Josephs, Washington send letters to Hanford Jones, mayor over anti-Semitic remarks

Harrisburg, June 11 – Deeply troubled by the anti-Semitic remarks made by a Philadelphia public official and the mild punishment he received, state Reps. Babette Josephs and LeAnna Washington have sent letters to both the official and the mayor condemning the remarks and urging further penalties.

In April, Hanford Jones, deputy director of the Minority Business Enterprise Council, made some remarks regarding "Jew lawyers and Jew architects" at a meeting with Philadelphia business development people. Jones was reprimanded, and when the remarks recently became public, he apologized. Later, however, he claimed he said nothing wrong and that he was ordered to apologize.

"Those comments were reprehensible," the legislators wrote to Jones. "You should have apologized immediately, not because you were told to, but because your statements were beneath those of a public official. What you said was particularly upsetting because of your position which requires sensitivity to inter-group issues.

"Bigotry breeds hatred; anti-Semitism insults not only Jews but every Philadelphian as well as the institution you represent and the administration for which you work," they said.

"If you have any respect for the mayor, his administration and the people of this city, you will voluntarily resign."

Josephs and Washington also wrote to Mayor Street thanking him for the action he has taken thus far on the matter, but asked him if Jones couldn’t be disciplined further.

"Philadelphia is the home of many minorities and many individuals of Jewish heritage. The city cannot afford to have someone with Mr. Jones' viewpoint in any public position. Bigotry breeds hatred and sullies the image of the city we all love," they said in their letter to the mayor.

"You have always dealt with every individual with respect and courtesy regardless of that person’s status. We see no bias or prejudice in you, nor do we see it in the vast majority of our fellow Philadelphians. We respectfully urge you to revisit this issue and consider imposing further penalties on Mr. Jones not only for his original comments but also for his subsequent slurs."