New York Attorney General Letitia James has successfully halted discriminatory practices at Super 4 Seasons, a car wash company in Rockland County, following an investigation by her office. The company had been targeting Jewish customers in the run-up to Passover with inflated pricing strategies. Attorney General James warned that the company must cease all promotional activities or face a fine of $75,000.
“Targeting Jewish New Yorkers with deceptive pricing around Passover is a clear act of religious discrimination and will not be tolerated,” stated Attorney General James. “Every New Yorker, regardless of their faith, deserves to be treated fairly and equally. My office will not hesitate to hold businesses accountable when they exploit families’ religious observance.”
This investigation by the Office of the Attorney General commenced in April 2024 in response to multiple complaints regarding a “Passover Special” pricing scheme. Customers reported being charged $169 for car wash services normally offered at $47. The OAG's findings illustrated a pattern of discriminatory pricing that had been occurring since at least 2018.
Undercover operatives from the OAG confirmed discrepancies in service offerings based on religious appearances. One investigator dressed in traditional Orthodox attire was told that standard pricing was unavailable, while another investigator not dressed in such clothing was offered regular services.
Super 4 Seasons misrepresented the availability of standard services and falsely claimed the necessity of higher-priced packages exclusively to Jewish customers. The company is now prohibited from discriminatory practices, including differential pricing and service restrictions around religious holidays. If these terms are violated, Super 4 Seasons may incur a penalty of up to $75,000.
As Passover approaches, Attorney General James has advised Jewish communities to remain vigilant against potential discriminatory practices affecting essential services and goods. New Yorkers suspecting discrimination in prices based on religion, race, or background are urged to report these issues.
This matter was managed by several personnel within the Attorney General's office. Leading the task were Rick Sawyer, Rachel Finn, and Andy Aujla, supported by Heather-Destiny Konan. Supervision was provided by Sandra Park and Travis England, with the investigative team led by Liam Cassidy and Andy Rodriguez.
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