By COLlive reporter
Even before she enters office, the New York City Councilwoman-elect Laurie Cumbo is the subject of national criticism over remarks many consider anti-Jewish.
The newcomer black politician, who will be representing Crown Heights beginning January 2014, offered a twisted reasoning for the violent “Knockout” game by blacks on Jews.
“In many ways governmental neglect, outside uncontrolled influences and failed leadership have led to the breakdown that so many young people of color are currently facing,” she wrote in a statement published on COLlive.com.
She said that in conversations, “many African American/Caribbean residents expressed a genuine concern that as the Jewish community continues to grow, they would be pushed out by their Jewish landlords or by Jewish families looking to purchase homes.”
“For others, the accomplishments of the Jewish community triggers feelings of resentment, and a sense that Jewish success is not also their success,” she said, adding that it can “offer possible insight as to how young African American/Caribbean teens could conceivably commit a ‘hate crime.'”
The comments received immediate and widespread criticism from local leaders from both Jewish and African American communities, readers on COLlive and social media, as well as media personalities.
“I think she has a lot to learn in this community….she’s coming in on such a left foot, and she didn’t even step into the City Council yet,” responded Chanina Sperlin, the longtime politically-connected activist.
Crown Heights Youth Collective President Richard Greene told DNAinfo.com he “would definitely disagree with that — I think we’re going much better now than we’ve ever been before and I see us continuing that way.”
“What is happening is some undisciplined folks who are the exception and not the rule. Whether it’s Crown Heights or Brownsville, it’s the exception and not the rule,” said Green, who has spent his career working closely with neighborhood teens.
“The housing crisis and the idea of transcending cultural boundaries among community youth has no place in a discussion of the Knock Out Game,” said Yaacov Behrman of the Jewish Future Alliance. “To address these subjects in a discussion regarding the current violence in our community is not only inappropriate, it also can be misunderstood as excusing the violence.”
Evan Bernstein of the Anti-Defamation League went further, DNAinfo reports, saying, “we are troubled by the incoming councilwoman’s sentiments, particularly her comment about resentment over Jewish economic success, which evokes classic anti-Semitic stereotypes.”
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose 9th District in New York covers Crown Heights, said in a meeting in Washington, DC, on Thursday, that she is carefully reviewing Cumbo’s statement and the reports in the media.
Meeting on Capitol Hill, Clarke told Sperlin, Behrman and Satmar activist Yoel Lefkowitz that she understands the position of the Jewish community and that she already set up a meeting with Cumbo for this weekend.
AUDIO: Radio personality Michael Savage attacks Cumbo (from time-mark 49:17)
Finally someone tells the truth. Especially if you are a American, we’ve been brought up from the beginning to think in generalization we rarely look at individuals.
CANNOT BE!
We all are racist!
Ms. Cumbo’s justification for knockout due to “feelings of resentment” towards successful Jews (who are not all quite financially successful, mind you), mitigates the need for basic human character development. No need to take responsibility for one’s behavior – as long as you can blame your bad actions on someone else who incites/annoys/makes you jealous, you’re exempt! A good politician would try to address the underlying causes of the lack of basic character development displayed by hoodlums such as those committing knockout. She would work to create programs to empower these young people with mentoring programs and positive outlets for… Read more »
So, is Cumbo saying that if you feel bad because someone worked hard and has something you don’t have, that you can hurt them? Like, if someone has a cellphone, and you don’t, then you can hurt them and take it from them? Her logic is so twisted!
Cumbo is a racist! She leans to only one population of her constituents, discriminating against others. An honorable politician should have a zero tolerance policy for violence. Not only is she tolerating violence, she’s justifying it, too! She’s a disgrace and deserves to be removed from office for her racist comments!
Maybe #33 you should read what #25 wrote. Epidemic all over the 50 states? Um, no.
I presume you still live in Belarus? Gut vach. PS. Please do not put words in my mouth. Let your ears hear what your fingers are typing about tznius. Its not just about clothes.
So Ms. Cumbo, your black constituents have “feelings of resentment” over Jewish success? Perhaps you should point out to them that a large portion of the Jewish community here is poor or lower middle class. If you want to be envious and resentful why don’t you direct those feelings towards your successful black brothers & sisters, there are some that live right here in Crown Heights?!
May I point out that Knockout is not a Jewish targeted challenge. It is a countrywide epidemic, we just happen to be the ‘white people’ to this particular group of ‘Knockout-ers’. In addition, can you really blame her for standing up for her people? It is natural to come in strong, and her side of the story is all she knows at this point. I conclude with a high five to #32.
Exactly. Lock & load & every Jew, a .22
Please do explain, a total disregard for tznius with women walking around as though they belong on 42nd st. of old is what’s going to help the situation? maybe you got it all wrong, maybe it’s the total lack of tznius and pritzus that is causing the knockouts. AND TO #29: You might think you are so smart and your suggestion is the best, somehow I tend to feel that the Rebbe is STILL a heck of a lot smarter than you could ever dream to be, and he said YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO FORSAKE A SHCHUNA!!!!! If not for… Read more »
first of all, clarke is no better, she just learned to keep a low profile. second of all; it’s true, up until the early 1970’s Crown Height was mostly Jewish as was brownsville until a few years before that. I too did not vote for this low class anti semitic cumbo, not because I read up on her but because I knew that if the council is suggesting we vote for her it’s for ALL the wrong reasons, which spells NO VOTE. Last but not least, these hoodlums who are beating up people do it for ONE reason and ONE… Read more »
Cumbo is a symptom of a much bigger problem of leftist socialism’s turning free society into victims, the successful into the enemy and fortunate into the bourgeoisie. instead of role modeling the positive in society – leftism demonizes them. the victims (those not as successful and increasingly demanding “fairness of outcomes”) demand rights and privileges, then make excuses as to why they do what they do when no one gives them what they think they deserve. and as to security, you take you live’s into your own hands remaining in NYC/Brooklyn. its time for Jews to leave to NY and… Read more »
I don’t understand blame on her. She is just saying what is the sentiment among the blacks. And the sentiment is pure Nazi – Jews are stealing our houses by buying (sic!) and they are successful therefore they deserve to be hurt. That means basically the black population of Crown Heights is a temporarily suppressed pogrom mood. Very dangerous.
Heard from a cab driver that knockout is part of a new video game. If true then need to banish those, and sue the manufacturer.
The so-called Crown Heights leaders endorsed Ms. Cumbo because they know she was Hakeem Jeffries’ new City Council toy. She is not saying anything now that she hasn’t said in the past. The irony is that Cumbo talks about Jews pushing Blacks out of the neighborhood. In fact, she was aligned with the Real Estate Board of NY, and they are pushing both Jews AND Blacks out of Crown Heights. So maybe they are really on the side of big real estate. In the mean time, everyone else fights and yells, and these guys and their friends build luxury condos… Read more »
Is this game being played, maybe. Is it nationwide? No.
It’s not being played in Hawaii or most southern states especially Texas.
We all know why this game is not being played in Texas. I say nothing further.
welcome ms cumbo to reality!!! as my kids in high school would say truth hurts and reality bites
she should resign!!
In my opinion Chanina Sperlin and all the other JCC members should apologize to the community for endorsing her and telling the community to come out and vote for her.
B.H. LAURIE COMBO, should step down, for she is inciting riots, and encouraging ‘KNOCKOUT’. The BLACKS are jealous of hard working JEWS, and their success.
Like a previous Police Commisioner, namely Benjamin Ward , who was also BLACK said, that most of the crimes are committed by BLACKS, for they only know to rob, mug and steal cell phones, thats what they are good at.
Please lets sign a petition to make this councilwoman step down before she takes office. We should do whatever it takes.She is very insensitive and will not be good to our community in any which way.
and exactly who is against bigotry here?
Um, what are you talking about knockout tznuis, please explain.
the CHJCC got us into this mess. You honestly think they will do anything to fix it? It hurts when I laugh.
Where is the CHJCC in all this? What has the CHJCC done to help needy Jewish families have a place to live at an affordable price? It snot only black people that are poor, and believe me there are many black people right here in Crown Heights that are doing very well for themselves. There are also many Jewish families that are struggling financially. What has the CHJCC done for them. The CHJCC doesn’t even give help with food stamps and other government assistance , people have to pay privately for help with food stamps and other help from the… Read more »
Seems to me her career is over
this topic needs its own website… it’s sad what is happening – many people believe they are no longer answerable to the Rebbe, & that bittel is not important….
Cumbo is another issue of importance to deal with
Chanina’s quote takes the cake “she’s coming in on such a left foot”. It put a smile on my face
I thought they Italians and white people were here first?
The name of the game is Knock Out. That is all I keep seeing in comments for the past years on this and other Jewish websites – knocking out another Yid. Disagreeing. Arguing. Putting down others. Lets not have knock outs anymore. Let’s say good about other Yidden, especially other fellow Lubavitchers and lets have positive comments instead of knocking each other out! Even people who discuss tznius, are knocking out others. Does it really help? LETS STOP KNOCKING OUT OUR FELLOW LUBAVITCHERS, OUR FELLOW YIDDEN! THROUGH THIS, MAY WE BE ZOCHE THAT ALL THE KNOCK OUTS STOP!
He’s going to be Boro Pres. He always seemed to be friendly & reasonable towards the Jewish community but he hasn’t said a word over this woman’s racism. Something else to look forward to??
She’s a Black racist That’s who she is. But I don’t blame her, I blame the likes of Rabbis Sperlin, Behrman, Hecht & all the others who think that pushing us to vote this racist in will make her like us. And of course…I blame YOU, the uninformed, knee-jerk voters who voted for her. You see, I didn’t. I read interviews with her & I knew exactly what kind of creature she is. Well, you made your bed, you will collectively lie in it. Not I, I am planning on moving out of state. Good luck! You will need it… Read more »
I wouldn’t call her ‘educated’. Ignorance is at the root of her deceitful, psuedo peace-loving speech that has done no good for anyone. I regret having wasted time reading even part of an ignorant person’s diatribe. There’s so much more positive reading out there that would justify the time spent.
The jews who are successful are happily kicking out their fellow jews all in order to make more money by driving rental rates beyond what people can afford and the “community activists” dont care. Instead of having photo opps at news conferences get your hands dirty and do something for this community!
The goyim are taking residence in Crown Height driving out the Yidden – how sad The Rebbe fought for this and the very same people involved then; continue to spit in The Rebbe’s face.
What a shame to witness an educated, well spoken woman who is climbing the political ranks speak such racist words. The old stereotypes always come back to haunt us… its very sad that this is what is happening in 2013, for all the progress we think we’ve made.
crown heights was what boro park is today!! it was all jews! we lived her first. u guys kicked everyone out of their homes! we are the few the remained and now we are the occupiers??? sounds way too familiar to the ludicrous palestinian nararive
COLlive- like all media outlets rely on sensationalism to boost readership, advertisers etc. Cumbos words aren’t excusing anything- the woman is simply verbalizing the issues and sounds empathetic to all citizens in her district. Turning this into a scandal will be sad because here’s someone who refreshingly says it as it is- but we’re going to 1. shut her down & 2. Unnecessarily make an enemy. This is a storm in a teapot.
49:17 as stated above
But I think Cumbo is not the problem here. She is a reflection of it. If this is what black folks in Crown Heights really think, then we are in worse shape than we even imagined.
To hate a person because they have done something to you is understandable. But to hate a neighbor just because he is successful, that is already a pit you can’t crawl out of.
It helps to actually read….
It says “(from time-mark 49:17)”
Can someone posts which part of the segment Savage brings it up ? Thanks.