Staten Island Eruv Removed After Anti-Semitic Backlash
An Eruv built in parts of Staten Island has been taken down.
The controversy started when residents of Westerleigh noticed thin gray PVC pipes were put up on utility poles around the neighborhood.
The eruv was put up by a group of Orthodox Jews without approval from Con Ed, Verizon, or the Transportation Department.
The flames were further fueled when some residents began putting up signs considered to be anti-Semitic.
Recently, there was hateful messages in Staten Island, when homeowners places signs in their gardens which said “Westerleigh Strong”. That was a message to homeowners from selling their homes to Orthodox Jews who have recently been moving into the area.
City Councilman Steve Matteo says Young Israel has now taken the eruv down, but says they have submitted paperwork to have it re-attached.
The Westerleigh Improvement Society also released a statement saying:
“We are thankful that most of the Eruv has been removed, as it was installed without the required permission, required insurance, and did not follow standard or established details. We are curious why some portions of it remain up without the required items. We have asked Con Edison to permit the Society to review the application for a new proposed Eruv, and don’t understand why they consider this information to be private, when the proposal is to install non-communication equipment in the public right of way. We would like to call attention to the fact that we have a thriving community that we love, made up of folks of many ethnic and religious backgrounds, and welcome our new neighbors to assimilate with us and expect and insist that we all abide by the same laws and processes. So far these normal expectations have not been demonstrated.”
