A lawsuit was to be filed this week against the owner of a building on Rockaway Turnpike that houses a “club”, and the company that operates the club. A locally infamous billboard on the building’s roof features a young woman dressed very inappropriately – and numerous requests that the billboard be modified or removed have not been met.
“Enough is enough,” said Nassau County Legislator Jeff Toback. He and Queens Councilman James Sanders met with Mordechai Movtady of Great Neck, who owns the building but not the club, about having the billboard removed, Toback said. An offer was made but the details could not be worked out.
“Hopefully they’ll make a better offer in the context of the litigation,” said Toback.
The suit, which lists Nassau County as the plaintiff, is being brought in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County against Long Island Business LLC, owned by Movtady, and against 248-58 Cabaret Incorporated, doing business as the Platinum Club.
The lawsuit will maintain that the billboard violates public nuisance laws and constitutes a public display of offensive material.
The billboard, which is located on the main thoroughfare between the Five Towns and Brooklyn and Queens, has been an eyesore to many area residents. Over 300 people attended a meeting about the billboard held in the White Shul late last year.
The sign was put up without a proper permit from the New York City Department of Buildings, Sanders said, but the building department has been hesitant to order it taken down.
“We’re really puzzled and deeply troubled that they’re not moving in a far more vigorous fashion,” Sanders told The Jewish Star. He urged residents to contact the New York City Buildings Department to complain. Calls to the Buildings Department were not immediately returned.
“We have been in dialogue with the owners and we have let them know we’re not going away,” said Sanders. “As long as there is an attack on our community we won’t go away.”
A poster hanging at street level on the wall outside the club that bears an image identical to the billboard was recently defaced. It was replaced within a few days by another poster that appeared larger than the original –– perhaps an effort to send a message somewhat similar to the councilman’s.
(LINK to The Jewish Star)
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16 Responses
ubie-arta hara mekirbecha !
anone who helps in removing this piosonous giloiy
arayos, &chillul hashem from the public, merits a great mitsvah & bracha.
Simple question that the story does not answer…is the sign in NYC or within Nassau County?
The billboard is on 878 Northbound, and those traveling Southbound are subject to this disgusting display. As for where it is located, it is Queens as Nassau County does not start until approximately 1 mile further
ive never seen it but is it worse than any board in times square? if not how does this warrant a suit and not those?
u see going both ways! and are u sure thats its not Nassau county? bec i know its considered the 5 towns -or at least kmart is considered the 5 towns
It’s definitely in Queens. Nassau County doesn’t start until a little further south, right by the K-mart shopping center. From southbound 878 it’s not as visible, but going north it hits you right in the face.
the side its on is rosedale, queens and the other side of the street with kmart is nassau county
#4: It has to do with whether community standards are being violated.
nassau county
gatta love google why not call this guy Movtady and ask him to have it taken down…
Mordechay Movtady 2518-2532 Tilden Avenue Brooklyn NY 11226 (516) 244-2227
I can’t believe that I’m getting into this kind of discussion, especially not on YeshivaWorld, but I must beg to differ with flatbush27 – BOTH sides of the street are New York City; that is why there is a special “right turn permitted” sign by the corner of Brookville Blvd.
(Public service message: There is a red light camera on Rockaway Turnpike SOUTHBOUND @ Brookville, and one NORTHBOUND at Brewer Blvd – the other end of that long stretch.)
It is a most offensive and disgusting billboard and it deserve coverage that the lawsuit is going further. However, providing people with exact details as to its location only encourages more people to look at it! Commentators, please stop pinpointing where the sign is!
where is Osama, when we really need him?
well i see i am the only one who wants to point this out but b’mokom sh’ein ish…
why do we need to read (even) this?:
‘features a young woman dressed very inappropriately’
our standards as frum yidden are so high that – it would have been sufficient to write ‘an immodest picture’ we dont care if she was young or old and other posters around the city that do not arouse the anger of the gentiles– we dont exactly call them dressed appropriately! we must remember fellow jews that even our news has to have a different ring to it!
yashar koach for being a great news site for good clean news!
Farfrumt –
K’shmo kein hu.
Come on.
kudos to Councilman Sanders for always being there for our community and especially in this fight. also, for his guidance on how best to proceed using all the tools available with the city. we need to keep him there as our rep for another 4 yrs and more.