New York MTA orders Niagara County to stop using 'If you see something, say something' slogan

Niagara County, N.Y., Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski - Photo: Connor Hoffman | Niagara Gazette

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority saw something and said something.

What it saw was the Niagara County, N.Y., clerk using the MTA's trademark phrase, "If you see something, say something," to ask members of the public to report suspected undocumented immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

What the MTA said was, "Cease and desist."

The authority on Tuesday ordered Niagara County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski to immediately stop the use of the MTA’s trademarked slogan and to remove all signs using this slogan.

Jastrzemski is posting the "If you see something, say something" signs at Department of Motor Vehicle offices ahead of Saturday's implementation of the "Green Light Law," which allows undocumented immigrants to apply for New York state driver's licenses.

The phrase “If you see something, say something” was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks by an advertising agency working under contract for the MTA. The MTA subsequently trademarked the phrase, and has periodically permitted the phrase to be used for appropriate law enforcement and public safety purposes.

In his letter to Jastrzemski, Mark Heavey, MTA's director of marketing and advertising, said, "Please note that, if you should request authorization for the above use, the request would be denied." Heavey said Niagara County's use of the phrase to encourage people to report suspected undocumented immigrants "is both abhorrent and unrelated to counterterrorism."

Update: The MTA reports that Niagara County's Jastrzemski acknowledged receipt of letters addressed to his office and informed the MTA that he has removed the signs using this phrase.

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