Test group membership in velocity is failing

[Joe Budzowski]

I am unable to successfully execute javascript script based on a user's group membership the code listed below in footer.vm  .  Only the alert indicating the user is NOT in group 'jira-users'  is ever displayed.

FYI what I am attempting to do is disable any release links via javascript unless the user is in a specific group but I am unable to successfully test the user is in the basic 'jira-users' group.

Is there a more elegant way accomplish what I am attempting?

<div id="test-group-membership">

 #if ($userAccessor.hasMembership('jira-users', $helper.action.remoteUser.name))

<script type="text/javascript">

alert('you are obviously in jira-users group');

</script>

#else

<script  type="text/javascript">

alert('apparently you are not in the jira-users group');

</script>

#end

</div>

[Joe Budzowski]

#if ($authcontext.loggedInUser.name)
#if ($jiraUserUtils.getGroupNamesForUser($authcontext.loggedInUser.name).contains('releasers'))
<script>
alert('user is in releasers');
</script>
#else
<script>
alert('user is not in releasers')
//add some code to disable elements that enable release of a version, like the Release button
</script>
#end
#end