By Paul Shapiro
in Rosedale, and the company that operates the club in response to the refusal to take down a controversial billboard. The lawsuit was filed against the owner of the building, Mordechay Movtady of Kings Point, and Sam Zherka, the alleged owner of the Platinum Club.
Before litigation commenced, Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside) and Councilman James Sanders Jr. approached Movtady and asked him, as the owner of the building, to have the billboard removed. The problem with this scenario was that Zherka received permission to erect the billboard from Movtady himself.
Following this hour-long meeting, Movtady said that the club owner offered to "dress up" the billboard, if someone would pay for the changes. Movtady even went as far as to ask Five Towns residents to pay the said money. The legislator and councilman refused the request and filed suit.
"Movtady suggested that if I was able to pay to have the signs changed that perhaps we could settle along those lines," Toback said. "I said to him, 'Why don't you show me what you're proposing to change it to,' which he never did. If he was willing to change the content, let me see what your willing to change it to."
In November, the New York City Buildings Department issued a violation notice to Movtady pertaining to the billboard. A hearing was initially scheduled for Jan. 6 and was adjourned to May 2009.
“Everyone deserves the right, and especially our children, not to be exposed to this pornographic billboard on a public thoroughfare," Sanders said. Councilman Sanders and Legislator Toback will host an emergency follow up meeting to update and inform the community regarding the actions being taken for the removal of the offensive billboards which have been placed at the Platinum Club. The emergency meeting will take place on Tuesday evening, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Knesseth Israel, at 728 Empire Ave. in Far Rockaway.
“The contents of the advertisement for the new club are offensive in many obvious respects and particularly for viewing by our children,” Toback said.
Comments about this story? PShapiro@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
