At last week's closure meeting, Mayor Eric Adams insisted to Jewish leaders that anti-Sems were running to city hall.
Adams filed the allegations when he appeared before the Council on Jewish Community Relations on March 19, but did not reveal the names of candidates he thought would “spew anti-Semitism.”
The mayor attended a private meeting to discuss security and other preparations for the May 18 salute to the Israel Parade.
The community leaders there began by expressing their gratitude for Adams' support for Jews amidst the rising anti-Semitic outbreak.
Hizzoner then removed the script, sources said.
“In our great city, there is a large portion of the Jewish population, so one candidate running for mayor is to spit anti-Semitism,” attendees recalled the mayor who told JCRC members.
Another participant confirmed that Adams said anti-Semites were running towards City Hall.
Sources at the conference assumed that Adams was referring to State Senator Zoran Mamdani, a democratic socialist running for the mayor of Israeli Basher.
Mamdani was arrested in anti-Israel protests outside the home of Senator Chuck Schumer in Brooklyn in October 2023, when Israel demanded a ceasefire in Gaza seven days after Israel responded to the invasion of the Jewish state in Hamas a few days ago.
In Albany, Mamdani introduced “Not Our Dime!: Ending New York's Funding for Israeli Settlement Violence Act.”
He is part of the American democratic socialists and a political group that supports boycotts, sales and sanctions movements against Israel, and critics have argued that he is anti-Semitic.
Rabbi Joseph Potanic, vice president of the New York Ravis Committee, is one of the Jewish leaders who are concerned about the rise of Mamdani and what he said.
“You can explain that you keep Israel to another standard. You have all the rights to question whether you are anti-Semitic,” Potanic told the Post.
Mamdani's camp denied that he would promote anti-Semitism.
“Zohran is running a positive and visionary campaign to reduce the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, who are priced from the cities they built,” said Andrew Epstein, a spokesman for the Mamdani campaign. “He believes in universal human rights and strongly condemns anti-Semitism.
Asked whether Mamdani supports the BDS movement against Israel, Epstein said, “Zoran supports the right to non-violently protest against apartheid, including consumer boycotts.”
Adams did not deny commenting on the JCRC that one of the candidates is an anti-Semitic through the campaigner.
Instead, he expanded his claims and said there were “multiple” candidates who refused to fight Jewish hatred.
“Mayor Eric Adams has always been clear. The next mayor in New York must be someone who stands firmly in anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred, and embraces the value of respect, unity and inclusion.”
“New York is a city built on diversity, and its leaders must love and represent all New Yorkers, regardless of race, religion or background.
“We encourage everyone to see the comments and actions of candidates,” Shapiro said. “Several people demonstrate that they do not try to take a strong stance against hatred and anti-Semitism. The mayor believes that our city's leadership must be steady in their commitment to fighting hatred in all forms and ensuring that every New Yorker feels safe, precious and protected.”
