As a Council Member representing over 170,000 constituents in District 39, transparency is central to my role, and my constituents should be informed about the reasoning behind my decisions, even in cases where opinions may differ. On April 27, 2023, I voted against Resolution 487, a symbolic, non-substantive resolution to proclaim April 29th as an annual “End Jew Hatred Day” in our City, because I was deeply troubled by the national organization backing it and would rather focus on material interventions to combat antisemitism. While I stand by my vote, I deeply regret and apologize that I did not share more context on the rationale behind my vote against Resolution 487 when I cast it, which has caused confusion, frustration, and harm to parts of the Jewish community. I’m grateful to the many constituents who shared their perspectives with me following my vote, ranging from relief and support to confusion or dismay. Moving forward, I am committed to fostering an even more transparent and open dialogue and forging stronger relationships with a variety of Jewish leaders, organizations, and constituents across District 39. 

To be clear, I am vehemently opposed to antisemitism and all forms of hatred. The rise in antisemitism in our City is deeply troubling, and I understand the fear that many of my Jewish constituents feel in the face of potential discrimination and violence. This is why I’ve organized and spoken out for years about antisemitism, anti-Asian violence, anti-LGBTQ violence, Islamophobia, and other forms of hatred when they’ve reared their ugly heads in our City. No New Yorker should ever have to live in fear because of their faith or religious identity. 

Before becoming a Council Member, I organized and worked with Jewish leaders and neighbors to address antisemitic hate crimes and build bridges between Muslim and Jewish communities. As a Council Member, I’ve proudly sponsored a resolution calling on the Department of Education (DOE) to create a Jewish Heritage Day, and the Council adopted my Resolution 95, urging the DOE to adopt a religious diversity curriculum aimed at combating hatred of all forms. 

However, Resolution 487 is backed by a coalition that has concerning ties to far-right politicians who promote problematic and hateful rhetoric. One of the organization’s founders, former Assembly Member Dov Hikind, is a staunch Donald Trump supporter, has defended unjust profiling of Muslims, and made inflammatory comparisons of same-sex marriage to ‘incest.’ Many prominent members of this organization, like Brooke Goldstein and Ronald Lauder, have supported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s undemocratic government and have been accused of Islamophobia and hate speech, including denying the existence of Palestinians. 

The resolution text was advanced by Trump and Desantis supporting Republican Council Member Inna Vernikov. Council Member Vernikov illegally brought and displayed a gun at a peaceful protest at Brooklyn College as an intimidation tactic against student demonstrators. She attended and celebrated the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, which featured xenophobic, transphobic, and antisemitic hate speech. When voting on this resolution, I had deep concerns about advancing Council Member Vernikov’s troubling agenda.  

I could not, in good conscience, vote in favor or be associated with the harmful rhetoric underlying this resolution, no matter how well-intentioned its wording may seem. The root causes of all forms of hatred are interconnected, and we cannot effectively address them by supporting resolutions sponsored by far-right Republican politicians who invoke persecution while simultaneously demonizing other marginalized groups. My experience in addressing antisemitism and Islamophobia before and during my time in office has shown me that hatred against one group often breeds hatred against another. 

What’s Next: Intro 203 – Building a Safer City & Combating Antisemitism through Policy 

I remain committed to proactively addressing the violence and discrimination that Jewish New Yorkers face far too often. After numerous conversations with Jewish leaders, organizations, and constituents, I authored Intro 203 in response to the rise in antisemitic hate crimes in our City. This legislation would require New York City to conduct an annual public awareness campaign against antisemitism and is supported by groups like the New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA) and Jews For Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ). Jacob Kornbluh outlines the key components of the legislation in this article in The Forward. 

In contrast to Resolution 487, a purely symbolic gesture that has no actionable requirements for the City, my legislation would become law if passed and would mandate City agencies to directly address antisemitism. With New York City being home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, this public awareness campaign is desperately needed, especially as Jewish New Yorkers face a disturbing rise in violence targeting their communities.

I’ve been appointed as the Co-Chair of the Council’s newly established Task Force to Combat Hate, a role that I intend to use to fight against antisemitism and create a safer City for Jewish New Yorkers. I am dedicated to calling out antisemitism whenever I encounter it and will continue to listen to and learn from the diverse experiences of my Jewish constituents.

To my Jewish constituents and community members, please know that I am committed to being a strong ally and an advocate for policies, leaders, and organizations that effectively combat hate crimes in our city. My staff and I are eager to listen to your feedback and concerns about the challenges you face, as well as any ideas you may have for how we can work together to create a safer, more inclusive New York City.