Jews can afford taxis
A night at a Leonard Cohen concert resulted in a CityRail Tribunal after a Bondi couple was confronted by a rail official who repeatedly remarked that “they’re all Jews living in the Eastern Suburbs. They can afford to get a taxi.”
Cheryl and Dr Jeffrey Bogan
Bondi-based 65-yr-old Dr Jeffrey Bogan and his wife Cheryl, 61, had taken the train from Central to attend the Cohen concert. At 12:30am they returned by rail to Sydney’s Central Station. As they made there way off platform 17, they asked two State Rail employees if the Eastern Suburbs line was still operating. One of the two told them politely that the trains had stopped running and directed them to a taxi rank. At this point the other attendant said “They’re all Jews living in the Eastern Suburbs. They’re all wealthy – they can afford to get a taxi”
Roman Arnusch Photo courtesy Sun-Herald/Janie Barrett
In a statement to CityRail, the Bogans wrote: “The attendant proceeded to repeat these same comments to various groups of passengers. On each repetition he appeared to get louder with increasing derision, sometimes laughing. We heard him make these comments at least four of five times.”
Dr Bogan, a neuropsychologist who specialises in children brain-damaged as a result of accidents, and his wife decided to confront the offending rail employee but he had “disappeared”.
The following day, Dr Bogan and his wife, who formerly worked in the special education field, lodged a complaint with CityRail.
Nine months later, Roman Arnusch, the CityRail service manager who had worked for the authority for 29 years, was sacked.
But last week the Transport Appeals Board overturned the decision and Arnusch will return to work on March 28.
Dr Bogan told J-Wire: “We saw the CCTV footage which clearly shows him laughing as we had the conversation with his colleague. He was within arm’s length. But as we walked towards Eddy Ave to find a cab, we could still hear him.”
Cheryl Bogan added: “The other polite attendant was embarrassed and he called for him when we wanted to address the issue…but he had disappeared.”
The Bogans told J-Wire they were not shaken by the incident but “outraged”.
They said that the first they knew about the successful appeal was when they were approached by the “Sun-Herald”.
Dr Bogan said: “We are still to hear from CityRail. I have no problem with him getting his job back…a man’s got to make a living. But we have just learned that his work is in the area of customer service and he should not be allowed to be in contact with the general public. At the tribunal, he showed no remorse.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive officer Vic Alhadeff commented: “The comments by the CityRail official were offensive, hurtful and inappropriate, particularly in light of the fact that his area of responsibility is customer relations. Hopefully he has learned from this unfortunate episode.”
The level of noise, chatter and cost to everyone, including Jews, is very high when it comes to anti-semitism.
For the love of God, there are serious issues which are NOW. Europe is imploding and the Greeks who suffered a holocaust like no other in modern history are starving.
Why in the world would you not let this Armush – obviously a Malaka – get bashed by the next poor Jew Amucsh comes across on his free journey back to western Sydney (if he comes across any that feel that strongly about it).
listen to this : I am sick and tired of the “poor old me I am a Jew ” story.
good for you ,you are lucky you have a heritage you can be proud of!!!!
What did you just think? you will list me on a list ? An anti Jew list on a big computer at the Dept of Pseudo-Jew History and other Creations ? De-list me pppppplease because I LOVE JEWS but not all Jews. And I especially love Jewish women?!
Now we all know you Jews love us Greeks. So maybe you can educate people on nice jewish stuff like ceremonial matters which I personally would like to learn about. Does your museum run any workshops around this or folk dancing specifically? my daughter and I do love Hava Nagila – no joke it’s fun. And that is proof that telling a fun Jewish story gets people singing your tune.. At the moment I am not hearing a good story anywhere..
My father was born in the Jew Quarters of our town in Greece, and would be a fabulous place for all Jews and Jew Lovers to visit. There are 300 days of sunshine per year there. Maybe a good place to put an end to your anti-Semitic listation-fixation and start spreading the good PR.
But remember, It’s a free country, and people will always say what they think in Greece, most of which will fall pleasantly on even your ears and heart.
Build a bridge and get over yourself , go to Greece and start living the rest of your life
Outrageous on 2 counts
1. The actions of railways employee
2. The fact that the couple stood quietly by and said nothing !!
Anti semitism must be faced where it happens & as it happens. Shame.
George Greenberg
Wow, some people really went on the attack at Willian for simply putting his view forward. By the way Burd, your track record on attacks against a certain race are certainly still very consistent.
Onya Stevo, you got Burd whose a racist and a cosistent ( consistent) one, ’cause he picked on another race like the bloke Amusch whose another race, like german who them germans are a race ’cause it says so in that book you read by that bloke Hitla who your mate Amusch accidetly ( accidently ) looked like with the bit of hair on his fored ( forhead). Not his fault that the journos turned up at his house while top bloke Roman must have been doing his mornin’ reetchual “heils”.
Stevo, mate you is so peseptive (perceptive) and more smarter than them Jews and told them off and you are now me hero. Come back with more ’cause they got money and stuff and should not be allowed toget away with it (!!!!)
I would be very interested in knowing the name of this racist City Rail official I can only guess which part of the world he has come from……
Thank you to all of those supportive readers.
To William, I would like to clarify a few points:
My husband and I have had no contact with the Jewish Board of Deputies.
The Sun Herald picked up the story from the Appeals Tribunal Results, of which we knew nothing.
Other media and organisations picked up the story from the Sun Herald.
“Money and organised advocacy” have played no part in this.
Whilst you may feel that the story is one-sided, Railcorp and the Appeals Tribunal did not.
Whilst Mr Arnusch initially denied the allegations he admitted to a watered-down version when he realised that witnesses were to be called at the Tribunal.
One such witness was Mr Ribet, his subordinate.
I also do not know why Mr Arnusch “did what he did”. We had no contact at all with him. Our very friendly conversation was entirely with Mr Ribet and I must emphasise that he was most polite and helpful. Throughout the conversation Mr Arnusch stood behind Mr Ribet, watching.
At one point Mr Arnusch looked into our faces, made his comment and laughed, seemingly expecting us to laugh along at his “joke”. My husband, Mr Ribet and I looked at each other in shock and we ignored the inappropriate comment.
It was only when Mr Arnusch repeated his remarks and laughter that we decided to take action.
Mr Arnusch was sacked following an extensive investigation by Railcorp.
After the Appeals Tribunal the Commissioner found that even Mr Arnusch’s own version of the event was “racist, offensive, uncalled for and completely inappropriate, particularly for someone in a customer service position with Railcorp.”
Whilst the Commissioner overturned his sacking she ruled that a six month suspension without pay was in order.
Mr Arnusch was supported through the Tribunal by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union. This is the only instance of “money and organised advocacy” apparent in this entire series of events.
A lot of Jews in fact are not at all rich. The pre-eminance of Jews is not chiefly in finance but in science, medicine, the arts, particularly music, and in community service. The idea that Jews are so rich is a myth, the unbelievable thing is that there are people who still believe it. Perhaps William you also look for fairies at the bottom of the garden. Who implanted these silly ideas in your head?
William.!
Where are you coming from?
Well!!…I do have an idea . Let’s put it that way
Maybe, if it had been just one off the cuff remark, which I personally have let go on few occasions , one might have let it go.
However, it wasn’t .
This person carried it on in order for others to hear and to make his point further afield
Get the point?
The main thing is that you didn’t accept it.
Unfortunately in society today, there so many situations whereby to just walk away is the easiest to do, which isn’t in the best interest for yourself or the other person.
I would have done the same, if not for myself, but as an onlooker seeing it done to another, much to the embarrasment of at least one family member.
I have a few stories there let me tell you as a slight 4 ft. 4 incher.
While the reported actions of this individual are certainly inappropriate and even reprehensible, to call in the CEO of the Jewish Board of Deputies to add his two-bob’s worth seems somewhat of an overcompensation. We don’t know why Mr Arnusch did what he did after 29 years of faithful service to his employer, and no explanation is offered. So the story is decidedly one-sided. Presumably if the victim of the rant had been an African refugee we’d never have heard of it.
Money, and organised advocacy, certainly talks.
Geez William, there is so much you don’t know of what has been already described in detail and, at the same time, even more you know about what DID NOT happen, that I wonder if you know AT ALL why ANYONE trusted you to use an electrical switch to turn on the computer and spew on it your bile !!
If only you…knew what I really wanted to say,but this site would not let me !!
Right here common sense talks, something you, obviously KNOW nothing about !!!
William, what nonsense you write. So, if it was an African, we would not have heard of the incident!! How do you know that? Interesting that you actually mirror what Mr Arnusch said. What you say is Jews have money, so they are heard. Arnusch was saying : Jews have money so they can get a taxi. See the similarity?
Well done to the Bogans for making a formal complaint and outing this man’s behaviour.What is disappointing is the fact that he had his job reinstated.Wonder if the result had been different if the attack had been on another ethnic group.