Thursday, December 5, 2019
Statement by the UJO of Williamsburg and North
Brooklyn on NYS Attorney General Tish James' Intervening to Stop Housing
Discrimination Targeting Hasidic Jews in the Town of Chester
The NYS Attorney General’s
office filed today join the lawsuit brought by the Greens at
Chester development in the federal court of White Plains. The lawsuit seeks to
stop a series of official discriminatory actions by the Town of Chester and Orange county, aimed to prevent Hasidim from settling in the town.
"Finally, there is a sheriff in
town committed to fight the blatant discrimination against Orthodox Jews
occurring too often. We commend attorney general Letitia James for intervening
in this case, to fight official actions to block this development in the Town
of Chester. Attorney General James always stood ready to take on injustice, and
isn’t shying away even when it means taking on powerful forces. All communities
and residents in the state are fortunate to have her as their attorney,"
said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the United Jewish Organizations of
Williamsburg and North Brooklyn (UJO).
"Today’s action sends a powerful
message that Orthodox Jews are also protected under the Fair Housing laws and
discriminatory actions will not be tolerated," Rabbi Niederman concluded.
*
For background, please read the
following the New York Times article of August 14, 2019, headlined ‘Keep the
Hasidic Out’: A Small-Town Housing Showdown https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/nyregion/jews-discrimination-lawsuit.html
On November 25, 2019, NYS Governor
Andrew Cuomo, vetoed a bill targeting the same development in the Town of
Chester.
