City Council Advocates for Anti-Semitism Bills

On Wednesday, City Council President Julie Menin joined faith leaders and legislative colleagues to promote a set of new bills aimed at addressing anti-Semitism. One significant proposal focuses on enhancing protections for places of worship during protests.

“These bills stem from a straightforward yet crucial principle: Every New Yorker should feel safe when entering their places of worship and schools,” Menin mentioned prior to a public hearing held by the City Council’s Hate Task Force.

At the start of her term in January, Menin laid out a five-point strategy against anti-Semitism, which initially included requiring the NYPD to establish a security perimeter of up to 100 feet around religious institutions during protests.

However, after discussions with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and concerns regarding potential infringement on constitutional free speech, the proposal has been adjusted. Now, it offers police a more flexible framework to make decisions as situations unfold.

“The NYPD must be able to respond based on current conditions,” stated Michael Garber, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner for legal affairs, during a City Council committee hearing.

Garber highlighted the necessity to uphold protesters’ First Amendment rights, which influenced the modifications to the bill.

“If you establish uniform rules, you’ll inevitably encounter constitutional challenges,” he added.

According to the revised bill, the NYPD will need to submit a thorough proposal to both the City Council chairman and the mayor within 45 days, followed by a final plan within 90 days that outlines the use of police buffer zones during demonstrations outside houses of worship.

“I believe any implication that this bill isn’t needed undermines the Jewish community’s experience,” Menin remarked, addressing skepticism from some progressive City Council members.

Menin and fellow lawmakers recalled troubling anti-Israel protests outside a synagogue in Queens this January, where demonstrators shouted support for Hamas, and a similarly charged rally outside Manhattan’s Park East synagogue last November as pivotal events motivating the bill’s creation.

“What occurred at Park East Synagogue certainly wasn’t a peaceful demonstration,” Menin commented on the Israel-focused crowd that disrupted worshipers entering and exiting the synagogue.

Mayor Zoran Mamdani, facing criticism for his delayed response to protests against both synagogues, expressed eagerness to review the final bill version.

“This version significantly diverges from the original draft, which contained elements that raised concerns among law enforcement and legal experts,” he noted during a separate news conference.

City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx) has suggested a comparable bill addressing schools that may face protests.

Democratic state Rep. Sam Berger, whose district includes the Kew Gardens Hills Synagogue, shared the anxiety expressed by his constituents during the protests.

“Even from 300 feet away, we could hear their voices and hateful cries,” Berger relayed, recounting a conversation with a nearby resident tending to her children while feeling threatened by the situation.

“We must push for more action and advocate for the swift passage of this legislative package.”

Mark Trager, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council, endorsed the bill and emphasized the importance of formalizing such protections.

“There’s a significant difference between guidelines and law. From this point onward, it’s no longer just a suggestion—it’s a right,” he stated.