The New York Times: JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick Discusses What New NYC Mayor Can Do to Show Jewish Community “Commitment to Our Safety”

JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick talked to The New York Times about how the Mamdani Administration can showcase its commitment to Jewish safety:

Amy Spitalnick, chief executive of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said her organization believed that the I.H.R.A. definition should not be codified into law but instead serve as a “vital resource and tool” for government, academics and the public to better understand antisemitism.

In many ways, Ms. Spitalnick added, the debate over codifying the definition is a red herring that “avoids real accountability for a leader in fighting antisemitism.” As Mr. Mamdani begins his term, she will look to how he funds the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and the New York City Commission on Human Rights as indicators that he is meeting his commitment to protect Jewish New Yorkers.

Ms. Spitalnick said Mr. Mamdani could also clarify how demonstrations outside of houses of worship should be handled. He was criticized last month for his response to rowdy protests outside of the Park East Synagogue.

One of the executive orders Mr. Mamdani revoked had directed Jessica Tisch, the police commissioner, to evaluate proposals to regulate protests outside of houses of worship in “coordination” with the city’s Law Department. A new version of the order issued by Mr. Mamdani authorizes both the Police Department and Law Department to be responsible for the review.

“There’s a huge amount that this administration can do in these early weeks to not just signal to the Jewish community its commitment to our safety,” Ms. Spitalnick said, “but to take real action.”

Read the full piece here.