‘This is an American problem; it's not a Jewish problem': Tree of Life chair reacts to Boulder attack
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
State commission offers recommendations to curb antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools
'It is my sincere hope that as our schools begin preparing for the new school year that they will look to the Commission's report for helpful guidance to prevent and respond to hate,' state Senator John C. Velis, a Westfield Democrat who co-chairs the commission, said in a statement. Antisemitic harassment, assaults, and vandalism have been Advertisement Such incidents surged Some schools have faced criticism for the timeliness and manner of their response. The Concord-Carlisle public school system Advertisement The 18-member state commission's final report on antisemitism in schools is due to be filed with the House and Senate by Nov. 30. Among the recommendations adopted was a call for educating students about 'antisemitic tropes and myths' that are often seen online as part of teaching digital literacy. The commission also called for adding lessons during Jewish American Heritage Month that highlight Jewish contributions to the United States; implementing mandatory anti-bias training for educators that specifically addresses antisemitism; and expanding access to Kosher and Halal foods in schools. The panel's recommendations also urge the state to create a statewide bias reporting system that includes antisemitism as a form of bias, and to make changes to current curriculums to 'provide age-appropriate, balanced classroom resources to teach about Ancient Israel, Palestine, modern Israel, and Middle East conflicts in alignment with state history and social science standards.' 'These recommendations offer a clear, actionable playbook for state and local school leaders to create safer, more inclusive learning environments,' said state Representative Simon Cataldo, a Concord Democrat who co-chairs the commission with Velis. The commission's preliminary report was hailed by state leaders, including Governor Maura Healey, who said her administration will work with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to review and implement the panel's recommendations. 'If we want to combat antisemitism and protect the members of our Jewish community, it starts with educating our children, building a better understanding of the Jewish experience, and making it clear that antisemitism has no place in Massachusetts,' Healey said in the statement. Advertisement Nick Stoico can be reached at
Politico
2 hours ago
- Politico
Trump Bruins a good time at UCLA
BILLION-DOLLAR BATTLE: The Trump administration's battle to dominate higher education has come to California — and this time, it involves one of the country's largest university systems and the taxpayers who help fund it. The University of California, Los Angeles is in court today over more than half a billion dollars the federal government has frozen over antisemitism allegations stemming from last year's Israel-Gaza campus demonstrations. During virtual arguments this afternoon, Judge Rita F. Lin sounded skeptical of some of the administration's arguments, questioning how the Trump administration's explanation that the cuts were an 'indefinite suspension' rather than a 'termination' would comply with a prior ruling. The hearing came days after Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted Donald Trump's demand for $1 billion from UCLA in return for millions of dollars in frozen federal research grants, describing the president's move as an attempt to 'silence academic freedom.' Newsom also floated the idea of another lawsuit. 'He has threatened us through extortion with a billion-dollar fine unless we do his bidding,' the governor told reporters on Friday. Asked about a potential lawsuit, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt today said the governor could 'bring it on,' repeating a refrain Newsom frequently uses against Trump. Here's what we're watching after a week of rapid-fire developments. UCLA is the first public institution the Trump administration has targeted. The president has successfully gone after a handful of prestigious private schools, settling with Brown and Columbia in exchange for keeping their funding. Harvard is also reportedly close to a settlement, and George Washington University appears to be next on Trump's hit list. UCLA's status as a taxpayer-funded school means any major financial moves could have a trickle-down effect on the University of California system and the state, as a whole. It also gives state leaders more say over its actions, although they haven't always agreed with university leaders' decisions — lest we forget the demise of the Pac-12 over Newsom's objections. It's about the money, but it's not just about the money. Trump is using federal funding as leverage to force policy changes at UCLA, as he's done at the other schools that have settled. His administration wants the university to stop giving scholarships based on race or ethnicity, end DEI incentives for hiring, stop using proxies for race in its admissions process and share information on test scores, grade point averages and applicant race. Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel told Playbook it's 'hard to take this seriously,' and it seems more related to 'political gamesmanship.' 'They're asking for a billion-dollar settlement in exchange for not removing roughly $500 million in funding,' he said. 'It just doesn't make any sense. So there's a couple pieces of this that just don't add up.' Trump says the settlement is about antisemitism. California Jewish leaders disagree. The president's administration is using the protest movement and related claims of discrimination to exercise authority over UCLA. But the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California today released a statement saying it 'strongly opposes' Trump's push for a settlement, saying the move would 'drive a wedge between the Jewish community and other vulnerable groups that are harmed.' 'As a public institution, such a settlement would ironically divert public funds from other initiatives, including those that combat antisemitism and hate,' the group said. UCLA already paid $6.5 million to settle a separate case brought by Jewish students and a professor related to pro-Palestinian encampments protesters constructed on campus last year. Gabriel and his Legislative Jewish Caucus co-chair Scott Wiener, a Democratic state senator from San Francisco, both said rising antisemitism is real, but they've been encouraged to see changes enacted by UCLA's new chancellor, Julio Frenk. They said Trump's settlement demand isn't really about protecting Jewish students. 'He does not care about Jews or antisemitism,' Wiener told Playbook. 'He is using Jews as human shields to accomplish his actual political goals, which are to consolidate control over universities and to destroy scientific research.' University of California leaders are still figuring out their next move. The UC Board of Regents held an emergency meeting about the settlement yesterday and 'discussed a path forward' without taking any action. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis' team said she was present for the meeting. Newsom's office confirmed he was not in attendance. IT'S TUESDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check on California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to lholden@ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY GOING DIRECT: OpenAI has appealed directly to Newsom in a letter obtained exclusively by California Decoded, suggesting California should consider AI companies that sign onto national and international AI agreements as compliant with state AI rules. The letter, dated Monday from OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane, comes as Sacramento continues to debate key AI legislation, including Wiener's SB 53, which would require AI companies divulge their safety testing protocols and would establish whistleblower protections for their workers. Lehane recommended 'that California take the lead in harmonizing state-based AI regulation with emerging global standards' when it comes to the technology, dubbing it the 'California Approach.' OpenAI and other developers have already signed onto, or plan to sign onto, the EU's AI code of practice and committed to conducting national security-related assessments of their programs, both voluntary commitments, Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said: 'We have received the letter. We don't typically comment on pending legislation.' The letter offers Newsom something of an off-ramp this year, after he vetoed Wiener's broader SB 1047 AI safety bill last year that would have required programs to complete pre-release safety testing. — Chase DiFeliciantonio If you like this excerpt from POLITICO Pro Technology: California Decoded, you can request a demo here. IN OTHER NEWS MUSICAL CHAIRS: Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones today threw cold water on rumors he might take advantage of Democratic redistricting efforts to mount a congressional campaign — although he doesn't seem to fully rule it out, either. 'Despite unfounded rumors and political gossip, I am not considering a run for Congress because of redistricting,' Jones said in a statement to Playbook. 'I strongly oppose Gavin Newsom's redistricting scheme,' he added. 'Senate Republicans will fight this unfair political power grab that silences Californians and undermines our Constitution.' The San Diego-area Republican, whose final term ends next year, lives in an area with two deep-blue congressional districts that could become more purple as Democrats try to pick up five new seats. As we've reported, San Diego Reps. Scott Peters and Sara Jacobs are preparing to add Republicans as Democrats draw a new map in response to Texas GOP redistricting. TOUTING TELEWORK: A long-awaited state audit of Newsom's return-to-office mandate for state employees was critical of the governor's push to require in-person work. Newsom ordered state workers back to the office for two days per week in 2024 and four days earlier this year, although he postponed the more stringent directive before it took effect. The audit says reducing state office space in response to telework could save the state $225 million. It also said the governor's office 'did not gather some important information about departments' office space needs or the associated costs before directing state employees to work an increasing number of days per week in the office.' GOP Assemblymember Josh Hoover, who's been an advocate of telework, released a statement promoting the report. 'The findings of the audit make clear that providing telework options for state employees in the jobs where it makes sense has substantial benefits for workers, taxpayers, state agencies, commuters, and the environment,' he said. WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY — Black leaders say Trump's criticisms of Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and other cities smack of racism. (POLITICO) — Democratic members of Congress are accusing the Trump administration of cleaning up a basement ICE detention center in downtown Los Angeles ahead of their visit. (Los Angeles Times) AROUND THE STATE — The California High Speed Rail Authority wants lawmakers to help the agency resolve land-use conflicts that are slowing the expensive project. (Fresno Bee) — Advocates are urging officials to preserve video evidence of San Diego County jail deaths after surveillance footage from one incident was erased. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Politico
4 hours ago
- Politico
Kings County kumbaya for Mamdani
With help from Amira McKee THE UNI-TEA: Brooklyn Democrats can be a fractious, feuding bunch. Today, for a short while at least, they buried the hatchet. Bitter rivals stood side by side in boisterous support of Zohran Mamdani at the Flatbush Gardens housing complex, the second stop of the Democratic mayoral nominee's 'Five Boroughs Against Trump' tour. The group included the leader of the Kings County Democratic Party and members of the New Kings Democrats faction, which sprung up as the reformist response to county bosses. It featured moderate Democrats as well as progressives and democratic socialists. 'First of all, media, I need you to understand what's going on right now because I don't think this group of people agree about nothing,' Public Advocate Jumaane Williams observed to chuckles before he launched into his remarks. Williams said New York Democrats more broadly should follow their example in supporting the party's nominee for mayor. Key party and Brooklyn leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Yvette Clarke, were not in attendance and have yet to endorse Mamdani. Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary seven weeks ago, but many in his party say they still don't know the young Queens state assemblymember well enough to get behind him. Some say his proposals to freeze rent and make buses free are too unrealistic. Others cite his criticisms of Israel and his reluctance to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada' as reasons for concern. Mamdani has struggled to shore up support among politically moderate Black and Jewish voters. For House Democrats focused on winning the majority next year, there's additionally the concern that having a democratic socialist as the face of the party could hurt moderate Democrats in suburban battlegrounds. But their colleagues in state and city government said today in central Brooklyn that the party needs Mamdani to face President Donald Trump. State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the county party, endorsed Eric Adams in 2021, Cuomo in this year's primary and Mamdani immediately after he trounced the former governor in June by nearly 13 points. 'People just don't understand that we all want the same thing,' Bichotte Hermelyn told Playbook, referring to Brooklyn Democrats. 'The little political fights, it's just surface. But we all want affordability. We're all fighting for a working class, we want equity, we want fairness.' The vibe had enough kumbaya to it that Bichotte Hermelyn and City Council Member Justin Brannan stood next to each other. Yes, the same two Democrats who waged one of the nastiest intraparty clashes in recent memory during Brannan's 2023 campaign. (She revived bullying accusations against him, he won without party resources and concluded on election night that she's 'gotta go.') Progressive New Kings members had praise for both Mamdani and Bichotte Hermelyn in explaining how a diverse cross-section of Democrats could get on the same page. 'It's indicative of his campaign and who he is,' Council Member Crystal Hudson said of Mamdani. 'If all of us can come together behind him, he's doing something.' Council Member Chi Ossé told Playbook, 'I really do applaud Rodneyse on immediately getting into lockstep and showing that Democratic unity is important here. ... I think the entire party needs to continue doing what we're doing in there.' — Emily Ngo From the Capitol GOP SPLIT IN ASSEMBLY SPECIAL: Republicans are beginning to coalesce around a candidate for the looming special election to replace Democratic Assemblymember Billy Jones — but not the party leader with the most say in choosing a nominee. Malone Mayor Andrea Dumas locked down support from Rep. Elise Stefanik last week. She was endorsed today by the Conservative Party and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay. But Stefanik put out a lengthy statement this afternoon calling on Clinton County GOP Chair Jerika Manning to resign for 'threatening to tank' the special. 'I am not going to let her torpedo Republican candidates in the North Country,' Stefanik wrote. Manning controls 53 percent of the vote as party leaders choose a nominee for the race that'll likely be held on Election Day. Two individuals familiar with the situation said Stefanik's statement came about after the county chair declined to join other Republican leaders in endorsing Dumas and continued searching for a new candidate. Manning did not return a request for comment. Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman has been widely seen as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Bridie Farrell, a Child Victims Act advocate and former speed-skater who briefly ran against Stefanik in 2022, formally joined the Democratic field today as well. — Bill Mahoney NOT SWEATING: Gov. Kathy Hochul shrugged at a Siena University poll released this morning that found Stefanik, a potential gubernatorial rival, running competitively in the suburbs and among independent voters. 'I'll let you all figure it out,' she told reporters. 'I'm working hard every single day putting money back in peoples' pockets, making streets safer and fighting the damn Trump administration.' The survey found Hochul with a 14-point lead over Stefanik, 45 percent to 31 percent. The gap between the Democratic governor and the House Republican, while comfortable, is smaller than the 23-point difference Hochul held in June. 'I've been through countless polls and, guess what, team, there's going to be a lot more between now and November,' she added. — Nick Reisman ADULT LEARNERS EYE FREE TUITION: More than 16,500 New Yorkers applied to a free community college program for older students, Hochul announced this morning. The City University of New York received about 7,000 of the applications from students seeking associate degrees in high-demand fields, CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez said. The remainder went to the State University of New York. The initiative — aimed at adult learners between the ages of 25 and 55 — applies to the 37 community colleges run by SUNY and CUNY. The program, set to begin this fall, is part of Hochul's affordability push, as she faces a tough reelection bid next year. 'I'm going to keep doing my part, focusing on families — my fight is for your family,' Hochul said during a press conference at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. 'Focusing on affordability — this is a major part of it, but also putting more money back in people's pockets.' Hochul insisted the state 'has no limit' on the number of applicants because enrollment is still lower than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 4 million working-age adults in New York do not have a college degree or credential, according to the governor's office. State lawmakers and higher education advocates told POLITICO earlier this year that community colleges don't have enough money to implement the plan. The governor allocated $47 million in the state budget for the upcoming school year. When asked by Playbook about those concerns, Hochul pointed to record investments in SUNY and CUNY. — Madina Touré FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TAKEOVER TAKES: Trump's unprecedented effort to take over law enforcement in Washington drew a reaction from Mayor Eric Adams today. Asked about Trump's actions, Adams touted recent decreases in major crime categories to make the case that New York City does not need the type of federal intervention playing out in the nation's capital. 'I'm not part of the group that says we don't want to work with the federal government, but we don't need anyone to come in and take over our law enforcement apparatus,' Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent, said during an unrelated news conference. 'We've got this under control.' Rival independent candidate Andrew Cuomo claimed the turn of events in Washington is 'exactly what will happen' if Mamdani wins the general election this fall, though Trump would be more limited in the control he could exert over the NYPD. 'Trump will flatten him like a pancake,' Cuomo posted Monday on X. 'In 2020, Trump sent the National Guard into other states. Not New York. There's only one person in this race who can stand up to Trump: the one who already has, successfully and effectively.' Mamdani warned Trump against trying a similar militarization in New York City, as the president has repeatedly floated, while chiding Cuomo for comments he made during a June CBS interview where he warned federal immigration officers are 'going to do things that are illegal and unconstitutional' but cautioned New Yorkers not to overreact. 'Donald Trump is not above the law and if he comes for New York City, he will have to go through me,' Mamdani said in a statement today. 'As Mayor, I will not downplay or enable his authoritarianism — and I certainly will not tell New Yorkers not to 'overreact' as Andrew Cuomo did when Trump's militia tried to bulldoze Los Angeles.' — Maya Kaufman and Joe Anuta ENDORSEMENT WATCH: Former Gov. David Paterson is set to endorse Adams' reelection bid during a Wednesday event at City Hall, according to a person with direct knowledge of the gathering. The nod comes a month after Paterson held a press conference that called for a united front to defeat Mamdani in the general election. So far, the former elected's wishes are not playing out. Neither Cuomo, Adams nor GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa have expressed any intention of dropping out of the race. Paterson backed Cuomo in the primary, but his support has waned after Cuomo's decisive loss to Mamdani in the June 24 primary. — Joe Anuta FROM CITY HALL GUILTY PLEA: A former Adams aide pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting to organizing a fundraiser for the mayor at which he knew money would be raised by illegal straw donations. Bahi's plea in Manhattan federal court comes four months after Judge Dale Ho dismissed the related charges against Adams after Trump's Department of Justice sought to drop the case. Bahi said that an unnamed 'volunteer of the campaign' had told him Adams' political operation would raise money by straw donations at a December 2020 fundraiser with Uzbek-American business leader Tolib Mansurov and would then seek to match the contributions with public funds. It wasn't clear which volunteer Bahi was referring to, though Adams' indictment suggests it was Ahsan Chugtai, another man who was later hired by Adams' City Hall as a Muslim community liaison. Adams adviser Frank Carone did not respond when asked about it, saying the case has 'no connection at all or relevance' to the Adams campaign. Adams' lawyers have maintained that he was not aware of any of the numerous confirmed illegal contributions to his 2021 campaign. Bahi did not respond when reporters asked how he felt about pleading guilty when Adams got off. Turkish-American developer Erden Arkan also pleaded guilty to making straw donations in January, and his sentencing is scheduled for this Friday. Bahi was hired as a Muslim liaison in the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit after Adams won. He resigned last October, the day before he was arrested and charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence. He's been in plea discussions with the government since at least February. Bahi agreed to pay $32,000 restitution, Ho said, and could face up to six months in prison and a $20,000 fine at sentencing, which is scheduled for 18. — Jeff Coltin AROUND NEW YORK — SPY-FI: The Adams administration is using its flagship broadband program to give police real-time access to NYCHA camera feeds — without telling anyone. (New York Focus) — AI, ESQ.: A Queens judge is fining a landlord's attorney for using fake, AI-generated court cases to support his argument. (Hell Gate) — TEAM ZOHRAN: Mamdani is growing his inner circle, a group of trusted advisers that lean younger and farther left than that of his rivals. (New York Times) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
