storage units. So kinda messes up his big theory. I suppose the storage unit renters could have been home stroking their arsenal at the very time he was robbing them!

Adrienne Floreen
Guest
1 year ago

Marsh went on to advocate that everyone should own a gun: “If everyone had a gun, everybody would be cautious about committing an illegal act.” He told the reporter, “I think Adolph Hitler was a psychotic man, but some of his ideas were sound. I’m referring to his quote: ‘This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future.”
Marsh must have been my high school teacher’s brother, when I complained about her the high school principal said she was alright because she liked dogs. I responded, “Hitler also liked dogs.” They ultimately transferred me to another class with a different teacher.

meme
Member
meme
1 year ago

I hope that putting all these details out here like this doesn’t hurt the victims in court.

Last edited 1 year ago
NoBody
Guest
NoBody
1 year ago

And here comes the lynch mob. What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty in a court of law? Everything these women are claiming needs to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. I’m not saying this did or did not happen, nor am I taking sides but that’s just how the system works in America.

Speak Your Truth
Guest
Speak Your Truth
1 year ago
Reply to  NoBody

Some of us others know this to be true about this person. I have no doubt in my mind. I myself have called him out on it in my former workplace in an all staff meeting, as well.
A tiger doesn’t change its stripes.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
1 year ago

For the rest of us who haven’t had the pleasure of interacting with him, then he’s innocent until proven guilty. It is hard though to prove something like this without witnesses/video/audio. It turns into a case of ‘He said’ ‘She said’.
Did you report your experience or sweep it under the table?

Last edited 1 year ago
well . . .
Guest
well . . .
1 year ago

That’s a lot to read for me this morning. What happened when they reported the sexual assault to police shortly after it occurring?

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
1 year ago

Trying to remember who said it: “When you’re famous, you can just grap ’em by the pu@&y”

Me
Guest
Me
1 year ago
Reply to  thetallone

I think it was “FORMER” president Donald The Duck tRump.

Al L Ivesmatr
Guest
Al L Ivesmatr
1 year ago
Reply to  thetallone

You can, sorry to burst your bubble. Crude, rude, socially unacceptable but ask any rock star or actor what he meant by that, and ask the groupie women who want every bit of that. Facts, reality, and circumstances matter. Repeating memes as if no one knows this reality is just a dig and diversion to score points with the NOW women and sensitive men who couldn’t score if they paid for it. As for the reality of this homeless advocate guy, he appears to be just another criminal loser who needs to pay for it if he doesn’t scare em off first.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

Small difference between grabbing their panties and having them throw it onto the stage. 🙄

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

Score?

guest`
Guest
guest`
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

Women don’t deserve to be assaulted at work and men who call out naziexconarsonistcrook guy are strong men. Women also don’t deserve to be silenced and it is a public service to expose these men in a sparsely populated rural county.
You can’t read a trigger warning and you were triggered by hearing women’s stories. Maybe you recognize yourself, ALI.

Actually
Guest
Actually
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

Lol. Rock stars and actors are not the president of the United States. Uhhhh….
Actually wow, there’s a lot going on in this post.

Seek help please.

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
1 year ago
Reply to  Actually

Actually, since it seems that you’re referencing a former President (tRump) then I must correct you and say that we had a former President who was an actor, namely Ronald Reagan.

Last edited 1 year ago
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
Guest
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  Al L Ivesmatr

Not a meme. A recording made of tour bus banter. Circus l’Orange would have rather that not come out. Didn’t hurt him that much though. Maybe his supporters are pretty flexible with their morals.

Last edited 1 year ago
Guess
Guest
Guess
1 year ago
Reply to  thetallone

True! But can we get a big fondle hair sniff in plain view of the crowds? Makes me super confident in our future.

Quit victim blaming
Guest
Quit victim blaming
1 year ago

They blame the victim for what they wear, for trusting the suspect, for being female, for being pretty, for being anything because they have a hard time facing the truth that EVIL does exist. Sorry to burst your safe bubble but EVIL does exist and if one chooses to look the other way, then they are enabling the evil to continue. Time to speak up! Wrong is wrong regardless of title, power, and gender.

Lisa K Lopez
Guest
Lisa K Lopez
1 year ago

WHERE IS THE PART ABOUT THEIR SETTLEMENT THEY ACCEPTED QUIETLY OUT OF COURT?!?!—THESE DESPICABLE PEOPLE ARE STRAIGHTFORWARDLY ON A MISSION TO BURN TONY TO THE GROUND. Someone with the sole intention to right a wrong, do just that, go through the proper channels, use proper procedures, follow protocols. These women site having done almost none of that if you read the article. They “site,” egregious “claims,” of abuse and try to site Tony’s past as though it discredits him somehow. Tony’s past gives him the exact knowledge and experience he needs to do the excellent work he does in this community!! I see no claim of mediation in this article. I see no claim of stop and
desist letter. I see no claim of a write up put in his file by or from his supervisor. Why were these procedures ignored?

I grew up with Tony. I worked with Tony. I trust Tony wholly. His works in the community aight NOT be diminished by a stack of words, especially by a biased author. I’d like to see a fair article that shows all the facts and outlines the real Tony and his good works, that would be an article worth a read, not this dribble.

guest`
Guest
guest`
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa K Lopez

“NOT MY NIGEL!” (google it)

If rapey men were rapey with everyone it would be so much easier to get everyone on board with the idea that no one, even women you don’t know don’t deserve to be sexually assaulted by your dear childhood friend who would never ever do you a wrong.

yuck
Guest
yuck
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa K Lopez

Tony? Is that you?

Speak Your Truth
Guest
Speak Your Truth
1 year ago

I would like to know who is representing the women who were victimized by this predator. A coworker and I have a similar situation from our previous place of employment regarding unlawful activity happening there, and we would like to tell our stories. People need to be held accountable for their actions, while others need to be heard. I am very happy to see these women coming forward about this treatment in the workplace. Who can we contact about our stories as well?

Marco
Guest
Marco
1 year ago
Reply to  Matt LaFever

Ukiah police department is hiring, apparently this is what they are looking for. What a joke, these guys need to be locked up!

Shortjohnson
Guest
Shortjohnson
1 year ago

Its amazing how many dudes think this talk is not sexual harrassment. Just clueless and out to make women feel like a piece of meat. The dude needs 26 classes on domestic relations, a dozen in work place ethics and 200 hours of community service to teach him right. Oh yeah we will need to tag him for 20% of all $ earned until he pays the required restitution.

And the pee yes, we will need to get a dog to sniff his pee to make sure he isnt using unapproved substances.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
1 year ago

That is exactly the kind of people that they let into these positions. Do not forget that MCHCVAN, Manzanita Services, RCS, RQMC, Ukiah Recovery, Ford Street, Measure B Mess and Building Bridges are all offshoots of Mendocino County. All paid for by a funding stream originated by Mendocino County. Many of the people within these services have either been clients of the services, worked at other services, transferred to other places as they developed etc. Other huge glaring elephant in the room is the fact that a gentleman like this preys with his skillful knowledge of the populations. You wouldn’t believe the emotional, psychological and physical abuse that occurs in these broken systems everyday. The staff dish their judgements out freely to never be questioned. Treat people as sub human. HEY A warm body is better than NO BODY! If all the staff left that could hurt funding!!! So they hire abusive staff with the full blessings of those pulling the purse strings. Turning an absolute blind eye to keep the money coming. Sickning truth. Many more like him.

Lisa K Lopez
Guest
Lisa K Lopez
1 year ago

THESE PEOPLE MUST BE ON A MISSION TO BURN TONY TO THE GROUND. SUING TWO COMPANIES THAT DO NOTHING BUT GOOD WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL LIKELY SUFFER FROM THE SUITS. AS WELL AS SUING TONY PERSONALLY, A FATHER OF TWO, FAMILY MAN, FRIEND, AND ALL-AROUND GOOD GUY TO KNOW, A MAN WHO HAS MY RESPECT AS HE HIMSELF HAS DONE GREAT WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

When we have the sole intention to right a wrong, we simply do that, go through the proper channels, use proper procedures, follow protocols. They site having done almost none of that. To be clear, some of these claims are absolutely horrendous, and if true, why not call the authorities? File a police report? Why not have Tony arrested? Let’s forget for a moment they claim they were physically assaulted and and did nothing. I see no request for mediation mentioned. I see no request for a “stop and desist” letter either. I don’t even see a request that he be“written up” and have it put in his file by or from his Supervisor or Human Resources. Why ignore procedure?

The article goes on, it appears as if to site Tony’s criminal history as though it discredits him somehow. Tony’s life experience gives him the exact right knowledge and skills he needs to do the excellent work he does in this community.

I grew up with Tony and I worked with him at Building Bridges as well. I trust Tony wholly. He is loud, funny and smart. He is silly and kind. I know him NOT as the monster depicted here with mere words, but as a gentle giant with a kind heart.

Tony is someone who will give you his jacket when you’re cold, even if he doesn’t have one. Tony came into work at midnight having had no sleep himself, and finished the overnight shift with me. I worked aide-by-side with Tony for six months and never once felt objectified or harassed. None of my team members confided any feelings of discomfort around Tony either. He was a professional. He was the Supervisor who showed up, and got the work done instead of talking about how it should be done. I know of no one who gives more of themselves for people in need, he is fearless and tireless.

His works in the community aught NOT be diminished by three clearly angry people, and a patently biased article. I’d like to see a balanced article representing all the facts, outlining who Tony really is and his good works, an article worth a read.

Tony is one of my favorite people because he is honest. I can trust him to tell me the truth, even when I will not like it, that is all I ask. I implore you, ask Tony for yourselves, about these allegations. You will see what I already know. This is fiction. These people want to annihilate him, for what reason? It’s like trying to make sense out of nonsense, there is no reason good enough for attempting to ruin the reputation of a good man.

Grin Reaper
Guest
Grin Reaper
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa K Lopez

A two time loser, a convicted thief, a drug addict, and more. How can his reputation be “ruined?” He’s one of your favorite people because he’s “honest.” That is the funniest thing I’ve read all year. Oh, and Lisa, maybe you need to be investigated, as well since you worked with him. Wow. Just wow. And Lasara Firefox-Allen? Phony to the core. Always has been. Doesn’t surprise me she can’t tell a three dollar bill when she sees one, because she is one. But at least she kept quiet (and she’s not a thief), as opposed to Lisa, who just showed she’s in on it if on no other level, covering Tony’s tracks.

Mendocino Mamma
Guest
Mendocino Mamma
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa K Lopez

Matt now look in to homeless housing funding scams. There are several arms of it propping up programs. A pretty significant number of clients in all services at once., but none aware of the other’s role.

Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
Guest
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa K Lopez

Uh maybe he wasn’t sleeping because of meth!
“there is no reason good enough for attempting to ruin the reputation of a good man.”
Shoot.maybe he did it. Makes more sense than a vendetta you can’t figure out either. Sounds like a bunch of “Helping Professionals” are making a pretty good income throwing crumbs to Mendo’s homeless. Which is a good cause, so everyone involved can just do whatever they want? Maybe Mendo’s 4 dimensional chess fiduciaries can do the math on the value of resources offered to actual homeless people, versus salaries, office and travel expenses to all these people “reaching out”.

Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
Guest
Hebilla Cinturón de Rodeo
1 year ago
Reply to  Lisa K Lopez

“I can trust him to tell me the truth, even when I will not like it,…”

So you mean like: “let me just get that [edit], I would [edit] and make you want to leave your husband.” ?

yuck
Guest
yuck
1 year ago

Sounds like they should report to the IRS as well..

Nadia
Guest
Nadia
1 year ago

I see comments people are making questioning why these women filed a lawsuit without ever calling police, or filing reports and such. If you go back and read the very first paragraph in this article again, you will see that is exactly what these women had done. As I read it, what I seem to take away from this is that these women actually had reported the issue with their supervisors, and instead of seeing any sort of resolution to their problem or getting informed of what Manzanita had done as far as an investigation, they lost their jobs instead. They didnt seek legal counsel until after they had been fired. So they had actually done exactly what others making rude comments are claiming they had not. That is truly a horrible thing. If I am correct, Manzanita does hire staff that have some sort of “lived experience”. That is what allows them to connect with others so well. It is what also may cause them to seek a solution with their supervisor as opposed to calling the police. Having supervisors that would prefer to fire staff that come to them for a solution to a problem they are encountering at their job, instead of putting in the work to do a proper investigation on the matter, entitles these women to seek someone with authority over those supervisors to do the investigate then. There is no wrong in that as far as I see.

Lisa K Lopez
Guest
Lisa K Lopez
1 year ago

Tony is my friend. I want to defend him because I know him not to behave this way. The truth is that I was not there and do not know what happened.

As a staunch advocate for women and their empowerment, I do not take this issue lightly.