Ltr.to.MTA.re-billboards-final.7.13.12

							                                          THE ASSEMBLY
                                        STATE OF NEW YORK
                                             ALBANY
ROBERT J. CASTELLI                                                                                    RANKING MINORITY MEMBER
                 th                                                                                    Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
 Assemblyman, 89 District
                                                                                                                COMMITTEES
                                                                                                           Environmental Conservation
                                                                                                            Governmental Operations
                                                                                                                   Election Law
                                                                                                          Alcoholism & Substance Abuse

                                                                                                         MINORITY TASK FORCES
                                                                                                            Crime in Our Community/
                                                                                                               Sex Offender Watch
                                                  July 13th, 2012                                                  Tax Relief



   Howard R. Permut
   President
   MTA Metro-North Railroad
   347 Madison Avenue
   New York, NY 10017-3739

   Dear Sir:

         I am writing you relative to a billboard which has appeared at Metro-North
   Stations recently, that relates to Israel and Palestine.

         While this billboard has been placed by an organization calling itself the
   “Committee for Peace in Israel and Palestine” (COPIP), and there is no offensive
   language on the message, I submit to you that by its very nature, it is inflammatory
   and directs a negative message towards the State of Israel and her people.

         I am a strong supporter of the First Amendment right of free speech in the
   Constitution, and certainly a proponent that the people of Israel and Palestine
   should live in harmony together.

          However, the subliminal message that this particular billboard carries is an
   anti-Israeli message that I believe has just the opposite effect of creating peace and
   harmony between the Israeli and Palestinian people. I therefore believe that it
   would be in the best interest of our communities to remove the billboard, for the
   sake of peace and harmony in our community.

        Therefore, I respectfully request that you consider, out of respect for the
   many Jewish members of our community, and people of Israeli origin living in our
   community, the prudence of removing this, post-haste.



           DISTRICT OFFICE: 4 New King Street, Suite 125, White Plains, New York 10604 • 914-686-7335 • FAX: 914-686-0046
           ALBANY OFFICE: Room 820 Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-5397 • FAX: 518-455-5041
       I have forwarded, along with a photograph of the billboard, a background
letter from the Anti-Defamation League, which I believe you should read
thoroughly when considering what your options are in this case.

      You have always been very receptive in the past. I hope this matter can be
resolved quickly. Should you wish to discuss this matter with me further, I am, as
always, at your disposal.

                                     Respectfully yours,




                                     ROBERT J. CASTELLI
                                     Member of Assembly
                                     89th District


CC:
Westchester Delegation
Joseph J. Lhota, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MTA
Andrew Saul, MTA Board of Trustees
Mark Mannix, MTA Director of Government Relations
Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel of America
Ronald E. Burton, President, Westchester Jewish Council
Elliot Forchheimer, Executive Director, Westchester Jewish Council
David A. Alpert, President, Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center
Richard Spitz, Westchester Regional Director, UJA-Federation of New York
Rav Elya Kanarek, Rosh Yeshiva Ohr Hameir
Rabbi Lester Bronstein, Bet Am Shalom Synagogue
Rabbi Aaron Brusso, Bet Torah
Rabbi Yosef Y. Butman, Chabad of Armonk, Chappaqua and Pleasantville
Rabbi Joshua Davidson, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester
Rabbi Carla Freedman, Jewish Family Congregation
Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer, Ph.D., JCC of Harrison
Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider, Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi David E. Greenberg, Temple Shaaray Tefila
Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg, Young Israel of White Plains
Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz, Congregation B’Nai Yisrael
Rabbi Chaim Marder, Hebrew Institute of White Plains
Rabbi Shira Milgrom, Congregation Kol Ami
Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel Center of White Plains
Rabbi Arik Wolf, Tzivos Hashem of Bedford & Pound Ridge