File #: Res 0177-2004    Version: * Name: Supporting Hungarian Holocaust survivors as they seek justice from the U.S. Gov't for its mishandling of the "Gold Train".
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations
On agenda: 2/26/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution supporting Hungarian Holocaust survivors as they seek justice from the United States government for its mishandling of the “Gold Train;” and further urging the United States Department of Justice to stop resisting these elderly survivors, and instead to promptly reach a fair settlement with them as a modest and overdue measure of justice.
Sponsors: David Yassky, Gale A. Brewer, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, Robert Jackson, G. Oliver Koppell, Michael C. Nelson, James Sanders, Jr., David I. Weprin, Alan J. Gerson, Helen D. Foster, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Eric N. Gioia, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Miguel Martinez, Larry B. Seabrook, Sara M. Gonzalez
Council Member Sponsors: 20
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting

Res. No. 177

Resolution supporting Hungarian Holocaust survivors as they seek justice from the United States government for its mishandling of the “Gold Train;” and further urging the United States Department of Justice to stop resisting these elderly survivors, and instead to promptly reach a fair settlement with them as a modest and overdue measure of justice.

 

By Council Members Yassky, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Jackson, Koppell, Nelson, Sanders, Weprin, Gerson, Foster, Recchia, Gioia, James, Liu, Martinez, Seabrook and Gonzalez

 

Whereas, The Nazi persecution of the Jews of Hungary, achieved in just a few months in 1944, was among the most brutal chapters in human history; and

Whereas, The Nazis systematically stole valuable and emotionally priceless personal property from the Hungarian Jewish community - property that was loaded onto a train that would eventually become known as the “Gold Train” and shipped west for plunder; and

Whereas, Upon the end of World War II, the United States Army took possession of the “Gold Train” and its contents; and

Whereas, Despite promising to return the property to the Holocaust survivors who were its rightful owners, the United States government instead allowed the property to be misappropriated and sold at auction; and

Whereas, The United States government misled these Holocaust survivors about what had happened to the contents of the “Gold Train” for decades, forcing them to build new lives from scratch without their family possessions; and

Whereas, These survivors - many of whom live in New York City - are now seeking justice, the full truth and compensation for their property from the United States government; and

Whereas, Instead of working with these elderly survivors, the U.S. Department of Justice has insisted on fighting them in court, claiming immunity and seeking to delay their case; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the Hungarian Holocaust survivors as they seek justice from the United States government for its mishandling of the “Gold Train;” and, be it further

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the United States Department of Justice to stop resisting these elderly survivors, and instead to promptly reach a fair settlement with them as a modest and overdue measure of justice.