New State Measure Would Protect Hotel Workers

By: Bree Driscoll

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A Queens lawmaker is introducing legislation to protect hotel maids in the wake of the sex assault case against former International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Assemblyman Rory Lancman, seen above, said on Sunday that the bill would protect workers from assaults by requiring electronic "panic alert" devices for staffers who enter hotel rooms.

The device would notify hotel security of an emergency.

A review of court documents by various news outlets found at least 10 hotel housekeepers across the country say they've been attacked in recent years.

"We send hotel workers, housekeepers, into rooms by themselves, without any other staff, without any other security," said Lancman. "And as we know from common experience, but as also been recently reported, in light of the incident of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, that assaults and inappropriate conduct against and toward housekeepers in hotels is actually very common and we need to do everything that we can to protect them."

A maid at the Sofitel Hotel in Midtown accused Strauss-Kahn of attacking her last weekend.

Some hotels have safety policies, including barring maids from cleaning rooms while they are occupied.

Some Midtown hotel maids who spoke with NY1 off-camera said that the panic alert system is good in theory, but would be tough to implement.

Hotel guests were also divided on the proposed bill's effectiveness.

"Well I think that no hotel worker should be threatened in any way, shape or form. And this is a great way to protect them at an inexpensive cost," said one traveler.

"It doesn't resolve the topic itself. It's only a measure against further danger. I think this has to be treated on other levels," said another.

New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council President Peter Ward released a statement Sunday that reads in part, "This reasonable proposal would ensure that thousands of hotel workers are not put at unnecessary risk."

As of Sunday, Strauss-Kahn was under house arrest in an apartment at 71 Broadway until a more permanent location could be found. He was released from Rikers Island Friday on $1 million cash bail and $5 million bond.