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By Anash.org reporter
A New York City Council bill to protect children from harassment outside schools was vetoed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani after falling four votes short of the support needed to override him.
Two of those no votes came from Councilmembers Crystal Hudson and Rita Joseph, whose districts include Crown Heights and Southern Crown Heights.
The bill, Intro 175-B, was backed by Jewish City Council Speaker Julie Menin and would have required the NYPD to prepare a plan for security perimeters near schools when children face obstruction, intimidation, threats, or harassment while entering or leaving school.
The bill passed the Council by a vote of 30 to 19. A veto-proof majority requires 34 votes. With the bill four votes short, Mamdani was able to veto it.
A separate bill protecting houses of worship passed with veto-proof support and was allowed to become law. The school safety bill, dealing with children entering and leaving educational facilities, was left exposed.
At the March 26 Council meeting, several Black councilmembers stood with the Jewish community and voted yes. Councilmember Darlene Mealy supported the bill. Councilmember Kamillah Hanks of Staten Island spoke in defense of Jewish students.
Councilmember Ty Hankerson compared the harassment of Jewish students today to the Little Rock, Arkansas, civil rights crisis, when federal troops were sent to protect Black students entering segregated schools.
Following these impassioned pleas for solidarity from their colleagues, Hudson and Joseph still chose to cast their negative votes.
Their votes helped Mamdani block a bill meant to protect children outside school. For Crown Heights families, this was not an argument about slogans, protests, or political messaging. It was about children walking into yeshiva safely.
The need for such protection has become clear in New York City. Anti-Israel demonstrations have targeted Jewish neighborhoods, shuls, and communal institutions. Protesters outside Park East Synagogue shouted, “We need to make them scared,” and the NYPD had to redirect a pro-Palestinian protest away from entering Crown Heights.
In a statement, NYS Assembly candidate Ahron Gluck said, “We have learned over the past few years that although our local socialist elected officials seem nice, their priorities aren’t always aligned with our priorities. When it matters most, the elected officials vote against the safety of the Crown Heights and New York City Jewish community.”
“Instead of trying to reason with politicians, this bill which can Chas Vishalom lead to a real disaster in Crown Heights and the NYC Jewish community, should be the wake up call for every Jewish resident in New York City to register to vote as a Democrat so we can elect our own people and stop relying on those that hate us and that try to destroy our community,” Assembly candidate Gluck concluded.
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