New Legislation Will Protect Stratford Mezuzah Lady

Connecticut Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, announced Tuesday that in order to avoid a repeat of what Barbara Cadranel had to endure, he has proposed legislation that would prevent condominium associations from demanding that residents remove religious symbols from their front-door areas.

Cadranel was threatened with a fine of $50 a day by the California Condominium Association until she removed a glass mezuzah from her doorpost.

Speaking at the Connecticut regional office of the Anti-Defamation League, Looney said, “You would hope and expect diversity and flexibility and respect for religious observances would be automatic.” But, barring that kind of elementary common sense, a law is needed.

He added that he was "looking to narrowly draw this to protect unobtrusive religious objects like a mezuzah.”