Statement from Laurie Cumbo, New York City Councilwoman-elect for the 35th Council District:
On November 5th, the voters in the 35th Council District conferred upon me the highest honor of representing them in the New York City Council. From the outset of my campaign, I have sought to be sensitive to the needs of all the residents in the District, regardless of their ethnicity, race or faith. I am proud that my supporters have come from virtually every segment of the communities present in the 35th CD.
In addition, during the course of the campaign I knocked on hundreds of doors and had numerous conversations with local residents, learning more of the many issues on the voters’ agendas, as well as their hopes, fears and perceptions.
My top priority has always been addressing those issues that matter most to my constituents as the representative of all of the people in the District. I want to build bridges and bring people together and so I especially regret that my comments on the recent violent incidents in Crown Heights were offensive to my constituents. My intent in writing my recent letter was to stimulate dialogue on an important issue, but in doing so, I emphasized the divisions between people and repeated inappropriate stereotypes instead of bringing them together.
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I sincerely apologize to my Jewish constituents for any pain that I have caused by what I wrote. It was the opposite of my intention. I have taken the last week to reflect, evaluate and meet with Jewish, African American and Caribbean leaders all across New York City, and I understand now that my words did not convey what was in my heart, which is a profound desire to bring our diverse communities closer together.
As I am about to embark on my career in government, my goal is to generate collaborative ventures that will bond people of all backgrounds. I hope and pray that I can achieve these goals, in the spirit of the 133rd Psalm, “How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity”.
Very disppointed. She should be pressured to step down. Why can’t we be represented by our own?
17
Hmmm — sounds to me like beating around the bush
Did she retract her very dangerous remarks?
Did she say that there is NO excuse for violence?
Did she say that attacks against innocent citizens will not be violated and should be prosecuted against the full extent of the law.
I don’t even see that “between the lines”.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is not about anyone being offended.
Her remarks were dangerous and unless she clarifies and confirms this, then the danger in her words seen as excusing such behavior continues.
#41 is right. It’s not on her Facebook page. She has only apologized to the Jewish “leaders” and to the press.
To#8 you comment shows how right #2 is
Though it’s as clear as day that she had a hack write it, it’s even clearer that she isn’t sorry. She allowed the CH Jewish sites to publish it but refrained to put an apology on her facebook page. I wonder why. And by the way, you insulted each individual Jew, and hence forgiveness is reuquired by each Jew in your district, so Mr. Sperlin or his ilk have no authorization to speak on anyone’s behalf other than their own to offer forgiveness. And even if they do, it’s meaningless. It just means that Sperlin and Slavin forgive.
A person that point’s out other people’s unintelligence shows that they themselves are unintelligent
She sounds like a nice lady, if we were not forgiven for stupid things we sometimes say where would we be, I say give her a chance love and be loved it’s all min shamaim anyways
im glad i dont live in CH
Do you know people are already using this to falsely accuse people of this game.
Move to the southern states. You are more likely to be safe there, since it’s not happening down there.
there are youtube interviews with youth about the knockout game. the youth are asked why people do it. they have their answers. none of them mention a housing problem or Jewish wealth. the idea came from this woman’s own frame of reference. sure she apologized. words are easy. but her frame of reference has not changed and now she resents the Jewish power that made her apologize.
if Laurie Cumbo want to apologize at least make it legit
Bravo, right on the button, we are with you,
I for one would like to give the new Council Member elect a little benefit of the doubt. Aren’t we supposed to try to have a little lchaf zchus. Yes, the feathers of mistrust, anger and pain have been swirling for over a week since the first post was made not only here but in the national press. To Laurie, it would have been helpful when raising the issues of the lack of communication and understanding between the several very different cultures that make up your district with a PLAN, INITIATIVE or FORUM on how to deal with these differences… Read more »
She gets to read/hear about these negative comments & understands that we are not pushovers. She shouldn’t judge our passivity by the likes of Yaakov Behrman. We don’t buy her “apology” She said it & she meant it. What she REALLY regrets is being stupid enough to say it as a newbie. Crash & burn!
She shows absolutely no understanding of WHY what she said was wrong. She is clueless, and does not have once bit of dignity- she would resign if she did. This is not about offending people, this is bout her ignorance that is both racist and will not enable her to help the black community because she is so busy blaming the Jews she can’t work on any real solutions. The problems that cause very young people to attack random innocent people are very deep- and have NOTHING to do with race relations, and the need for dialogue! She is blind… Read more »
Humanity based off their history all over the world will never get along.
“She regrets making comments that were offensive”. Read this as: I don’t regret what I said and don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I said. Rather, I regret that I offended my constituents, because that’s not appropriate behavior for a politician, and puts me in a bad light.
brothers = only anash
she just expects to say we forgive you ??? Is she crazy and wich idiots said that they were gona reelect her. And they said all jews were smart!!!!!!!!!
Your right, she regrets the mistake of being caught on the fact that she is a jew hater.
Rather be separate but respected. Jews and non-Jews want to be separate but equal.
A Jew who would violently attack a black because he thinks they are all violent criminals, would be chastised by his piers – not explained. Please stop explaining/excusing/publicizing criminal behavior – make things worse or excusable. .
brothers= jews
not blacks
sry, ur not my bro
Unfortunately she will only learn her lesson once she’s assulted by her own race…
I mean knocked out
When the KKK burn a cross on her front yard, she should understand that it is caused by how African-American act and therefore cross burning is acceptable.
“My intent in writing my recent letter was to stimulate dialogue on an important issue…”
just a bunch of pc rubbish. so lets get with the program, watch our backs and stand up for our rights. We only have Hashem to help us. learning torah , doing chessed and being particular with our mitzvoth will be our way of sending the proper message
which is : dont mess with the jews!!
She is basically insulting is by assuming we are so stupid as to fall for her ridiculous words. The first ones were what she TRULY feels and BELIEVES! The rest is just saving her skin. and whilst we may be stuck with her for the time, we should still be aware that we are NOT dealing with a friend of CH’sers or Jews, but in fact is a VENEMOUS FOE! You DON’T make peace with an enemy who is out to get you! Tell her to read the rest of the “psalms”. and see what Dovid Hamelech says about Jew… Read more »
##14 how do YOU STEP DOWN if you never stood up,she a council member ELECT not yet sworn in,never participated in any government function never sat in City Council once completely wet behind the ears, barely a wannaabe poshuit a gorsnusht
Too little too late, this apology was too long in coming.
It’s very apparent her true colors ( not referring to her being African American ).
And the apology was written by Yakov Behrman.
He told many people when asked about a apology that “we are working on it”.
Her full resignation will be happily accepted.
Did she retract her very dangerous remarks?
Did she say that there is NO excuse for violence?
Did she say that attacks against innocent citizens will not be violated and should be prosecuted against the full extent of the law.
I don’t even see that “between the lines”.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is not about anyone being offended.
Her remarks were dangerous and unless she clarifies and confirms this, then the danger in her words seen as excusing such behavior continues.
It is an excellent apology. Everyone make mistakes. If you learn from your mistakes, that makes you a good person.
I hope you will show your sincerity with action!
she should be forced to step down
I hope you don’t think I judge YOUR intelligence by your lousy spelling! Try spellcheck, my friend, it actually works quite well.
I live here in CH too. The name of the bridge? Whatever you want it to be.
because ultimately it’s what she thinks and feels
Okay. What’s the bridge name?
I agree with you to a point.
I also think that
#1, we are stuck with her for now, so we have to make the best of it.
#2. Respect and Suspect (chashedhu u chashvedhu)
You must be soooooooooooo intelegent
and we in CH so gullible
I wonder where u live???
Ms Laurie, evryone makes mistakes, but few relize and apoligize.
I and my family in CH, forgive and forget.
let us move on and work for the better of the community.
too late!!!!!
she said what she meant
she even had to clarify her first statement and went even further on her second try.
we not going to believe her third try
Too little, too late, took too long!! Words are the bullet to a gun, once you aim, shoot you kill. There is never any excuse!!!
now im supporting her re-election
This is not called an apology it another spit in the face
We need to stand for our selves not thru some stupid people who think they represent us
If you believe this I have a bridge to sell you. Unbelievable how gullible CH residents are.
Thank you Laurie!
Clear and Unequivocal.