Photos, Video: Itzik Roytman
Newly elected New York State Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James held a meet and greet event for the New York Jewish community in Crown Heights last week, with a gathering at the Jewish Children’s Museum.
In spite of the freezing temperatures and the high winds and snowstorm, the hall was full with elected officials, community residents, and leaders of the Brooklyn Jewish communities of Flatbush, Boro Park, Williamsburg, and Brighton Beach, as well as representatives from other New York Boroughs, Long Island, Westchester and Upstate New York.
Attendees praised the new Attorney General as a friend of the Jewish community and an advocate of the causes that the community cares about, from safety on the streets and protecting religious rights, to support for Israel.
Attorney General James’ political career began in Crown Heights, which she represented in the New York City Council, and she considers herself an “honorary member” of the Crown Heights Chasidic community, she said.
The event was co-MC’d by Devorah Halberstam, activist and co-founder of the Jewish Children’s Museum, and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Director of the New York Board of Rabbis.
The evening began with the NYPD Color Guard presentation by the Shomrim Society followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Cantor Yoel Menachem Kohn.
Stuart Appelbaum, President of RWDSU, spoke about the experience and virtues of the Attorney General.
NYPD Chief of Patrol, Rodney Harrison, who was scheduled to speak had to leave because of an emergency involving a police shooting. Chief Conroy, Brooklyn’s South Borough Commander, addressed the audience and spoke about the safety of our community and the recent attacks.
Remarks were made by Councilmember Mark Levine, who noted that the Jewish community overwhelmingly voted for AG James, which she won in a tight race.
Other speakers included Councilmember Chaim Deutsch, Rabbi David Neiderman of UJO of Williamsburg gave the invocation.
CHJCC representative Chanina Sperlin spoke about the Attorney General’s history in Crown Heights. Rabbi Eli Cohen of the CHJCC, addressed the neighborhood security concerns.
Devorah Halberstam, a longtime friend and supporter of Ms. James, introduced the Attorney General.
AG James thanked the community and talked about her long history and friendships in Crown Heights and with the Jewish community. She talked about her commitment to being “the People’s Lawyer” in New York State.
“As your Attorney General, I am the people’s lawyer,” AG James said in her remarks. “Entrusted with safeguarding the legal rights of every citizen, organization and natural resource in every corner of the state. The office of the Attorney General will leave no stone unturned,” she said.
With the ceremony occurring the night after the attack on a Jewish community member in Crown Heights, recent events were very much on everyone’s mind.
After the event, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who was present for the evening, met with the victim of Wednesday’s attack and promised that his office would pursue an aggressive prosecution of the three individuals were apprehended by the Police.
Then night was really horrible weather and many people believed this was one reason less people showed up. Flash flood warnings went out on telephones, etc
#8 People did not show up because they did not know this meeting was about to take place. There was no notice of any said meeting.
People did not show up because they don’t want to be props anymore for leaders who don’t care about their problems. More photo ops, vague answers and a lack of addressing serious anti-Semitism and where it is coming from.
The AG campaigned on going after the Republican President. Will she go after Clinton ?
The AG’s office was urged to investigate a former NYS Sen Jessie Hamilton, regarding dealings..at the Rosa Parks Political Club. Tish was at the club more than once. Will she go after fellow CH Democrats like she is going after Trump ?
https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20180712/POLITICS/180719975/attorney-general-urged-to-probe-senator-s-use-of-nonprofit-s-housing
Ok, so, you are giving a speech to the top Jewish leaders from NY, and you fail to come up with any specific proposal or solution to the Jew hunting going on ? Corruption by former community board members has allowed an abundance of homeless, mentally ill and drug addicts to come into the community. The oversaturation was ignored because there was millions in state money attached to these homeless projects. The result is attacks on Jews by crazy people, no I am sorry, regular people who act crazy when they don’t take their meds. Did the AG ever fight… Read more »
To Post # 1 Thank You Because You speak For most Of Us
It’s A shame What Our Leaders Are Doing To us
It’s Not The Blk Kids They Don’t know any better
It’s Our Leaders Who Don’t Speak Up For us
BS”D Amendment- ZERO council members showed up
another wasted opportunity.
in a community of several thousand, a handful show up…
It would’ve been nice to be informed of such a meeting, instead of it being another photo op for the unelected.
L’Chaim
BS”D
1) what can a AG do to help the community?
2) what can a AG do to hurt the community? One thing is her commitment to go after Trump
3) does it say something that event after event is attended by only 1 of the 4 elected council members. Seems obvious that that don’t care anymore and dropped out. So why are there not new elections. And if they don’t care why should an elected official care
It was a good gesture to Bring all these Machers to the Museum! It was not publicized as a very important evening. There should have been standing room only from the Crown Heights Community. It was very poorly attended. I only found out because I was surfing Col There should have been phone calls and notices! Also I felt that the elected official were not so sympathetic to the crime in Crown Heights perpetrated by hoodlums on innocent people. You know quite well that if it was the other way. White on black crime there would have been a huge… Read more »