Brooklyn, NY – Councilwoman Elect Laurie Cumbo (Council-35) released a statement today apologizing for comments she made on December 3 regarding race relations and knockout game violence.
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In her statement, Cumbo addressed the outrage expressed by fellow government officials and members of the Jewish community when she published a letter stating that the violence could stem from race relations between blacks and Jews in the Crown Heights area, specifically that various black residents said they feel threatened by the growth of the Jewish community.
The letter published on Facebook and sent to her backers stated that, “Many African American/Caribbean residents expressed a genuine concern that as the Jewish community continues to grow, they would be pushed out by their Jewish landlords or by Jewish families looking to purchase homes.”
Cumbo says in her release, “My top priority has always been addressing those issues that matter most to my constituents as the representative of all of the people in the District.
I want to build bridges and bring people together and so I especially regret that my comments on the recent violent incidents in Crown Heights were offensive to my constituents. My intent was to stimulate dialogue on an important issue, but in repeating stereotypes, part of what I wrote emphasized the divisions between people, instead of bringing them together.”
She continued by saying, “I sincerely apologize to all of my constituents for any pain that I have caused by what I wrote. It was the opposite of my intention.
I have taken the last week to reflect, evaluate and meet with Jewish, African American and Caribbean leaders all across New York City, and I understand now that my words did not convey what was in my heart, which is a profound desire to bring our diverse communities closer together.”
Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, a leader in the Crown Heights Jewish Community said, “I am heartened by Councilwoman-Elect Cumbo’s apology. I look forward to closing this chapter and working together with Laurie toward a promising and productive relationship that benefits all of the people of Crown Heights.”
Assemblyman Dov Hikind echoed Sperlin’s comments, stating, “”After meeting Laurie and speaking with her, I applaud her remarks. Having gotten to know Laurie over the past week, I feel she will be a great asset to Crown Heights and the city of New York.”
Councilmen David Greenfield and Brad Lander also commended Cumbo. Greenfield stated that, “Council Member-elect Laurie Cumbo has relayed to me how truly sorry she is for her comments. In her campaign, she showed a genuine interest in working with all the communities that she will represent, including the Jewish community. I believe that Laurie has the potential to be a great Council Member and look forward to working with her to bridge the gap between the communities in her district.”
Lander said, “Laurie Cumbo is a bridge-builder. Sometimes, our bridges need a little repair work, or we take steps that don’t reflect our best intentions. I appreciate Laurie’s apology, her efforts to heal any pain caused by her words among Brooklyn’s Jewish communities, and her clear and longstanding commitment to the causes of tolerance, diversity, and justice. Laurie is going to be a great City Council Member.
I look forward to serving with her, and working together to bring Brooklyn’s communities together and move our city forward.”
Kumbahya
Sounds like a very luke warm apology, really not an apology at all.
It was the “opposite” of her intention. So what was your intention? Were you forced to say those Antisemitic comments??? Nevertheless if our representative officials accepts the apology then I guess its ok.
blah blah blah
Let see some action from her to stop these attacks and bring the perps to justice, not just another lame political apology.
I have no position if the apology should be accepted or not, but why do previous commenters say that this was “really not an apology at all”. This was an apology. It was an I’m sorry for what I said. She apologized to her constituents for any pain she might have caused them. This was not the typical political apology you hear all the time, putting the blame for any misunderstanding on the people offended.
It was not an, I’m sorry if you took offense type apology. Accept it or reject it, it is your choice, but don’t fool yourself and say she didn’t apologize.
Now Just imagine she was a white republican saying all those things just substitute Jewish landlord for Black…
So pathetic. Imagine the other way around, where a Jewish councilperson would have made similar remarks… a lame apology would not quell the riots that would have certainly ensued.
This woman is a racist. She might be more careful in public in the future, but we all know this isn’t a one-off, she’ll say something else in future. She’s only “apologizing” because she’s afraid her stupidity in actually saying what she thinks will affect her future political aspirations. Let’s hope so! It’s a good job G-d watches over idiots because in CH we need His protection. We certainly can’t rely on either Black or Jewish “leaders” to step up to the plate. We, CH residents, are on our own.
This apology was clearly written by an attorney or highly skilled politician. Her true feelings came out in her original Facebook post.
Wow, why did she send it out now, a full week after she said it was only because Sharpton and Dinkins made statements against her so she had to act. Why didn’t she retract the “Blame” game, her statement should have included “blaming the Jewish people for crime committed against them was a Hugh mistake and error”.
Oh my gosh…..so many disparaging remarks. A person asks for mechilah and the responses here are so negative.
What ever happened to the words of Yehoshua ben Perachya “……..judge all people meritoriously.” (Pirkei Avos 1:6).
Hakol muchel loch..muchel loch…muchel loch
They all do the same. First make a nasty remark, then “apologize”. Empty, in my book
So put on a conservative taalit, pose with lipa shmeltzer and say dumb things. That makes it all better.
When the KKK burn a cross on her front yard, she should understand that it is caused by how African-American act and therefore cross burning is acceptable.
“My intent in writing [this] letter was to stimulate dialogue on an important issue…”
Oh, the reason African Blacks were picked for the slave trade was because they lived like savages, making slavery an improvement to their quality of life.
There, that should stimulate dialogue!
If. A white. Or Jewish. Elect person. Would. Say wat she said
He would be. Dead
And impeached
We all know she is a open true
Person
Yes. A BLACK RACEST
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO PROVE WHAT A ANTI SEMIT N RACIST SHE IS, SHE DOES NOT BELONG IN PUBLIC SERVICE SHE SHOULD BE THROWN OUT ASAP
hi Laurie congratulation on yr new post ,
i hope you will be there for us white people to ?
because ft green / bed sty / crown heights is changing
white Christians and many different types of races
other then black and Hispanic are moving in to your district
we are very concern about your opinion on the new game
played by black youth .
its a problem all over america black on white crime
this nasty game called ” knockout ”
its not a game its deadly
and it s in OUR district . yrs and mine
i hope you don’t turn a blind eye
its not black vs Jew ..its black vs any one not black please help your district
what she said was true – doent mean it has to be said