To the editor:

The calls for the Governor to resign after several women alleged sexual harassment are ridiculous. If the Governor misspoke, flirted with these women, and they reported him to the press, he deserves to be embarrassed and reprimanded in the court of public opinion.

Nowadays the boss is no longer free to “talk dirty” with the staff. As a boss myself, I have had to remind some of my chefs to keep their tongues in check. There is always sexual tension in the workplace and often healthy testosterone driven males will try to relieve the stress by saying awful things to the first attractive female they encounter.

The Governor should know better, but this is not a reason for him to step down. Even Biden had to learn not to smell women's hair or rub their backs. Most young women who reach a point in their careers where they are working in the Governor's office, should be strong enough to deal with unwanted advances, even by the boss.

If they can't diffuse such a situation then why try to work in such a high powered job? As a woman, I have always found working in close quarters with men a challenge. Sometimes they are just ridiculous. Most women know this and either look the other way or tell them that their advances are making them uncomfortable.

It is not as if any of these women were forced to do sexual service or invited to the Governor's home and violated. It was just talk and maybe a kiss. Nowadays, this is not overlooked by a public hungry to hang any public official they can.

The fact that Al Franken stepped down when we needed him most should teach us to value our most talented public figures. There are degrees of sexual harassment. As I have heard said, not every flirtatious male is a Harvey Weinstein. I don't think what the Governor did merits New York State losing such a good man. It was in poor taste and said, I am sure, half in jest to “test the waters.”

But, I am still a “Cuomosexual.”

(And in case you are wondering, we are reopening in May!)