To the Editor:

We were deeply disturbed by the information box on "Who Owns the Federal Reserve?" that was included as part of the article "Money Matrix" in the November 2009 issue of Urban Garden Magazine.  The list of nine private banks -- many bearing Jewish names -- is derived from age-old anti-Semitic conspiracy theories suggesting that the Federal Reserve is actually "controlled by Jews."

For years, anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists have promoted the canard that the Fed is controlled and manipulated by Jews.  Occasionally, the more complex conspiracy theorists have included "lists" -- such as the one included with your article -- of those "Jewish banks" supposedly funding the conspiracy.  Whether intentional or not, the inclusion of this list in an article on origins of money and lending only gives new credence and legitimacy to this long-held anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.

As you may know, the Federal Reserve is a U.S. government institution and is not "owned" by any private entities.  The reserve system is composed of 12 major banks created by acts of Congress, and its Board of Governors is similarly legislatively created and subject to congressional oversight.

We hope that your magazine will act responsibly to clarify, for us, and for your readers, that the information contained in this list was false and misleading, and that it was not your intention to promote, endorse, or perpetuate an anti-Jewish conspiracy theory.