By Katherine Koretski, CNN
(CNN) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a strategy to combat antisemitism Tuesday, including tens of millions of dollars in funding for hate crime prevention and Jewish cultural centers.
Mamdani, who has faced accusations of antisemitism from some Jewish groups over his criticisms of Israel and his handling of protests outside synagogues, has attempted to make outreach to Jewish communities in the city a strong element of his administration.
“Over the last year, I’ve met with Jewish New Yorkers across the five boroughs. I’ve met with them in their dining rooms, sat with them on the subway, and spoke to them in their shuls. Time and again, I’ve heard the same thing: antisemitism is real, and it is growing,” Mamdani said in a two-minute video posted on social media, laying out what he described as “a road map for how our administration will confront the scourge of antisemitism”
The first-term mayor vowed to devote more than $30 million in funding to prevention efforts and restarting the interagency security infrastructure working group to help city agencies identify threats to Jewish New Yorkers. Antisemitic hate crimes are up 8% so far this year and make up more than half of the hate incidents in New York City, according to statistics released by the New York Police Department earlier this month.
This move will also add funding to Jewish cultural centers and non-profits, including $2 million for the Queens Holocaust Memorial Garden and $2.5 million towards the Center for New Jewish Culture in Brooklyn.
“For generations, Jewish New Yorkers have sustained our city,” Mamdani said in the video, referencing noted composer Leonard Bernstein and businesses Kleinfeld Bridal and Katz’s Deli. “Today, we hold a responsibility to sustain and protect our Jewish neighbors.”
The new strategy comes as Mamdani has faced scrutiny from Jewish groups after making criticisms of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza a central element of his campaign. During his campaign, he suggested as mayor that he could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes, even though the US is not a signatory to the ICC. The mayor acknowledged earlier this summer that he would not have the legal authority to do so. He’s also faced backlash after comparing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its spending in US elections to “monsters” during a rally this summer.
Tuesday’s announcement was met with mixed reaction from Jewish groups, with several pointing to Mamdani’s rhetoric around Israel as contributing to antisemitism and arguing that his strategy did not go far enough.
“While the Mayor’s plan has a number of positive elements, including some increased security funding for Jewish institutions and expanding proven programs, it fails to address a central issue that the mayor himself has perpetuated: rhetoric that demonizes and delegitimizes Israel inevitably leads to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers,” the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, American Jewish Committee and New York Board of Rabbis said in a joint statement on X.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, whose organization launched a “Mamdani Monitor” to track the mayor’s administration, criticized the announcement in a post on X.
“Security grants do not substitute for moral clarity. A mayor who will not define antisemitism, will not confront terror flags being marched around in Jewish neighborhoods and terror sympathizers at the doorstep of a synagogue, and will not put his own politics aside is not fighting this crisis. He is managing around it,” Greenblatt said. “The mayor’s actions or inactions only serve to help fuel antisemitism in NYC. This ‘plan’ is just further proof.”
The plan’s rollout comes just days after Netanyahu was in New York City for the United National General Assembly, where he accused Mamdani of antisemitism and of distorting facts about Israel. At the same time Netanyahu was in New York, the mayor posted a video on X planting an olive tree at Gracie Mansion with Palestinian families from Gaza.
Some Jewish leaders, however, welcomed the new initiative.
“At a moment of real and rising antisemitism, extremism and violence across the ideological spectrum, our communities deserve a whole-of-government response,” Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs said in a statement. “This strategy marks an important step toward that goal — rooted in the recognition that Jewish safety and inclusive, pluralistic democracy must go hand-in-hand.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who proposed and passed legislation that would require police to publish plans to establish buffer zones at schools and houses of worship during protests, praised the plan to increase funding of security and Holocaust education.
“Jewish New Yorkers, and everyone in our city, deserve to be safe. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration to address the unacceptable rise of antisemitism in our city,” she said in a statement.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Mamdani unveils strategy to combat antisemitism in New York City News Channel 3-12.
Hence then, the article about mamdani unveils strategy to combat antisemitism in new york city was published today ( ) and is available on News channel ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Mamdani unveils strategy to combat antisemitism in New York City )
Also on site :