Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato’s Office
“I feel strongly that this funding is critical to take a stand against the recent spike in anti-Semitic hate crimes which, unfortunately, show no sign of decelerating,” Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato said.
By Forum Staff
Two borough elected officials this week urged their colleagues in the State Legislature to substantially increase security funding for nonpublic schools in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal (D-Flushing) cited recent hate crimes—murders in a kosher grocery store in Jersey City; machete attack during a Hanukkah celebration in a rabbi’s home in upstate Monsey; and mass shootings in Pittsburgh and Poway synagogues—as they requested the extra funds.
“Currently, a sense of urgency is felt to safeguard Jewish communities, especially our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. Therefore, I feel strongly that this funding is critical to take a stand against the recent spike in anti-Semitic hate crimes which, unfortunately, show no sign of decelerating,” Pheffer Amato said. “I am hopeful that this funding will be granted so that a measure of peace can be felt by those who may be targeted, and so that we join together to demonstrate our stand against hate.”
Historically, the Legislature has allocated $15 million annually for the Nonpublic School Safety Equipment grant; this translates into approximately $37 per child, Pheffer Amato and Rosenthal noted. In response to recent events, New Jersey increased its allocation to $150 per child for security, doubling its previous rate. Rosenthal and Pheffer Amato propose New York double its allocation to $30 million.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in New York,” Rosenthal added. “This funding affirms our commitment to protecting our children.”
