New York Attorney General Letitia James urged Jewish New Yorkers to be careful of potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes in the days leading up to Passover.
There have been reports of car wash businesses in predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities in the city and the Hudson Valley that are raising prices for Jewish customers seeking cleaning services close to Passover, according to a news release.
The AG's office warned businesses that raising prices in such a manner is illegal.
In the days leading up to Passover, many Jews clean their homes, cars and other spaces to remove “chametz,” also known as leavened products.
According to reports provided to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), some companies have advertised “specials” for car washing services related to Passover, but instead, charged higher prices to Jewish customers. Under New York law, it is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of religion.
“New York has zero tolerance for antisemitism and discrimination of any kind,” said James. “Passover is an important holiday for millions of Jews in New York and beyond, and it is illegal and discriminatory to take advantage of a religious holiday to charge more for a service. We will not hesitate to take action against any business that engages in such offensive behavior, and I urge anyone who has been a victim of this discrimination to contact my office immediately.”
Anyone who is aware of businesses using discriminatory practices or believes that they were charged more for services because of their religion, race, or background is encouraged to file a complaint online or call 1-800-771-7755.
