New Police Commanders in Williamsburg Meet with UJO, Shomrim and Community Leaders

Excerpt from Yiddish article in Der Yid’s December 26, 2019 edition

On Thursday of last week, two new police commanders were appointed to the precinct that is responsible for the Williamsburg Orthodox Jewish Community. On Monday, the commanders met with UJO, Shomrim (represented by Yanky Itzkowitz) and community leaders to discuss the needs of the area and especially the increased need for security against hate crimes which the Williamsburg community has been suffering from, especially over the course of the last month. 

Deputy Inspector Timothy Skretch, formerly of the 90^th Precinct for the past one and half years was promoted to Deputy Inspector and assigned to the 79^th Precinct. Captain Mark Vazquez was appointed as commander of the 90^th Precinct, which oversees most of the Orthodox community of Williamsburg. 

Rabbi Neiderman congratulated the two commanders at the meeting and discussed the need for stronger protection against hate crimes, especially after the Jersey City attack. 

The Williamsburg community looks forward to working together for the safety and security of all.

Governor Cuomo Announces the Award of $10 Million for Security Grants for Private Schools and Religious Institutions

Excerpt from Yiddish article in Der Yid’s December 26, 2019 edition

The State will provide another $25 million for this year’s budget to enhance security at non-public schools and cultural centers, including religious-based institutions, to protect against the threat of hate crimes

Brooklyn, NY – On Thursday of last week, Governor Cuomo announced the distribution of more than $10 million awarded to make security enhancements at non-public schools and cultural centers, including religious-based institutions, to protect against the threat of hate crimes. This is the second round of funding distributed through New York's Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant Program and will support 207 projects. Projects will help strengthen security measures to prevent hate crimes or attacks against facilities on the basis of their culture, religion or beliefs. "The cancer of hate and division spreading across this country is repugnant to the values of diversity and inclusion we hold dear in New York," Governor Cuomo said. "We are continuing to do everything we can to stamp out threats and acts of violence targeting religious and cultural institutions, and this new grant funding will allow many of these organizations to enhance their security measures and help keep people safe."

The grant, which is administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, will provide up to $50,000 in funding for additional security training, cameras, door-hardening, improved lighting, state-of-the-art technology and other related security upgrades at each eligible facility. Organizations that operate more than one facility have the opportunity to submit up to three applications for a total request of up to $150,000. First-round awards were made in 2018.

At the same time, the governor announced that the budget for funding this program to protect communities against hate will more than double in the coming year to provide $25 million for schools to be able to reinforce their security measures in the upcoming years. 

The announcement came after the horrifying Jersey City terrorist attack and murders, and the rise of hate-filled anti-Semitic attacks. The funding will better protect communities and yeshivas from hate and terror attacks, including many Williamsburg yeshivas, G-d willing.

“We thank Governor Cuomo,” says Rabbi David Niederman, UJO Executive Director and President, “for providing special funding to protect yeshivas and other schools and institutions which will help keep our children safe and in general for taking critical steps to combat hate crimes.”

NOTE:

Make sure to report every hate crime. As the Williamsburg community has suffered from a rise in hate crimes during the past 14 months, it has become increasingly important for anyone who has experienced an attack or even just a harassment to report the incident. This includes even more minor experiences, such as being badgered or having hate-filled epitaphs directed towards one’s person. If one is frightened in any way, the event should immediately be reported by calling 911 or the Shomrim hotline at (718) 237-0202. No one who has experienced hate should neglect making a report so that we can gain an increase in security and also possibly stop haters in their tracks before they become more dangerous.

Even if an incident seems minor, it is important to make the report. If it’s hard to make the report by yourself or it looks to you as if it’s not being taken seriously, please call Shomrim to stand with you while making the report. UJO continues to work hand in hand with the police and with Shomrim to make sure every crime is taken seriously. For assistance, you can also contact the UJO at (718) 643-9700.

In Light of the Jersey City Attack NYC Reopens Nonpublic School Security Guard Reimbursement Program for Private Schools to Allow More Schools and Yeshivas to Enroll

Excerpt from Yiddish article in Der Yid’s December 27, 2019 edition

Grant program was reopened after multiple schools requested that UJO assist them in obtaining increased security.

UJO thanks Mayor de Blasio for reopening the program. 

Brooklyn, NY – Last Thursday, New York City reopened the opportunity for private schools to enroll in the Nonpublic School Security Reimbursement Program that covers the cost of hiring guards for private schools. This was done after UJO received requests from multiple schools. UJO relayed these requests to City Hall. The Mayor then ordered the DCAS agency to reopen the program. Although schools usually need to apply before the advent of the school year, they are now allowed to apply for funding midyear in order to be approved for the program and receive State funding to hire school security guards midyear. The program was initiated after a campaign by Councilman David Greenfield and the City Council, which resulted in the establishment of this program two years ago.

“I express our sincere appreciation to Mayor de Blasio,” says Rabbi David Niederman, UJO Executive Director and President, “for taking the necessary steps to better protect our schools and for Lisette Camilo, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services for re-opening the application procedure so expediently. It took only a few days from the time we presented the request to City Hall through our devoted servant Mr. Lincoln Restler at the press conference held in Williamsburg with the Mayor on Thursday, December 12,  for the program to be reopened.

“It is rare that you see government move so fast. This shows how seriously the Mayor takes the security of our community and how strongly he identifies against anti-Semitism and hate. We call on yeshivas who didn’t yet apply for this funding to apply at this time. We know that ultimately, ‘The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps’ (Psalms 121:4) and that is where our true protection is, but we are obligated to make our best efforts to protect our children, and this program makes great strides in that regard.”

In further news, Councilman Chaim Deutsch announced that he is presently working to expand the program to include schools that have less than 300 students so that they should also be entitled to apply for funding through this program. 

Statement Regarding Antisemitic Shooting at Kosher Market in Jersey City and Victims with Williamsburg Roots

Our Lives will Go On! But we Can’t Let this Go On!

The community is saddened and is mourning the loss of two innocent people, the most-special of our community.

Mindel Ferencz may she rest in peace, was a pioneer. She and her husband were of the very first to relocate from Williamsburg, due to the skyrocketing prices of housing, to settle in Jersey City. They did not do it for themselves, but to pave the way for a new community that lives harmoniously with their neighbors. She was a caring and nurturing mother for her three children, and at the same time helped her husband who ran the first kosher grocery in the area, to ensure that the community’s families have where to shop and feed their children.

A life of selflessness, and dedication to others, full of love, was cut short by vicious hate-filled murders.

Moshe Deutsch, may he rest in peace, was dedicated to studying his Jewish faith everyday by learning in a Yeshiva he was instrumental in establishing and getting off the ground. He was extremely kind and generous and was the go-to person when his peers needed help. Moshe is also the son of our devoted and energetic board member, Abe Deutsch, who is a pillar of the UJO and is the main force behind the largest food distribution for Passover feedings thousands upon thousands. Abe’s kindness knows no bounds and even though he is occupied with managing a business, individuals needing assistance knock on his door regularly for help. Moshe followed in his father’s footsteps and devoted his spare time and energy to help organize the UJO Passover food distribution and many other acts of kindness.

The community lost a promising-upcoming charitable person who was spreading love and kindness. He was butchered by people filled with poisonous animosity. Our heart goes out to both families and to our board member, Abe.

We mourn and send our condolences for the loss of Jersey City Police Department Detective Joseph Seals. He selflessly devoted and gave his life to protect others from gun violence. May he rest in peace, may his family find comfort and solace, and may Hashem protect all members of the law enforcement who risks their lives in line of duty to protect others. They represent the finest among us.


Our hearts also goes out to the family of the late Douglas Miguel Rodriguez Barzola, who left behind a wife and 11 years old daughter and a mother Ecuador. He was butchered brutally while working in the store and providing for his family. May he rest in peace.

We can’t let the sorrow stop us. Of course, we’ll collect ourselves and go on with our lives. At the same time, we can’t let the horrible hate go on and threaten us. It’s too late already. The hate that springs up all over, now cut short lives so close to home. But we have to act now so that we don’t have to mourn precious lives in the future.

We don’t have answers, but have many questions, that we’re asking for a while:

• What causes this hate?
• How can the hate be stopped in the tracks and intercepted?
• How can we foster love to counter and avoid these hateful feelings?
• How can the community be better protected?

The list goes on.

The grave seriousness of the situation of this calls for the creation of a working group, a task force, that should include law enforcement members from all levels of the government, community leaders from the Jewish and other communities, to try to study and track down this horrendous problem and come up with a strategy to foster love, stop hate, intercept and take action against haters before it’s too late, and make communities feel safe once again.

Time and again, we hear words of sympathies and resolve after an attack, only to hear it again after another attack. It’s time for action.

Watch a press conference with Mayor de Blasio, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea and other officials:
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1nAKEZzyLdRGL

UJO of Williamsburg to Join NYC Count 2020 and the Citywide Effort to Ensure a Fair and Complete Count

New York, NY—The UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn are excited to join the NYC Complete Count Fund, a partnership between CUNY, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Council. The NYC Complete Count Fund is a first-of-its-kind Census-related community organizing program that will support and resource community-based organizations to help NYC reach a full and accurate count in the 2020 Census. These funds will support the UJO’s Williamsburg Community Census, focusing to get a complete count from the hard to reach Yiddish speaking community in Williamsburg and its surrounding areas.

The Complete Count Fund was built with the understanding that local community-based organizations — which serve New Yorkers in the communities where they live and in the languages that they speak — are the most trusted messengers of important and sensitive information. 

The UJO is proud to join this coordinated citywide effort to build awareness about the census, convey its importance, fight the spread of mis-information and disinformation, and help bridge the digital divide that might prevent many New Yorkers from participating in next year’s first online census.

As a culturally and linguistically unique community in New York City, a hyper local focused approach is needed to connect with the Williamsburg community. As a trusted local voice and social service agency for over half a century the UJO of Williamsburg has the tools and deep roots in the community to educate and encourage a robust community census response.

“Unfortunately during the 2010 Census South Williamsburg was among the many poor communities in NYC that were undercounted. The undercount cost the community valuable resources needed for the betterment of the community that would have been available if it was fully counted. We are grateful that for the 2020 census around Mayor Bill de Blasio and his Census team led by Julie Menin, are prepared with a citywide plan that will make sure there is no New Yorker left behind”, said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the UJO of Williamsburg.    

A complete and accurate count is critical to the future of New York City. The census will determine how more than $650 billion in federal funds for public education, public housing, roads and bridges, affordable medical care and equipment at local medical facilities, and more, gets distributed annually throughout the country. It will also determine the number of seats each state is allocated in the House of Representatives (and thus, the Electoral College). Based on current estimates, an undercount could cost the State of New York up to two congressional seats which would limit NY’s voice in Congress and limit bringing home necessary funds to NYC.

In such a complex city, enriched by such linguistic and cultural diversity, New York City’s full participation in the first online census faces a unique set of challenges. As New Yorkers, we have embraced these challenges as an opportunity. Together, these citywide efforts will lay the groundwork for a civic engagement apparatus that will continue well beyond the 2020 census.

The Complete Count Fund will launch in early January with an all-day kick-off event and training.    

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About UJO of Williamsburg: Founded in 1966, the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn is a social service provider helping this poor community with a wide array of services including entitlement assistance, housing, Senior Services, specialized help for Holocaust Survivors and providing the community with voice in the public realm.  

About NYC Census 2020
NYC Census 2020 was established as a first-of-its-kind organizing initiative by Mayor de Blasio to ensure a complete and accurate count of all New Yorkers in the 2020 Census. The program is built on four pillars: (1) a community-based awards program, The New York City Complete Count Fund; (2) an in-house “Get Out the Count” field campaign; (3) an innovative, multi-lingual, tailored messaging and marketing; as well as (4) an in-depth Agency and Partnerships engagement plan that seeks to leverage the power of the City’s 350,000-strong workforce and the city’s major institutions, including libraries, hospitals, faith-based, cultural institutions, and higher educational institutions, and more, to communicate with New Yorkers about the critical importance of census participation.

Statement by the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn on NYS Attorney General Tish James' Intervening to Stop Housing Discrimination Targeting Hasidic Jews in the Town of Chester

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Statement by the UJO of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn on NYS Attorney General Tish James' Intervening to Stop Housing Discrimination Targeting Hasidic Jews in the Town of Chester

The NYS Attorney General’s office filed today join the lawsuit brought by the Greens at Chester development in the federal court of White Plains. The lawsuit seeks to stop a series of official discriminatory actions by the Town of Chester and Orange county, aimed to prevent Hasidim from settling in the town.

"Finally, there is a sheriff in town committed to fight the blatant discrimination against Orthodox Jews occurring too often. We commend attorney general Letitia James for intervening in this case, to fight official actions to block this development in the Town of Chester. Attorney General James always stood ready to take on injustice, and isn’t shying away even when it means taking on powerful forces. All communities and residents in the state are fortunate to have her as their attorney," said Rabbi David Niederman, President of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg and North Brooklyn (UJO). 

"Today’s action sends a powerful message that Orthodox Jews are also protected under the Fair Housing laws and discriminatory actions will not be tolerated," Rabbi Niederman concluded.

*

For background, please read the following the New York Times article of August 14, 2019, headlined ‘Keep the Hasidic Out’: A Small-Town Housing Showdown https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/nyregion/jews-discrimination-lawsuit.html

On November 25, 2019, NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo, vetoed a bill targeting the same development in the Town of Chester.

https://twitter.com/UnitedJewish/status/1199490999887810561/photo/1