NEW YORK (VINnews/Editorial Board) – Nearly four years have passed since the last gubernatorial election, and in that time New Yorkers have witnessed firsthand the importance of having a governor who is responsive to their needs and whose priorities mirror their own.

The past four years have been exceptionally difficult ones and, now more than ever, New Yorkers are looking forward to the opportunity to make their voices heard on November 8th, choosing the leader they feel will best represent their interests.

Exclusive VINnews interview with Lee Zeldin

While Election Day is still nine weeks away, it is clear to the VIN News editorial board that Congressman Lee Zeldin is the clear choice to restore New York to its former glory. There is no doubt that Governor Kathy Hochul has proven herself to be a friend to the Jewish community since she took office last August.

We applauded her veto of a bill that was designed to keep Orthodox Jews out of the upstate town of Blooming Grove last December and were equally appreciative of her inclusion of $2.6 million in funding for the Holocaust Survivors Initiative this past April.But while Hochul earned the endorsements of several large Jewish voting groups in June, her failure to act on critical issues is troubling.

Bail Reform

Just last month Hochul insisted that there is no proof that bail reform has contributed to New York’s rising crime rates.

Pages and pages could be written on the revolving door of criminal justice that has dangerous individuals set free hours after being arrested, with some repeating the same offenses while others “graduate” to even more heinous offenses.

An August 3rd New York Post story (bit.ly/3RBUzpd) described how 10 career criminals racked up 485 arrests since New York’s bail reform went into effect and while Mayor Eric Adams has said that bail reform is “destroying the fabric of our city,” its effects have been felt statewide.

In Monsey, a library security officer was stabbed to death by a man who was released on bail reform after a violent rape attack and just weeks ago, a 17 year old suspect who reportedly shot a 16 year old girl to death was released without any bail at all, as reported by CBS 6 News (bit.ly/3BfgSLV).

Anti Semitism

Closer to home, anti-Semitic crimes have continued to rise, with visibly Jewish victims, particularly Chasidim, violently attacked in practically every community.

Last week, a Chasidic man received multiple stitches to his face after being attacked in broad daylight in Williamsburg over a parking spot and two separate incidents saw seven Monsey residents struck by various projectiles as they walked down suburban streets this summer.

July saw a Crown Heights man being beaten in front of his children, while another was viciously attacked as he rode an E train.

With virtually no consequences for offenders, violence against Jews has become so common that the widely-read Drudge Report linked to a Mediaite story last week bearing the headline “Prosecutions ‘Nonexistent’ in Majority of Hate Crimes Cases Against Jews in New York: Report.”

Hard on Crime

But our endorsement of Lee Zeldin goes far beyond a simple vote against Hochul.

Zeldin, a lieutenant colonel for the Army Reserve, is a law and order candidate who is campaigning on a platform of crime reduction and justice.

Zeldin has been vocal in his criticism of soft-on-crime Democrats, along with his running mate, Alison Esposito, a retired NYPD deputy inspector, and he has pledged to repeal New York’s bail reform laws on his first day in office.

Acknowledging the disturbing reality that New York leads the country in anti-Semitic attacks, Zeldin has vowed a zero-tolerance policy on hate crimes and pledged to implement a criminal justice system that would act swiftly and decisively to punish those responsible for violent attacks.

He has also expressed his strong support for police, calling for a law enforcement bill of rights that would give police the right to self-defense.

Yeshiva Education

Zeldin has also come out strongly in favor of supporting yeshiva education and has criticized the push towards substantial equivalency. The son of a former yeshiva teacher, Zeldin has categorized yeshiva educations as “high quality” and said that they should be “embraced and rewarded,” while Hochul has yet to offer any concrete statements on proposed regulations that threaten yeshivas statewide.

As Election Day draws near, our communal priorities are clear. We need a governor who will restore public safety so that we can walk freely without fear of being victimized because of our religion. We need a governor who will be tough on crime and who will have law breakers facing consequences for their actions. We need a governor who understands our need to educate our children according to our values and standards, and will not subject our yeshivas to the review of those who insist on inculcating our children with inappropriate liberal values that run counter to our way of life.

Conclusion

While it has been 15 years since New York has last elected a Republican governor, it is clear that the time has come to do so once again. The vast number of New Yorkers who have moved out of state, particularly to Republican strongholds, are proof positive that the Democratic party is sorely out of touch with the values that so many of us hold dear.

While Kathy Hochul may have received the endorsement of some groups and she has been supportive in certain areas, she has not proven herself to be the leader that New York needs at this time. Crime rates have risen under her tenure, as have the incidence of anti-Semitic assaults and our yeshivas remain under attack.

On November 8th, we will be voting for Lee Zeldin to become the 58th governor of New York. We strongly encourage you to do the same.