Latest news with #JStreet
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boulder attack renews safety concerns for US Jewish communities
On Sunday, a group gathered in Boulder, Colorado, to raise awareness for hostages held in Gaza was attacked, leaving 12 people injured. The suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, accused of throwing incendiary devices at them, allegedly planned the attack for a year, and told police he wanted to "kill all Zionist people," according to court documents. It was the latest in a string of attacks against Jewish people and institutions, ratcheting up anxiety among those in North America's Jewish community who see these incidents as signs of growing antisemitism in the US. The Boulder attack occurred just weeks after a suspect shot and killed a couple outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. They were later identified as employees of the Israeli embassy who had been attending an event at the museum. In April, the official residence of Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire, just hours after the Jewish lawmaker celebrated the first night of Passover. "Jews are feeling the impact and are more afraid than they were two weeks ago, or that fears that existed in some communities a few weeks ago are more heightened," said Adina Vogel Ayalon of J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group that's critical of the war and has called for a ceasefire in Gaza. "These types of hate crimes are not distinguishing between where you fall on the political spectrum about the war" between Israel and Hamas, Ms Ayalon said. "And that is something very unsettling." Israel has faced sustained international criticism over its military actions in Gaza, which it undertook after Hamas attacked the country on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people - mostly civilians - and taking 251 hostages. Over 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. The statistics do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters, and the BBC and other international media organisations are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza to verify. But a United Nations report that assessed Gazan deaths during a six-month period found nearly 70% of verified victims were women and children. Throughout the conflict, human rights experts have raised the alarm of widespread hunger, disease, and displacement within Gaza. The war also has become a divisive political issue in the US. Pro-Palestinian protests across university campuses and in major cities have ignited greater debates over education and free speech. There are religious, generational, and partisan divides within the American Jewish community about support for Israel and the question of Palestinian statehood. But the attacks in Boulder and Washington DC, struck a broader nerve because they crossed a "clear red line between legitimate free speech and political violence," Ms Ayalon said. Boulder's attack has drawn condemnation outside the Jewish community. "Acts of antisemitism have no place in our society," the Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned the Boulder attack in a statement. "This violent assault is not only an attack on a specific community but a direct threat to the values of pluralism, dignity, and safety for all people of faith. As Muslims, our faith calls us to speak out against injustice and to uphold the sanctity of every human life." The group targeted in Boulder, Run For Their Lives, holds weekly meetings and marches across the country to call for the release of the remaining hostages taken to Gaza. "The premise of the group is to peacefully raise awareness of the hostages. We're apolitical, we're not protesting anything," said global coordinator Shira Weiss. Many of the group's members are Jewish and support Israel, but those are not requirements for participation. "We get people from all walks of life - who vote Republican, Independent, Democrat, who support the Israeli government, or don't support the Israeli government," Ms Weiss said. Safety has always been a top priority for group chapters, she said, but they "never thought such a violent attack would happen." Jewish communities and institutions across the US have long required security, but many bolstered their defences after a shooter espousing right-wing antisemitic conspiracy theories murdered 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania synagogue in 2018. The following April, another shooter attacked a synagogue in Poway, California, killing one person and injuring three others. Those conversations are again happening in the wake of the Boulder incident. "The attacks, especially given the succession of attacks in a short period of time have made every Jewish American question their security, whether it's their personal security or the security of Jewish institutions that they visit," said Haliey Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America. "There's a sense that what has occurred in DC and Boulder could have happened anywhere, could have happened to anyone." The Jewish Colorado organisation announced a fundraiser to support increased security for Boulder's Jewish community, as well as financial and trauma support for victims of the attack. Its goal is $160,000. Rabbi Dan Moskovitz of Temple Sholom in Vancouver, Canada frequently joins Run For Their Lives events and plans to continue advocating for the hostages in Gaza. But he worries the Boulder attack would not be an isolated incident. "It's only going to inflame more radicalisation," he said. "It's only going to inspire more people to do those things." Antisemitic incidents in US surge to record high - report Prominent Jewish figures boycott Israel antisemitism event over far-right guests
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Boulder attack renews safety concerns for US Jewish communities
On Sunday, a group gathered in Boulder, Colorado, to raise awareness for hostages held in Gaza was attacked, leaving 12 people injured. The suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, accused of throwing incendiary devices at them, allegedly planned the attack for a year, and told police he wanted to "kill all Zionist people," according to court was the latest in a string of attacks against Jewish people and institutions, ratcheting up anxiety among those in North America's Jewish community who see these incidents as signs of growing antisemitism in the Boulder attack occurred just weeks after a suspect shot and killed a couple outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. They were later identified as employees of the Israeli embassy who had been attending an event at the museum. In April, the official residence of Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire, just hours after the Jewish lawmaker celebrated the first night of Passover."Jews are feeling the impact and are more afraid than they were two weeks ago, or that fears that existed in some communities a few weeks ago are more heightened," said Adina Vogel Ayalon of J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group that's critical of the war and has called for a ceasefire in Gaza."These types of hate crimes are not distinguishing between where you fall on the political spectrum about the war" between Israel and Hamas, Ms Ayalon said. "And that is something very unsettling." Israel has faced sustained international criticism over its military actions in Gaza, which it undertook after Hamas attacked the country on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people - mostly civilians - and taking 251 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. The statistics do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters, and the BBC and other international media organisations are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza to verify. But a United Nations report that assessed Gazan deaths during a six-month period found nearly 70% of verified victims were women and children. Throughout the conflict, human rights experts have raised the alarm of widespread hunger, disease, and displacement within Gaza. The war also has become a divisive political issue in the US. Pro-Palestinian protests across university campuses and in major cities have ignited greater debates over education and free speech. There are religious, generational, and partisan divides within the American Jewish community about support for Israel and the question of Palestinian statehood. But the attacks in Boulder and Washington DC, struck a broader nerve because they crossed a "clear red line between legitimate free speech and political violence," Ms Ayalon attack has drawn condemnation outside the Jewish community."Acts of antisemitism have no place in our society," the Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned the Boulder attack in a statement. "This violent assault is not only an attack on a specific community but a direct threat to the values of pluralism, dignity, and safety for all people of faith. As Muslims, our faith calls us to speak out against injustice and to uphold the sanctity of every human life."The group targeted in Boulder, Run For Their Lives, holds weekly meetings and marches across the country to call for the release of the remaining hostages taken to Gaza."The premise of the group is to peacefully raise awareness of the hostages. We're apolitical, we're not protesting anything," said global coordinator Shira of the group's members are Jewish and support Israel, but those are not requirements for participation."We get people from all walks of life - who vote Republican, Independent, Democrat, who support the Israeli government, or don't support the Israeli government," Ms Weiss has always been a top priority for group chapters, she said, but they "never thought such a violent attack would happen."Jewish communities and institutions across the US have long required security, but many bolstered their defences after a shooter espousing right-wing antisemitic conspiracy theories murdered 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania synagogue in 2018. The following April, another shooter attacked a synagogue in Poway, California, killing one person and injuring three others. Those conversations are again happening in the wake of the Boulder incident."The attacks, especially given the succession of attacks in a short period of time have made every Jewish American question their security, whether it's their personal security or the security of Jewish institutions that they visit," said Haliey Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America."There's a sense that what has occurred in DC and Boulder could have happened anywhere, could have happened to anyone."The Jewish Colorado organisation announced a fundraiser to support increased security for Boulder's Jewish community, as well as financial and trauma support for victims of the attack. Its goal is $160, Dan Moskovitz of Temple Sholom in Vancouver, Canada frequently joins Run For Their Lives events and plans to continue advocating for the hostages in he worries the Boulder attack would not be an isolated incident."It's only going to inflame more radicalisation," he said. "It's only going to inspire more people to do those things."
Travel Daily News
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Downtown San Diego's Tower 180 turns to dual-branded Hyat
J Street will transform San Diego's Tower 180 into a $250M, dual-branded Hyatt hotel, marking a major office-to-hospitality conversion. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – J Street, a leading San Diego-based real estate developer, announced ambitious plans to transform Tower 180, a 25-story office building in Downtown San Diego, into a 560-key dual-branded project with a Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotel. The conversion project, in collaboration with Hyatt, represents one of the largest office-to-hospitality conversions in the history of Southern California and will cost approximately $250 million. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026 with completion expected in the first half of 2028. The transformation aims to not only revitalize an underutilized downtown property but also create a vibrant destination that serves both visitors and locals, further enhancing the city's downtown corridor. 'This type of conversion project requires curiosity, creativity, and confidence,' said Saj Hansji, Founder and CEO of J Street. 'As a small and nimble firm, we were able to recognize the exceptional potential of Tower 180 and structure an offer that outpaced more institutional competitors. Over the past two years, we've meticulously quantified and mitigated the risks, creating a friction-free path to deliver this transformative new hotel for Downtown San Diego.' J Street acquired Tower 180 in December 2023 and partnered with architecture firm Delawie and interior design firm MONOGRAM at BBGM to reimagine the space. The Tower 180 project is uniquely positioned for success due to several key advantages. Originally built as the United States National Bank Building, the building underwent extensive renovations to its facade, lobby, and mechanical systems in 2020, making it an ideal conversion with updated infrastructure already in place. The building is also fully vacant eliminating relocation challenges often associated with adaptive reuse projects and has undergone substantial interior demolition and abatement. The architectural configuration of the main tower and adjacent annex presents an efficient layout for guestroom design, maximizing the property's functionality for hospitality use. The development also features a standalone nine-story parking garage, ensuring convenient parking options for guests and the public. Located at 180 Broadway, the 385,000-square-foot tower will be converted into a Hyatt Place hotel (371 keys) and a Hyatt House hotel (189 keys), offering two distinct hospitality experiences under one roof. The Hyatt Place hotel will offer those traveling for business or those looking to unwind a spacious room with dedicated places to work, sleep and hang out, helping guests seamlessly transition from working hours to relaxation. The Hyatt House hotel will provide well-equipped living accommodations with everything guests need for short- or long-term stays. Both hotels' amenities will help guests maintain their routine and enjoy the comforts of home when they are away. The dual property will feature reception areas, a lobby lounge, and market on the ground floor, a breakfast bar with an additional overflow lounge on the second floor, and more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space across levels 9 and 10 to accommodate conferences and events. 'Hyatt's partnership with J Street to transform Tower 180 is a fantastic opportunity to bring Hyatt's Essentials Brands to the Downtown San Diego market,' said Nirav Shah, Regional Vice President Development, Hyatt. 'With J Street's creativity and experience, this project exemplifies the transformation of office space in primary urban markets in the post-pandemic world.' The crown jewel of the project will be Lurline Cocktail Club, an upscale rooftop bar and lounge on the 25th floor. With high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass walls showcasing panoramic, unobstructed 360-degree views of the San Diego skyline and the ocean beyond, Lurline will blend the sophistication of a private penthouse with the energy of a premier listening lounge and sky-high bar. Featuring a sleek, minimalist design with a thoughtful balance of rough and polished materials, Lurline will showcase a curated collection of modern art that celebrates the intersection of architecture and music. The venue will offer a separate entrance off the street, serving as a destination for visitors and locals alike. This project continues J Street's commitment to creating unique, singular developments that enhance urban environments while providing exceptional returns. The conversion of Tower 180 aligns with the growing national trend of repurposing underutilized office buildings for hospitality and residential uses, addressing changing market demands in the post-pandemic landscape.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Man in downtown Sacramento killed in apparent hit-and-run crash
Sacramento Police said a driver hit and killed a man early Sunday morning and then fled the scene. Just before 2:30 a.m., police received a call about a man lying on the roadway on the 500 block of J Street. The victim died at the scene, and police said they believe he had been struck by a vehicle. According to police, the driver appeared to have left the scene before officers arrived. Sacramento Police said the coroner's office will release the identity of the victim once the next of kin has been notified. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 916-808-5471.
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump's Middle East trip has shown he is not Netanyahu's patsy
Donald Trump's Middle East visit – his first major international trip since his return to office – is as notable for where he isn't going as where he is. The United States President has found time in his schedule to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates but has conspicuously avoided travelling to Israel. The absence could have been regarded as curious oversight were it not reflective of a deeper dynamic developing between the Trump administration and Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli government. These previously subterranean tensions have burst to the surface in recent days across multiple fronts. 'I think what you're seeing is the Israelis recognising that as much as they welcomed the election of President Trump and thought that would really give them a blank cheque to pursue whatever agenda they wanted, Trump has his own agenda,' Frank Lowenstein, a former Middle East envoy under the Obama administration, said during a virtual briefing organised by J Street, an advocacy organisation that describes itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace. It would be overblown to describe the US-Israeli tensions as a crisis or even a rupture. But Trump is keeping Netanyahu off balance, and is showing he is certainly not the Israeli prime minister's patsy. The implications for the Middle East and the war with Gaza, like so much with a volatile figure like Trump, will be profound and unpredictable. First came Trump's announcement last week that the US would immediately halt its military campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen after the Houthis agreed to stop firing on US ships in the Red Sea. The agreement reportedly blindsided and infuriated Netanyahu, especially given it came right after the Houthis attacked Israel with a missile that hit close to the nation's main airport. Trump made clear he is more interested in reducing consumer prices in the US by freeing up international shipping routes than providing security protection for Israel. Importantly, Trump's vow to impose a 17 per cent tariff on Israeli goods still remains despite Netanyahu quickly flying to Washington DC last month to try to secure an exemption. Loading Secondly, the Trump administration negotiated directly with Hamas to secure the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander. The Trump administration cut Israel out of the negotiations, using a secret back channel to secure the one-off agreement with Hamas that the listed terror group has framed as an act of goodwill. Israel was reportedly forced to rely on its intelligence agencies, rather than the US, to learn about the deal. Israelis, of course, have welcomed Alexander's release, but the agreement has raised uncomfortable questions about why Israelis with dual nationality can be put on a fast-track to freedom while those with only Israeli citizenship cannot.
