Ajcongress Raps NY State Human Rights Commissioner for Laxity in Promulgating Anti-boy Cott Law

The American Jewish Congress has criticized New York State Human Rights Commissioner Werner Kramarsky for failing to advise the State’s business community of the implications of the anti-boycott law enacted by the State Legislature six months ago. The AJCongress charged that the failure of the Commission to issue guidelines has deterred the filing of complaints, and as a result has undermined effective administration of the law.

In a letter to Kramarsky, Phil Baum, AJCongress associate executive director, and Lois. Waldman, associate director of the Commission on Law, Social Action and Urban Affairs said: “Surely after six months corporations and individuals subject to the jurisdiction of the State of New York are entitled to some guidance as to how the new law impacts on the most common business practices effectuating the Arab boycott.”

The AJCongress officials pointed out that when previous legislation affecting the State Human Rights Law was enacted, the State Division of Human Rights promptly issued publications describing the newly created rights, obligations and remedies.

The AJCongress spokesmen emphasized that the Division has had enough time “to study the provisions of the law and to reach conclusions as to its applicability to the major types of business practices involving compliance with the Arab boycott. We believe that publication of these conclusions is not only mandated by law but is sorely needed by the New York State business community.”

In urging affirmative administrative action, the AJCongress said that it would “be happy to join any advisory committee to assist the Division in formulation of such guidelines and to band together with other concerned community organizations to assure the widest dissemination of any explanatory material.”