WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. November 18, 2004: County Legislator James Maisano has written a letter to WPCNR, pointing out that WESPAC, a sponsor of a pro-Palestinian art exhibition to be held in the Westchester County Center Saturday evening, is attacking him for his objection to a partisan show being held on county property. Mr. Maisano writes:
Dear Friends:
Please see the troubling emails below.
A friend noticed tonight that I am being targeted by WESPAC (a radical organization with members with a troubling history of attacks on our country and Israel) because of my public objections to an art show fundraiser called "Made in Palestine," which contains several paintings, photos and poems that are deeply troubling and demonstrate anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred, as well as tributes to terrorists. This group is also making false statements about a member of my staff. The fundraiser is being held on county property at the Westchester County Center this Saturday night. I objected to the use of the County Center as the location for a fundraiser that promotes such misguided hatred.
County Executive Andy Spano does not allow gun shows at the County Center, but he allows an incendiary Palestinian art show fundraiser instead. It deeply troubles me that holding this event at the County Center could cause people to think the Westchester County government supports this hateful activity.
I am receiving countless nasty phone calls and emails from WESPAC people attacking me for standing up to this hateful art show and fundraising and for supporting Israel and common decency. Don't worry, these people could never intimidate this former Marine. I will continue to denounce this event and the disgraceful messages reflected by this so-called art.
I recognize that due to the Spano Administration's mishandling of the event, we may now be forced to allow this extremist group to use some public venue due to constitutional issues, but they certainly should not have had their choice of locations, and especially not the historic County Center, where so many positive community events are held regularly.
I would appreciate your support on this controversial issue.
Jim Maisano
County Legislator
The following is mail forwarded to WPCNR from Mr. Maisano:
From:
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 3:05 PM
Subject: [WESPAC-Foundation] URGENT, URGENT, URGENT
I have just heard from a reporter that Jim Maisano of the Westchester County Legislature is launching a campaign to shut down the Art Exhibition this Saturday in spite of the County Executive's remarks to the contrary.
It is unbelievable. He wants to examine the contract that WESPAC has signed with the County Center to see if he can legally manage to suppress the First Amendment rights of the entire Palestinian Community.
Please CALL ASAP
----- Original Message -----
From:
Subject: [WESPAC-Foundation] Threat by Legislator Jim Maisano
>
>
> I just received call from David Simpson, legislator Maisano's
> assistant. I was told that I and Nada are supporting
> terrorism by exhibiting this art. I was told that the
> legislator is going to shut this show down...and I was told
> that even though we were not showing art that was violent or
> any of the other claims that Assemblyman Karben made, they
> were determined not to let Palestinian art show in a county
> building. They said we could go and find another place to
> show this art.
>
> I told him that I had received an offer from a Cantor to
> organize a group of Jewish leaders who are willing to view
> the art and give us their support and to make it public by
> attending a press conference. He said it did not matter
> because there were too many Jewish members who did not want
> to see Palestinian art in a public building and that the show
> was going to be shut down.
>
> Basically, they are going to take on County Executive Spano.
>
> He yelled and screamed at me and was not interested in the
> least in seeing the art.
>
> We do have a group of Jewish leaders (Rabbi's, cantors who
> are now willing to help us.)
>
> Please call me at if you can help in anyway.
> Thanks,
>
James Maisano
Legislator-District 11
jjm3@westchestergov.com
800 Michaelian Office Building · 148 Martine Avenue · White Plains, N.Y. · 10601 · (914) 995-2826
