Latest news with #City&State
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NY Ex-Rep. Jamaal Bowman launches Super PAC to defeat pro-Israel pols ‘from Yonkers to Gaza'
Israel-bashing former New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman is creating a Super PAC aimed at ousting pro-Israel candidates. 'From Yonkers to Gaza and everywhere in between, we will fight for justice and reclaim our humanity,' says the new 'Built to Win' Super Pac pushed by Bowman, who was ousted in a Democratic primary last year in large part because of his anti-Israel stance. Bowman was even more explicit about his new PAC's anti-Israel mission during a recent interview. 'Any candidate that supports [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and genocide more than their constituents, any candidate that's tied up with corrupt crypto money, any candidate tied up with the real-estate lobby as opposed to renters, we're going to go after those candidates very aggressively,' Bowman told City & State. Former Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a pro-Israel moderate, trounced Bowman by more than 10 percentage points in the past Democratic primary for the 16th House District that takes in much of Westchester County and portions of The Bronx. Rabbi Jonathan Morgenstern, Jewish leader in Westchester, told The Post that Bowman again is showing his 'true colors. 'Bowman is a true, authentic antisemite,' said Morgenstern, head of Young Israel of Scarsdale, a modern orthodox synagogue. 'The [super PAC] shows his true colors. He's tripling down on attacking the Jewish people and the only Jewish state. It's disturbing and sad.' Liora Rez, a founder the watchdog group StopAntisemitism, said, 'Even if someone wanted to get more antisemitic, anti-Israel candidates elected, it's hard to imagine they'd give their money to a failure like Jamaal Bowman. 'He already wasted the money that was donated to his own losing campaign,' Rez said. 'Americans overwhelmingly stand with Israel and the Jewish people who have been a contributing and vital part of this great nation since the founding.' New York State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said, 'Former Rep. Bowman would be better to devote his new PAC to helping underserved people in our communities as well as promoting the economic interests of working class Americans instead of continuing his antisemitic, pro-terrorist advocacy in a pitiful attempt to retain even a drop of political relevance.' Rory Lancman, a Jewish civil-rights lawyer and former Queens councilman, added, 'Last year, voters across the country said loud and clear that America stands with Israel and against anti-Semitism and terrorism, and they said it especially loudly to Jamaal Bowman.' He noted that Bowman announced the formation of his political action committee days after the Palestinian terror group Hamas held a propaganda-filled parade as they handed over the bodies of tiny slain Israeli hostages Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were just 9 months and 4 years old when they were violently abducted, along with the remains of their mother Shiri. That's 'all you need to know about Bowman's, and his PAC's, values — and, frankly, its prospects,' Lancman said. Latimer's coalition of backes included voters turned off by Bowman's criticism of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza after the terrorist group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the Jewish state. His well-funded backers included the United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that spent a staggering $14 million in the race, and a cryptocurrency group called Fair Shake that bankrolled another $2 million worth of ad spots. Bowman accused Israel of committing 'genocide' in Gaza and belatedly apologized for denying the horrific rapes of Israeli women during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed an estimated 1,200 people — including 33 Americans. The weekend before the primary vote, Bowman vowed to 'show f–king AIPAC the power of the motherf–king South Bronx' during a manic rally alongside fellow 'Squad' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York City. In Bowman's concession speech, he doubled down on his stance, telling supporters: 'We will continue to fight for a free Palestine, and God help us that we live in a better world where when we say, 'Free Palestine,' it is not antisemitic.' But even some black activists said the Super Pac won't revive Bowman's career. 'Jamaal Bowman's loss wasn't about Israel—it was about his complete failure to represent the priorities of the Black community,' said Darius Jones, senior adviser to National Black Empowerment Action Fun, in a statement. 'Voters rejected him because he championed an extreme agenda that ignored their real concerns. 'You can't oppose public safety in Black neighborhoods, deny Black families access to quality education through school choice, and neglect infrastructure and small business investment in Black communities while expecting Black support,' Jones said. 'That's why he lost—plain and simple.'
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Notorious ‘Sperminator' who fathered at least 12 kids accused of using fake name to score info on NYC Council rival
A Queens man known as the 'Sperminator' who has perpetually run unsuccessfully for elected office is under fire for allegedly passing himself off as a reporter in a failed bid to get personal information on a rival in a City Council race, The Post has learned. Jonathan Rinaldi, who is running to succeed Councilman Robert Holden, misidentified himself as a reporter from the news outlet City & State, using the made-up name of 'Jim Bram,' over the phone while following up on an emailed Freedom of Information Law request, Holden's reps claimed to The Post. Rinaldi, notorious for being a prolific 'unvaccinated' sperm donor who has fathered at least 12 children, was seeking personnel records for Holden's deputy chief of staff, Alicia Vaichunas — his main competitor in June's Republican primary for the Queens seat. Vaichunas has already picked up key endorsements from the Queens GOP and Holden, a moderate Democrat. Rinaldi's FOIL request to Holden's office was submitted under his name. However, Holden's staffers said they believe they recognized Rinaldi's voice when he called the office Tuesday from an identified number claiming to be 'Jim Bram' and questioning why the FOIL request wasn't answered. The move prompted Vaichunas' son John to call him back, and he allegedly duped Rinaldi into revealing his true identity. Daniel Kurzyna, Holden's chief of staff, also received a letter Tuesday he shared with The Post from 'Jim Bram,' sent from the email address 'cityandstate2025@ The letter claimed City & State was writing a story on Rinaldi's 'unanswered' FOIL request and asked for an update. Holden's office notified the NYPD's 104th Precinct, which is reviewing whether Rinaldi could face misdemeanor criminal-impersonation charges, sources said. The councilman also fired off a letter Thursday to the Mayor's Office for Media and Entertainment demanding it revoke press credentials Rinaldi somehow scored because the wannabe pol has 'grossly misused' them to 'engage in deceptive and potentially harmful activities.'– including 'harassing' various 'elected officials' who had to get restraining orders against Rinaldi. The letter to Samar Nassar, MOME's press credentials czar, also notes the pro-lifer's November arrest for harassing voters at a Queens polling site – including shouting 'Baby killers!' at passers-by – while campaigning during a failed state Assembly campaign bid. Despite his politicking, Rinaldi is best known for running a Facebook page for women seeking unvaccinated sperm, and he previously told The Post he doesn't charge women for his sperm donations. Rinadi denied pretending to pose as a City & State reporter and said he believes Holden's office is stonewalling him on his request because he's openly questioned whether Vaichunas lives in the district she's running in. Rinadli also said he previously qualified for press credentials by showing proof he reports news on social media. His press card expired Jan. 15, and MOME informed him Friday it wouldn't be issuing a renewal card 'at this time' after fielding 'serious allegations' made by Holden, agency spokesperson Johanna McCabe said.
