NEWS FROM AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    January 21, 2014

  "The case should never have been brought in the first place" 

Agudath Israel of America greeted New York City Human Rights Commissioner Patricia L. Gatling's announcement of a settlement in the city's lawsuit against several Williamsburg stores with dress code signs as "a sign of reasonableness" from the new city administration.

"While we believe that the signs, which simply requested that customers respect the community's values with regard to dress, were entirely legal," said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, the organization's executive vice president, "we are happy that the issue here is closed."

The commissioner's statement asserted that, according to "the proposed agreement, representatives from the stores agreed that if they were to post new signs in their windows, they would say that while modest dress is appreciated, all individuals are welcome to enter the stores free from discrimination."

While Agudath Israel welcomed the news, Rabbi Zwiebel also expressed his view that "the case should never have been brought in the first place," and that "the Commission's pursuit of the Williamsburg store owners raised serious concerns of selective prosecution."  He praised the de Blasio administration for "apparently realizing that disturbing aspect of this suit, its lack of legal merit, and the need for reason and good will here."

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