Latest news with #Vernikov
New York Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NYC pol rips Jewish activist over photo op with anti-Israel mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani: ‘Don't even bother calling' for funding
A NYC councilwoman warned nonprofits to look elsewhere for funding if they support socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani or others 'Hamas sympathizers.' Brooklyn Republican and staunch Zionist Inna Vernikov made the vow Tuesday regarding her share of council members' annual discretionary funds – which this fiscal year total $810,000 – in response to video posted on X of Jewish activist Mark Meyer Appel shaking hands with the pro-Palestine Mamdani. 'I know it may not be much, but just a small PSA [Public Service Announcement] for the orgs who will be seeking discretionary funding from me for the next four years: In my discretion, I will NOT fund organizations whose leadership supports Hamas sympathizers and October 7th apologists,' Vernikov said on X. 4 NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov issued a stern declaration to nonprofits who support socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani or anyone else she believes is 'sympathetic' to Hamas terrorists – no political pork for you. Stephen Yang 'So if you want to be like @MarkMeyerAppel, and support or do photo ops with @Zohran Mamdani, don't even bother calling,' she added, accusing Appel of 'commie/jihadi a– kissing.' And she doubled down Friday, telling The Post 'If someone allows themselves to be in a photo with Mamdani, they're either supporting him or pandering to him.' 'Either way, I will defund them,' she said. 4 Vernikov's post on X ripped Jewish activist Mark Meyer Appel (left) for shaking hands with NYC mayoral candidate and staunch Israel critic Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday during a Brooklyn event. Inna Vernikov/ X Some Democratic Council sources contended Vernikov's remarks were over the top. 'How can you make a blanket statement that you're not giving a group money but because someone appears in a photo op?' a source said. Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens) wouldn't comment on Vernikov's rhetoric but said nonprofits should be apolitical. 'They should be focused on their goals of helping New York, not on illegal performative activism,' she said. 4 Vernikov doubled down on her remarks Friday, telling The Post, 'If someone allows themselves to be in a photo with Mamdani, they're either supporting him or pandering to him. Either way, I will defund them.' Stephen Yang 4 Mamdani (pictured, shaking the hand of a supporter) went to the Flatbush Gardens Community Center Tuesday to talk about ways he'll look to boost affordable housing if he's elected NYC mayor. Gregory P. Mango Appel's Flatbush-based group, The Bridge Multicultural and Advocacy Project, scored $60,000 in political pork from the Council in this fiscal year's budget, but none from Vernikov, records show. Messages left with Appel were not returned.
New York Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Donald Trump Jr. backs Inna Vernikov for NYC Council in nasty GOP primary
Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov has landed a potentially key endorsement from a big backer — Donald Trump Jr. — in her nasty Republican primary battle. Donald Jr. praised Vernikov as a MAGA fighter in a new campaign video as she seeks re-election, slamming her opponent, Democrat-turned Republican Ari Kagan, as a 'hack and fake Republican.' Vernikov and Kagan are battling to represent the heavily Jewish 48th council district in southern Brooklyn that covers Gravesend, Coney Island-Sea Gate, Brighton Beach, Midwood, Madison, Sheepshead Bay Manhattan Beach and Gerritsen Beach. Advertisement 3 Donald Trump Jr., son of the US president, speaks during The Bitcoin Conference at The Venetian Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 27, 2025. AFP via Getty Images 'The constituents of Council District 48 are incredibly lucky to have Inna Vernikov — someone who, like our president, is a fighter who never backs down in the fight against the radical left's attempt to destroy New York City. And they tried hard,' President Trump's eldest son said in the ad. 'Inna has fought, fought and fought, and we want to make sure a political establishment hack and fake Republican doesn't succeed in his dangerous attempt to take away one of the strongest fighters we have in New York City,' Donald Jr. said. 'Let's keep the MAGA movement strong and together, only vote Inna. Get out there, and make it happen, guys.' Advertisement There is little question President Trump is a fan of Vernikov himself. The councilwoman met the president in 2022 and later released a photo of the pair standing together, smiling, with Trump flashing a thumb's up. Kagan, a former councilman, switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2022, saying his party had swung too far to the left. He lost his seat in a race against Democratic Councilman Justin Brannan in the neighboring 47th District in 2023 after a redistricting. Vernikov, 40, describes herself as a 'Ukrainian-born American Jew.' Advertisement 3 Ukrainian-born City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov met with President Donald Trump in 2022. Twitter/@InnaVernikov She was first elected in 2021, defeating the Democratic candidate, Steven Saperstein, in a landslide. On the council, she has accused CUNY and other college officials of failing to crack down on rising antisemitism on their campuses and slammed Russian aggression in Ukraine. She stirred controversy when she was caught on camera with a firearm in her waistband while observing an anti-Israel rally at Brooklyn College in 2023. A gun charge against her was dismissed after prosecutors said they couldn't cannot prove that the weapon was 'capable of firing bullets.' Advertisement Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters When the NYPD recovered the gun, it was both unloaded and 'inoperable,' missing the 'recoil spring assembly' that would have allowed it to fire bullets, the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office said at the time. Vernikov had a concealed carry permit, but it is illegal in New York to carry a firearm at sensitive locations such as protests or on school grounds. The 5'3″ conservative firebrand has taken self-defense classes in the skills of Krav Maga — a martial art developed for the Israel Defense Force that combines judo, karate, boxing, wrestling and aikido. 3 Donald Trump Jr. endorsed Councilwoman Inna Vernikov for a contentious city council primary. Paul Martinka Considered a rising star in the Republican Party, Vernikov was a keynote speaker at the 2022 state GOP convention. Kagan, 58, was born in Minsk, Belarus, and immigrated to New York City after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has worked as a Russian language journalist, television and radio host. Advertisement Kagan dismissed the Donald Trump Jr. endorsement. 'I don't think he knows the details of local Republican politics. Inna has been an absentee council person,' Kagan said.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NYC Council passes bills to crack down on helicopter tours, add new gender option to city documents
The City Council passed a slew of bills Thursday — including one that would ban noisy non-essential helicopter flights from city heliports following the horrific crash in the Hudson that killed a family of tourists and another to add a new gender ID to city documents. The two bills easily passed the Democratic-majority council but still need Mayor Eric Adams' signature to become laws. A proposal aimed at cracking down on tour and commuter helicopters passed near unanimously — just two weeks after a couple and their three young kids visiting from Spain and a Navy veteran pilot all died when their chopper broke apart and plunged into the Hudson River. Intro 26-A would prohibit such 'non-essential' choppers that fail to meet FAA noise standards from using two city heliports at East 34th Street and Wall Street, beginning in late 2029. The bill passed 46-1-1 with Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov voting against and Democratic Councilman Simcha Felder abstaining. 'Intro 26 is a bold step toward a healthier, quieter, and more equitable city,' said Majority Leader Amanda Farias, who sponsored the bill. 'For far too long, non-essential helicopter flights have disrupted daily life and endangered the well-being of New Yorkers. This bill uses the City's authority over our heliports to phase out the noisiest, most outdated aircraft, while making space for safer, cleaner, electric aviation.' Meanwhile, Intro 246-A, which would add the gender 'X' to city documents, where such information is requested, passed despite conservative backlash. The bill, sponsored by Democratic councilmember Crystal Hudson, would require any agency that provides social services to add the new gender identifier as an option to applicable documents. The legislation — which was introduced in a group of bills to protect the rights of trans and gender non-conforming New Yorkers — passed 41-5-2, with Republicans Vernikov, Joann Ariola, Vickie Paladino, Kristy Marmorato and Democrat Bob Holden voting 'no,' and Felder and Democrat Darlene Mealy abstaining. 'Let me be clear, I am not here to judge how consenting adults choose to live their lives, but don't bring that agenda into our public schools, our libraries and public spaces, and don't force it onto our children,' Vernikov said about the bill. Lefty council members hit back at her comments on LGBTQ folk, including openly gay councilman Erik Bottcher. 'They're not … going out, trying to recruit other people. It's a vicious, vicious stereotype,' the Democrat shot back. The package of LGBTQ bills was introduced as the Trump administration 'threatens trans and gender non-confirming New Yorkers,' council members said. Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his view of the bills.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Homeless shelter replaces affordable housing site in Brooklyn: councilwoman
SHEEPSHEAD BAY, Brooklyn (PIX11) – A Brooklyn lot approved for affordable housing units is instead being used to build a homeless shelter, according to New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov. A large crowd protested outside the Coyle Street site on Tuesday, arguing that it's too close to nearby schools and day care centers. More Local News Vernikov wrote on X that the City Council voted for housing to be built at the site, not a shelter. 'This is an UNACCEPTABLE bait and switch!' she said. 'The plans were changed with NO input from the community or representatives. Is the New York City government just going to ignore and undermine the wants and needs of the community?' Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, whose district neighbors Vernikov's, urged neighbors on Facebook to call the mayor's office and the Department of Social Services to demand only affordable housing be built in the lot. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Community Board 15 is scheduled to host a presentation about the Coyle Street shelter next week. The presenters are Westhab – a nonprofit that offers affordable housing and wraparound services. A similar protest was held in Borough Park last week, where a homeless shelter that will house 82 families will open up this year. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NYC councilwoman quits women's caucus to protest anti-Israel agenda
NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov said that she quit the NYC Council's Women's Caucus over its anti-Israel agenda in an interview with Fox Friends First on Monday. "We all watched the release of these female hostages, these young girls who are only 20 years old, came out of captivity, surrounded by Jihadi terrorists with masks on, weapons drawn, only 20 years old. Could you imagine your daughter, or yourself at 20 years old as a woman, being held in tunnel? God knows what they did to them." Vernikov announced in a video shared on social media on Sunday that she would be leaving her position on the Women's Caucus immediately due to the group's refusal to release a statement condemning the Hamas terrorists and in support of female hostages who were released from captivity. Trump Remains Committed To Us Owning Gaza, Says Middle East States Could Help Rebuild War-torn Area "I simply asked the Women's Caucus, which I was a part of in the New York City Council, to make a simple statement condemning the terrorists, supporting these women and calling on the release of the hostages that are still remaining in captivity," Vernikov explained. "Unfortunately, it is the height of hypocrisy that a Women's Caucus, in New York City Council, made up of 30-plus women, who is supposed to stand up for women and women's rights, cannot simply condemn terrorists and stand up for women that are Jewish," she said. "I'm out of that caucus." Read On The Fox News App Vernikov responded to criticism that her departure from the council was an act of political grandstanding. Israeli President Praises Trump's Leadership, Challenges Neighboring Leaders To Present Better Ideas For Gaza "The Democrats are unfortunately pandering to the hard left," she said. "We need to stand up, we cannot be cowards, and we cannot continue having elected officials who are spineless to stand up, and we cannot stand up for women only when it is politically expedient for us." Vernikov said that she was "very grateful" to President Donald Trump for his strong stance on the Israel-Hamas war, which she said makes it possible for the release of the remaining surviving Israeli article source: NYC councilwoman quits women's caucus to protest anti-Israel agenda
