By Hank Russell
A Long Island assemblyman lashed out at the Democratic majority in Albany for holding up a piece of legislation that would have made it a misdemeanor to tear down or deface any posters or materials supporting Israel.
Daniel Norber (R,C-Great Neck) denounced the Democratic supermajority’s decision to hold the New York State Antisemitism Vandalism Act (A.3951) in committee, accusing them of stifling critical legislation to combat antisemitic vandalism. The bill would establish a Class A misdemeanor for defacing publicly displayed pro-Israel materials. These would include posters, flyers, banners or billboards raising awareness of the hostages in Gaza.
The purpose of the Act is to address the surge in hate crimes targeting Jewish communities, especially on Long Island, and to bring awareness for Israeli individuals who have been victims of a crime, or to positively support the country or citizens of Israel in any way.
Norber’s legislation is still stuck in the Codes Committee.
“This is a total abuse of single-party rule to block this bill,” said Norber. “By refusing to advance the New York State Antisemitism Vandalism Act, they’re silencing debate and ignoring pleas from vulnerable Jewish communities.”
Norber said it wasn’t the first time this week that “Albany has failed us.” He cited Governor Kathy Hochul’s mask ban “feeble” because a violation of the ban is only a Class B misdemeanor. State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) called Hochul’s legislation “a nothing burger.”
“At best, her mask ban is a slap on the wrist, far from the ‘crackdown’ she claims it to be,” Norber added. “This is political malpractice, and I will keep calling out this abuse of power. I was elected to stand up for our Jewish communities here on Long Island and will continue to challenge Albany to do what is right.”
More from Lorber can be found here.
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Democrat Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), dean of the Nassau County Assembly Delegation and President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators (NAJL) and a member of its National Board of Directors. “This is the first I have heard of this,” he said of the bill.
Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst), a cosponsor of the bill, said the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee would only hear legislation related to antisemitism “‘if only someone introduced them.” Brown said he introduced seven of his own bills, none of which went to committee.
“Daniel Norber’s bill is another strong response to antisemitism—and they won’t even let it be heard,” Brown said.