By COLlive reporter
Photos: Sholem Srugo
New York City Bill de Blasio visited the Lubavitch Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights to pledge his commitment to battling the slew of anti-Semitic attacks in the neighborhood.
“In addition to heightened visibility, there will be increased visits to houses of worship and other critical areas in the community,” de Blasio promised before his press conference on Friday afternoon.
“Anti-Semitism is an attack on the values of our city — and we will confront it head-on,” he tweeted. “In light of recent anti-Semitic attacks, the NYPD will increase their presence in Boro Park, Crown Heights and Williamsburg. Anyone who terrorizes our Jewish community WILL face justice.”
The latest attack happened on Friday morning when a black man entered 770 Eastern Parkway and threatened to “shoot up the place.” Another happened on Thursday night when 3 Jewish girls were slapped on Kingston Avenue, as reported on COLlive.com.
“It seems like it’s open season on Jews in New York City,” said Councilmember Chaim Deutsch.
During the mayor’s visit, Chanina Sperlin and Eli Cohen of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council petitioned for the city to install surveillance cameras to help catch anti-Jewish attackers.
“Currently, we rely on the footage from cameras installed in private homes, some stores, 770, Jewish Children’s Museum and 1414 dormitory,” Sperlin told COLlive.com. “But there are still plenty of places that are in the dark. If something happens, we need footage of the suspects to help bring them to justice.”
He said the mayor was considering his request and that he is waiting to hear an answer in the affirmative.
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who represents Crown Heights, said in a statement: “I am deeply appalled by the recent slew of anti-Semitic hate crimes in our city, especially during Hanukkah, the season of celebrating our light overcoming darkness. I am proud to serve a diverse community that has come together to rise in the face of hate and to protect and uplift our neighbors–that is the Brooklyn way.
“New York’s 9th Congressional District is home to some of America’s oldest Jewish communities and I will continue to fight to ensure their culture is respected and that their community is protected. Violence toward our Jewish community will not be tolerated under any circumstances. My office will continue to monitor and work with local officials and law enforcement to end this violence and acts of hatred and to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
We need police not cameras preferably with big guns so these guys no they mean business. Like in GCT. We should not allow these people to feel safe who Jews of crown heights are afraid to walk home at night
More cops and cameras will not solve the problem
How unfair it is only to ask Mayor DiBlasio to the party. I see all the other elected officials have headed for the hills when they heard CH needs funds (capital expenditures) for security cameras and additional cops. The job of elected officials is to produce funding for the district or produce legislation. So, how much is CH getting from Diana Richardson, Laurie Cumbo, NYS Sen Myrie (who CHPAC endorsed), US Rep Clarke, Samuels, Eric Adams ? The answer ? CH will get in public funds a proportional amount to those who voted in the CH primary. Beggars can’t be… Read more »
How about lighting in ch. the place got so dark at night.
Also why so many pictures,we need action not Photos.
Stop talking, and DO. And not just a temprary fix, make beat cops & patrol cars permanent, 24/7.
Stop with photo ops – if we are LGBTQ or Black, Asian or Hispanic the outcry would be deafening.
“Community leaders” can’t even lead the proverbial horse to water.
And now look at Forshay.
The bottom line is, Jews everywhere but especially in Crown Heights are sitting ducks.
Unless someone is seriously hurt all attackers will be released without bail starting jan 1. its already started due to change in law by Cuomo so the 3 girls attacker was released without bail.
We need to invite Donal Trump to visit every religious neighborhood in New York. But that won’t happen as there are very many democratic operatives and machers who fill their coffers with democratic money at the expense of the safety of jewish communities. These democratic heimisha operatives issued death threats to those who supported Trump. They went crazy when Trump got elected. They tried twisting Rabbis arms to come out for Hillary but good jews fought back and warned over 200 rabbinical leaders not to listen to these democratic heimisha operatives.