New York, NY – Saying that the city’s Human Rights Commission has exhibited a “complete lack of common sense” in bringing a discrimination case against seven Williamsburg Satmar shop owners over modesty signs, a NEW YORK POST EDITORIAL (http://bit.ly/GCS7uT) calls on Mayor Bloomberg to do all New Yorkers a favor, and “drop this case.”
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POST editors say “It was a bad idea when the city’s case was first filed. An it’s a bad idea now.”
The editorial comes on the heels of a decision last week by an administrative law judge clearing the way for the case to be heard at trial in January.
The POST questions the logic behind Human Rights Commission general counsel Cliff Mulqueen’s claims that the shop owners’ signs imposed “certain rules of the Jewish faith” on patrons, calling Mulqueen’s charges “silly,” and stating that the signs applied to all patrons, and not just women as Mulqueen has previously stated.
Editors say, “Our guess is that most New Yorkers recognize these signs as no different from any other dress code imposed by a restaurant, hotel or any other place for reasons of “propriety” rather than “modesty.” We’ve never even seen the city sue a pizza parlor that might post a sign reading “No shirt, no shoes, no service” — let alone fancy eateries like the Four Seasons, which require business attire.”
Taking it a step further, POST editors write, “Most people probably take these for granted. So when a group of Jewish-owned stores are singled out and treated like the KKK, we have to wonder if there are other agendas at work here.”
In conclusion, editors state, “The Human Rights Commission is right about one thing: There definitely is discrimination involved in this case. But the real discrimination here is being levied against these shops, not by them.”
So now only religious dress codes are not allowed, but government dress codes in court rooms are OK? How is that not religious discrimination in itself?
The NY Post doth defend orthodox Jews too much lately. Something is amiss.
Who said Williamsburg is all Satmar? Who said these shopkeepers are all Satmar?
Dear NYpost: just as there is a reason behind the city picking on these Satmar shops, There’s a reason why you chose to side this time around with the Satmars, please cut the bull and let us know why ???
Kol hakavod Post, while I don’t agree that others should be forced to dress like the chasidim, it’s their business. Therefore, if they pay the rent, they buy the merchandise & they cater to their customers, if they feel they want a certain look its their perogitive. However, they still shouldn’t force it down other people’s throat.
it is a private shop so what is the big deal
Witness the resurrection of human insensitivity. There is no reason a reasonable person can not plan accordingly and comply with the request of the store owner.
the signs do not require yarmulkes, tzitzis, women covering hair, women wearing skirts – if this would have been the case, it would have been discrimination but still probably legal – the actual requests are down to earth and reasonable to
This is the lesson I take. We need to stop being so hard on ourselves. Quite often we find what we see as values ridiculed by the media and Jews of other circles. To the point where we – or at least I find myself
This is the lesson I take. We need to stop being so hard on ourselves. Quite often we find what we see as values ridiculed by the media and Jews of other circles. To the point where we, or at least I, find myself thinking, “What will others think of this?” Yet, an article as such reminds me that I may be harder on myself than need be. I will try to look at what I believe is right and not worry so much as to what others may think or say.
#selflovingjew
I believe that anywhere in NYC a man can go bare chested, it is discriminatory to require women to cover up.