The MTA recently demanded that a county clerk in Upstate New York immediately stop using the transit agency’s trademarked slogan, “if you see something, say something,” as a way to out undocumented immigrants.
The MTA ordered a cease and desist to Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns and Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski for using the phrase, which became well-known in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks.
In a press release, a transit spokesperson called the use of the phrase “abhorrent.” The clerks have put up signs in local DMV offices asking the public to report suspected undocumented immigrants to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.) The MTA gave both Clerks until 5 p.m. Wednesday to remove the signs using the slogan.
It was not clear Thursday whether the signs had been removed.
The MTA shared a tweet from reporter Ryan Whalen which showed an image of the sign posted in the Erie County Clerk’s office. The tweet read that,”The state’s Green Light Law prohibits DMV employees from reporting people in the U.S. illegally, who are seeking a driver’s license, to federal authorities. However, Erie County Clerk @Mickey_Kearns plans to post this tipline sign in all the local auto bureaus.”
The state’s Green Light Law prohibits DMV employees from reporting people in the U.S. illegally, who are seeking a driver’s license, to federal authorities. However, Erie County Clerk @Mickey_Kearns plans to post this tipline sign in all the local auto bureaus. pic.twitter.com/mT6gyEvzeA
— Ryan Whalen (@RyanWhalenCT) December 5, 2019
Images of Clerk Jastrzemski’s sign were featured in an article by the Niagara Gazette.
Director of Marketing and Advertising for the MTA, Mark R. Heavey, penned separate letters to the clerks.
“Your unauthorized use of the mark is in support of encouraging people to report suspected undocumented immigrants; this is both abhorrent and unrelated to counterterrorism,” Heavey said in the letter.
The MTA also asked both the clerks to pass the message on to any other country clerks, employees, and other public officials.
The MTA said in a press release that “if you see something, say something” was created by Allen Kay, chairman, and chief executive of the advertising agency Korey Kay & Partners, who was at the time working under a contract with the MTA.
