NYC (VINnews) — On Thursday, Jewish members of the New York City Council were outraged that six of their colleagues did not vote in favor of a resolution recognizing April 29 as “End Jew Hatred Day.”
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Two members voted against it, while four others abstained. Outrageously, one councilmember claimed later that she regretted abstaining, and did so because she did not have a chance to review the resolution.
The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly, was introduced by Inna Vernikov, a Jewish Brooklyn Republican, in response to a 52% increase in antisemitic incidents across the city, as reported by the ADL’s annual audit.
I can’t think of an easier bill to vote yes for. And yet… https://t.co/7RkDGcrB4l
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) April 28, 2023
Vernikov was quoted as saying it was “sickening” to listen to the remarks of those who opposed the resolution, noting that she referenced the atrocities of the Holocaust in her introduction of the measure.
https://twitter.com/RitaJosephNYC/status/1652015283773779970
Bianna Golodryga, a CNN Global Affairs analyst, tweeted, “I can’t think of an easier bill to vote yes for.”
In a bizarre move, Councilmember Rita Joseph expressed regret for abstaining from the vote and called for zero tolerance towards antisemitism.
Joseph, who represents a sizable Jewish population in Kensington and Flatbush and chairs the education committee, on Friday tweeted: “I regretfully abstained from the vote on a resolution to End Jew Hatred yesterday during our Council Stated Meeting because I didn’t have a chance to review it.” She apologized for “the confusion,” noted her support for past resolutions that celebrated Jewish heritage, and called for “zero tolerance” for antisemitism.
State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein blasted his own councilwoman Shahana Hanif, a Bangladeshi American freshman on the council who voted “no”.
“With all due respect @ShahanaFromBK, as a proud Orthodox Jew and a constituent of yours, I’m appalled by your NO vote on today’s @NYCCouncil resolution to #EndJewHatred,” he tweeted. “Does my Council member want Jew hatred to continue??”
With all due respect @ShahanaFromBK, as a proud Orthodox Jew and a constituent of yours, I’m appalled by your NO vote on today’s @NYCCouncil resolution to #EndJewHatred.
Does my Council member want Jew hatred to continue?? https://t.co/N7gih3jCqg
— Simcha Eichenstein (@SEichenstein) April 28, 2023
Another member who voted against the resolution was Sandra Nurse, who represents Bushwick in northern Brooklyn.
“In this city, how could anyone deny that antisemitism has become a real problem?” said Councilman Kalman Yeger. “How is that possible that people are elected to this body from neighborhoods all across the city of New York and don’t have a grasp of what’s happening in this city; that hatred is real and it’s there?”
Charles Barron, who has associated with antisemitic hate groups, claimed that he abstained because of the “inconsistency” by Jewish leadership in speaking out against hatred.
He claimed that they do not speak out against “hatred of the Palestinian people, like the state of Israel murdering Palestinian women and children and stealing the land of people in Palestine”. He added that “leaders in the Jewish community even supported apartheid and racist South Africa and said nothing about African people dying.”
Other members who abstained included Alexa Aviles and Jennifer Gutiérrez who expressed concerns over the Jewish community’s leadership in addressing hatred against other groups, such as Palestinians and Africans.
Charles Barron, you unadulterated hypocrite, where were you when black thugs were destroying black businesses on the streets of New York during the BLM scatology. Where are you when it comes to condemning black on black crime. Where were you when shootings occur in your neighborhood and the neighborhoods of your fellow miscreants. HYPOCRITE.
Hanif took over for Brad Lander This machshafa is so far left she makes Lander look a republican.
And yet we continue to vote them in
Our self anointed leaders cover for them .
The modern day Dem/Leftist/News Media Axis is tolerant of everything and everyone – except Jews.
Its good to know the truth.
Why don’t they ask a fpllow up to Charles Barron? Even if you don’t agree with what is going on with Israel therefore you are OK with Jews in Brooklyn under your district to get beat up for that???
So if I don’t agree with you should I get physical also? Please explain your position more clearly.
Showing their true colors
Rita Joseph’s answer to not voting on it is sad. What is she paid to do? Twitel her fingers?
I don’t know why Jews are soo upset? These are the people YOU voted in! As long as they will support your Mosdes, who care about other Yidden being beaten?
I regret voting for any Democrat
If a democrat wins in boro park the community deserves what they get
City council members should have private opinions on foreign policy issues, but those shouldn’t impact their votes or concerns for what’s going on in their boroughs.
If your city council member is:
Shahana Hanif,
Sandra Nurse,
Charles Barron,
Alexa Aviles or
Jennifer Gutiérrez,
zichor how they acted and
that they are soneh yisrael!
In a bizarre move, Councilmember Rita Joseph expressed regret for abstaining from the vote…”
“Outrageously, one councilmember claimed later that she regretted abstaining”
How is it “bizarre” or “outrageous”? Perhaps VIN needs a new thesaurus or dictionary?
What is the point of this bill, and how will it end Anti-semitism? Next someone will introduce a bill called End Palestinian Hatred Day or End Asian Hate Day? I find this bill ridiculous and will not solve anything. You can’t force people to stop hating Jews. If we truly want to end anti-semitism we have to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are the cause of anti-semitism?: Do I hate a fellow Jew in my heart? Are we divided to the point we are unable to hear or listen to other points of view? And it is necessary to add that during the lockdown, forced masking in shuls (throwing out Jews who refuse to wear a mask to daven) and yeshivas as well as ostracizing those who refuse to take the shot only divided us as a nation. So we should not be surprised there is increase in Jew hatred.
No need of a photo of this wicked person
I guess Simcha Eichenstein and Kalman Yeger know more than Rashi?
Rashi clearly states its halacha that eisev sonei es yakov. By proclaiming a day to end anti semitism is actually kefirah if you think about it.
Vote them out of office. Primary June 27.
Did our askanim support or oppose Ms. Vernikov in her race?
These symbolic votes are meaningless anyway.
tHEY SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR IT AT ALL – IT WILL JUST BECOME ANOTHER 1-DAY-A-YEAR THING, BUT CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HATE JEWS THE 364 OTHER DAYS OF THE YEAR. nICE FANCY TITLE TO A VOTE, BUT WHAT WOULD IT ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH? nOTHING IN THE LONG RUN.
Inna Vernikov is great at anything that involves just talk like proclaiming end antisemitism day. When it comes to actually getting things done, forget about it. If she would laugh, you could mistake her for Kamela Harris.