Bernero agrees to ‘work with’ activist for sexual trauma survivors 

THURSDAY, March 11 — Former three-term Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero has agreed to work with the director of a nonprofit that focuses on supporting survivors of sexual trauma after he was accused last month of sexually harassing women in 2004 and 2010.

Bernero appeared as the lone mayoral candidate on a forum hosted by the Lansing chapter of Black Lives Matter tonight. In response to one question, he agreed to meet with Tashmica Torok, the executive director of the Firecracker Foundation, to discuss the recent accusations. That foundation works directly with survivors of sexual trauma. 

“I’m happy to work with you if there’s somebody that I offended,” Bernero said. “I’m happy to apologize in person if I’ve offended somebody, but I can’t sit by guilt by accusation. Some of this stuff being talked about just absolutely did not happen. Maybe the accusers would talk to you.”

Torok responded: “I’d be happy to have a dialogue with you, but I think the place to start is acknowledging a power dynamic that makes it hard to speak up about things that maybe you don’t remember and have already started denying. I look forward to talking to you about it.”

The “stuff” Bernero denied at tonight’s forum are two separate accusations from two former Lansing area women who alleged Bernero sexually harassed them while he was mayor and state senator. One told City Pulse that Bernero “groped” her in downtown Lansing in 2010. The other said Bernero made a series of unwanted and sexually charged phone calls to her in 2004.

Bernero, when confronted on the accusations last month, claimed he didn’t recall the incidents and apologized for behavior that he initially labeled as “unacceptable and wrong.” Three days later, he denied the allegations altogether and labeled them “character assasasination.” He also baselessly claimed that Mayor Andy Schor orchestrated the allegations against him.

Torok asked: How can anybody reconcile voting for you after these allegations surfaced? 

“I’m sorry for anybody that I’ve hurt, and I mean that sincerely. I’m sure that I’ve offended people with my words. I can’t really apologize for something that I did not do. I believe in a culture of consequence — and not in a culture of cancellation,” Bernero replied, tripling down his denial.

“I’m not in a habit of accosting people on public streets. I have not done it,” Bernero added.

Torok agreed to talk further with Bernero about the claims, noting he should “figure out how to be accountable in a way that makes it easier for this community to support you.”

Bernero responded: “I’m open to it. Thank you.”

Bernero was joined by City Council members Kathie Dunbar and Brian Jackson at tonight’s candidate forum.  Both are up for re-election this November. Mayor Andy Schor declined to participate because of BLM co-leader Michael Lynn Jr.’s involvement.

Lynn, who was fired by the city last month for sharing Police Chief Daryl Green’s phone number on Facebook, is among Schor’s loudest critics. He is also suing the city (and Schor) for racial discrimination and urges Schor to resign on most episodes of Merica 20 to Life.

Before Lynn was on-boarded as co-leader, the chapter itself also called for Schor to quit.

“Due to his legal action against me, legal counsel has strongly advised I do not participate,” Schor said in a statement. “Given this advice and the individual in question's conduct towards me on social media, at city council meetings, and with a megaphone in front of my home, I have decided not to participate in the forum. He is not a neutral party as part of this forum.”

Schor added: “Hearing and listening to the concerns of the Black community, and of all Lansing residents, is incredibly important to me. I look forward to many other opportunities in the next several months to productively discuss the future of Lansing with justice for all."

At-Large Councilwoman Patricia Spitzley also plans to run against Schor this year. She said she couldn’t attend because she was out of the country on a vacation with her family. She also missed a City Council meeting on Monday. 

Council President Peter Spadafore, 2nd Ward Councilman Jeremy Garza and City Clerk Chris Swope are also up for re-election this year and were absent tonight. Spadafore said he was on a vacation that was planned before the forum. Garza didn’t respond to City Pulse. Swope said that he wasn’t invited. 

Most questions at tonight’s event centered largely on the candidates' plans to promote racial equity,  justice and healing in Lansing. Co-leader Angela Waters-Austin said the event was designed to ensure Black lives “are actually centered” within their platforms.

Bernero touted transparency, the “most diverse mayoral cabinet in Lansing’s history” and how he’s skilled at surrounding himself with “smart people.” Dunbar emphasized her familiarity with diversity and building human connections as both councilwoman and director of the South Lansing Community Development Association. Jackson leaned on his experience as a criminal justice attorney and his unique ability to spot injustices within the local legal system.

Rewatch the forum on the Facebook page for the Lansing Black Lives Matter chapter.