The battle lines are drawn in the New York City mayoral race, as candidates are gearing up to tackle the thorny issue of rising antisemitism. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and his rivals each pledge their commitment to combat the issue which has recently seen an uptick in the city. While Cuomo leads the polls, he faces criticism from fellow candidates who find his approaches self-serving, as reported by ABC7NY.
Recently speaking to a Jewish congregation on the Upper West Side, Cuomo addressed antisemitism, a subject that has become a focus in the mayoral race, as reported by PIX11. Surprised by the persistence of such hate, Cuomo said, “I’m sorry for the mistaken assumption I made that widespread antisemitism could never happen again.” He also plans to include Israel studies in childhood education and proposed a mask ban to deter demonstrators from causing trauma.
However, his closest rival in the polls, Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, hasn't remained silent. He accused Cuomo of using the issue as a smoke screen for political gain. "Andrew Cuomo’s framing reveals that he cares only about one thing—himself—and he’s willing to weaponize any issue," Mamdani told PIX11 News. Mamdani's campaign features a plan that includes an 800% funding increase for a proposed Department of Community Safety, focusing on a rise in hate crimes.
On the other hand, the current Mayor Eric Adams, who has been visibly active in the Jewish community, faces the challenge of antisemitism being accounted for half of all hate crimes in the city, as per NYPD data. Said a City Hall spokesperson, “Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD will announce enhanced measures to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe during Passover,” according to information provided by PIX11 News.
With around 600,000 potential Jewish Democratic voters at stake, the issue transcends party politics. Mark Gibber, president of the West Side Institutional Synagogue, which has invited all candidates to speak, emphasized the importance of safety, saying, "It is not a partisan issue. We want to make sure our community feels safe," as noted by PIX11 News.
