Latest news with #OfficetoCombatAntisemitism
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC Mayor Adams signs business agreement with Israel, blasts calls for divesting from country amid Gaza war
NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams signed a business engagement agreement with Israel's government on Monday, seeking to draw a sharp contrast with local progressive Democrats calling for divesting from the country over its military campaign in Gaza. Adams, who has centered his reelection bid on a need to combat antisemitism in the city, signed the agreement with Israeli Economic Minister Nir Barkat while appearing together at The Jerusalem Post conference in Manhattan. The agreement establishes a council, staffed by City Hall and Israeli government reps, tasked with finding ways to 'enhance economic cooperation.' Specifically, the panel will 'support Israeli companies' seeking to set up shop in New York, with a focus on firms in the artificial intelligence, life sciences and environmental innovation sectors, per the agreement. The war in Gaza has prompted growing calls across the globe for sanctions against Israel. In New York, progressive politicians, including mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, have voiced support for pulling U.S. funding and investments from Israel. In remarks before signing the agreement, Adams pushed back against those calls and aligned himself with Israel, while referring to Barkat, a member of Netanyahu's ruling right-wing party, as his 'good friend' and 'brother.' 'Several politicians in this city and some running for mayor have called for the disinvestment in Israel. Well, they got another thing coming,' he said, adding that the city will continue to foster business ties with Israel 'as long as I am mayor.' Adams has made support for Israel a key focus of his bid for a second term, an effort that stands to curry favor with the city's politically influential Jewish Orthodox community. Amid fallout from the Trump administration's controversial dismissal of his corruption indictment, Adams dropped out of the Democratic mayoral primary last month and announced he's instead seeking reelection as an independent in November's general election, running on an 'EndAntiSemitism' ballot line. Monday's announcement comes after Adams launched a new Office to Combat Antisemitism last week that he says will, in part, focus on pulling any city funding from nonprofits his administration deems antisemitic. _____
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Adams signs business agreement with Israel, blasts calls for divesting from country amid Gaza war
Mayor Adams signed a business engagement agreement with Israel's government on Monday, seeking to draw a sharp contrast with local progressive Democrats calling for divesting from the country over its military campaign in Gaza. Adams, who has centered his reelection bid on a need to combat antisemitism in the city, signed the agreement with Israeli Economic Minister Nir Barkat while appearing together at the Jerusalem Post conference in Manhattan. The agreement establishes a council, staffed by City Hall and Israeli government reps, tasked with finding ways to 'enhance economic cooperation.' Specifically, the panel will 'support Israeli companies' seeking to set up shop in New York, with a focus on firms in the artificial intelligence, life sciences and environmental innovation sectors, per the agreement. The war in Gaza has prompted growing calls across the globe for sanctions against Israel. In New York, progressive politicians, including mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, have voiced support for pulling U.S. funding and investments from Israel. In remarks before signing the agreement, Adams pushed back against those calls and aligned himself with Israel, while referring to Barkat, a member of Netanyahu's ruling right-wing party, as his 'good friend' and 'brother.' 'Several politicians in this city and some running for mayor have called for the disinvestment in Israel. Well, they got another thing coming,' he said, adding that the city will continue to foster business ties with Israel 'as long as I am mayor.' Adams has made support for Israel a key focus of his bid for a second term, an effort that stands to curry favor with the city's politically influential Jewish Orthodox community. Amid fallout from the Trump administration's controversial dismissal of his corruption indictment, Adams dropped out of the Democratic mayoral primary last month and announced he's instead seeking reelection as an independent in November's general election, running on an 'EndAntiSemitism' ballot line. Monday's announcement comes after Adams launched a new Office to Combat Antisemitism last week that he says will, in part, focus on pulling any city funding from nonprofits his administration deems antisemitic.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor Adams considering pulling city contracts for organizations the city deems antisemitic
NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams is considering pulling city contracts for organizations his administration deems antisemitic, he said on CNN Friday. Adams told the network's Wolf Blitzer he wants his new Office to Combat Antisemitism to look at 'any agencies within the city that (are) having any form of procurement contracts with entities that are dealing with hate or antisemitism.' An Adams administration source, who spoke to the Daily News on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Friday that internally, some officials are concerned the new office will be used to revoke city funds for Muslim and Arab community groups that have been outspoken in condemning Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Adams' stated mission also echoes that of President Donald Trump's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism — which is seeking to crack down on alleged antisemitism in higher education by pulling millions of dollars in funding from universities. Kayla Mamelak, Adams' spokeswoman, said defunding organizations isn't the primary goal of the office, but added the mayor is not ruling out the idea. Mamelak rejected any similarities to Trump's task force, saying the mayor's office aims to take a holistic approach by holding meetings and educational courses about antisemitism. Mamelak also pointed to previous comments from the mayor on the importance of free speech. Adams first hinted at the funding plans at a Tuesday news conference. During a Thursday appearance on Israeli news channel i24News, Adams said he wants the new office to 'clearly' define antisemitism so city funding can be pulled from any nonprofit 'that is not clear on stamping out hate in general, but specifically antisemitism.' The mayor's comments also come after the cancellation of a Kehlani concert in Central Park related to 'security concerns' over the singer's support of Palestine, where First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro warned the organization hosting the show that its operational license could be revoked. Adams, who's seeking reelection this year on an independent 'EndAntiSemitism' ballot line, said Tuesday he launched the office in response to a rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes. 'This rise in hate against Jewish New Yorkers is deeply alarming and must end now,' Mamelak said. 'Mayor Adams' Office to Combat Antisemitism will focus on proactive, upstream solutions to address the root causes of this hate.' The new office is solely staffed by its executive director, although an administration source said plans are underway to hire more staff. Besides his veiled funding threats, Adams said Thursday the office will propose legislation to the City Council to enact a 'complete ban' on wearing masks in public, and he connected the need for such a ban to pro-Palestine protests in the city. _____
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York City Mayor Adams announces new Office to Combat Antisemitism
NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams Tuesday announced a new city Office to Combat Antisemitism amid a surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes and an increasing focus on the issue in this year's mayoral race. The mayor said NYPD stats show that more than half of hate crimes are antisemitic despite Jewish New Yorkers making up about 10% of the city's population. He called that an 'imbalance' that must be knocked down. Adams called the new office 'a symbolic gesture, but most importantly, a substantive gesture' at a Tuesday press conference. The new office comes despite the existence of a similar office in his administration that was formed in 2019, also in response to a rise in antisemitic hate crime incidents. The new office, which is made up of just one person, comes amid a hotly contested mayoral election in which antisemitism — and the ongoing conflict in Gaza — have come into sharp focus. In November, Adams, who's running as an independent, could face off against Andrew Cuomo, the front-runner in the Democratic primary, and likely a progressive candidate running on the Working Families Party line. Both Adams and Cuomo are very pro-Israel, and are vying for Orthodox and conservative Jewish voters, important voting blocks for the candidates. Moshe Davis, who's been the administration's Jewish liaison since 2022, will serve as the executive director under First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. The office will work to establish a task force focused on antisemitism comprised of the Mayor's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, the police department, the city's Commission on Human Rights and others, according to an executive order establishing the office. It'll also monitor court cases and advise on executive orders and legislation, the mayor said. 'This office will be a sledgehammer, deliberate, coordinated and unapologetic,' Davis said at its announcement. Adams suggested the office will target college campus protests, organizations that receive taxpayers dollars, an apparent reference to a called-off Summerstage concert by Kehlani, a pro-Palestine singer, and city messaging including a Department of Education pamphlet that called Israel's actions in Palestine a 'genocide.' 'We just saw a newsletter go out the other day that was despicable, what they were promoting,' Adams said. 'And so we have to proactively monitor what is leaving our agencies. We cannot be the feeder of hate.' Adams is petitioning on an 'EndAntiSemitism' ballot line, in addition to a 'Safe&Affordable' line, for the November election. The move also comes after President Trump formed an 'Anti-Semitism' task force that has targeted and cut funding from universities. Brad Lander, the city's comptroller running for mayor, accused the mayor of using Jewish New Yorkers as 'pawns' in a statement. 'Creating a taxpayer-funded office in the waning days of his mayoralty to rhyme with his made-up personal ballot line is cynical and transparent, even for this mayor,' he said. _____
New York Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Mayor Adams takes page out of Trump's playbook, launches task force to fight antisemitism
Mayor Adams took a page from President Trump's playbook and announced the city's own antisemitism task force – after years of local Jewish groups pushing for action. Hizzoner rolled out a new Office to Combat Antisemitism in City Hall on Tuesday ahead of his weekly off-topic presser with the aim of making sure no city funds flow to any group or organization that promotes hate against Jewish people. The agency will be tasked with monitoring court cases and working with the Law Department on which cases the city should join or bring, as well as advising the administration on potential executive orders. Advertisement 'The Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism will be the first of its kind in a major city across the nation, and will tackle antisemitism in all of its forms,' Adams said. 3 The new office comes after years of rising numbers of anti-semitic incidents. Paul Martinka 'The office will work to ensure city-funded entities and city agencies do not permit different forms of antisemitism,' he added. Advertisement The new office — which, as of Tuesday had executive director Moshe Davis as its sole employee — seemingly mimicked Trump's Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism that has gone to war with universities over alleged antisemitism on campus. Earlier on Tuesday, the feds revoked another $450 million from Harvard after the school was found to have 'repeatedly failed' to tamp down on antisemitism and other racial discrimination. 3 The initiative mirrors Trump's task force that has targeted higher education. ALI HAIDER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The mayor, though, couldn't point to any groups when pressed on what antisemitic groups have benefited from taxpayer dollars — only the city's schools, which twice sent out radicalized messages in newsletters. Advertisement Adams' bare bones announcement comes after years of increases in antisemitic hate crimes and was praised by some who have called on the city to do more. 'We expect the Mayor's office to use its legal authority to root out systemic Jew-hatred in all city agencies and offices and take proactive steps to end the tyranny of terror that silences and excludes Jewish New Yorkers in schools, at work, and in the city's streets,' the group End Jew Hatred said in a statement. 3 Mayor Eric Adams was flanked by a number of people in the Jewish community for the announcement. Paul Martinka However, others skewered the mayor and claimed he was using the office in his longshot reelection bid in the general election in November. Adams dropped out of a crowded Democratic Party primary and is expected to run on an independent ballot line, 'EndAntiSemitism.' Advertisement 'It's insulting. It's pathetic,' said Dov Hikind, former Brooklyn assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism. 'Where has he been? Jew hatred was bad three years ago and it's 10 times worse after Oct. 7, 2023. He didn't know? 'He's creating a task force in the bottom of the ninth inning,' he railed, adding, 'There's no question he's pandering.' Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a seemingly nearly identical slate of initiatives, following a City Council law requiring the creation of an Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. Adams dodged questions about the timing of the new office, only pointing to the 62% of hate crimes this year being antisemitic. Antisemitism has continuously accounted for an outsized portion of hate crime in the Big Apple, dating back to 2019 when more than 60% were anti-Jewish incidents. Over the past two years, the NYPD has reported 325 and 350 antisemitic incidents, accounting for 48% and 52% of all hate crimes in 2023 and 2024, respectively, according to police data. Political operative Hank Sheinkopf told The Post he believed the pandering would pay off for Adams in the general, as he aligns himself opposite of state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who is second in polls in the Democratic race after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and could be on the Working Families Party line come November. 'It's smart. It engages Mamdani, not [Andrew] Cuomo,' Sheinkopf added. 'He's not the first incumbent — or the last — to use his office for political gain.'
