Senator Bill Weber Calls For Increased Security Funding For Predominantly Jewish Municipalities and Communities

Senator Bill Weber and the members of the Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group sent a joint letter to Governor Hochul on Thursday, December 7th calling for increased security funding for predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities. 

“Speaking with mayors and community leaders from our predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities has made it clear the state needs to provide additional resources to assist them with their security budgets,” says Senator Bill Weber.

The letter reads, in part:

"As representatives of several predominantly Jewish municipalities and communities, we have shared information with them about the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grants, but we believe the municipalities need additional support ...

"While the current grants can be used to strengthen security at civic centers, cultural museums, day care centers, and other nonprofit organizations, we believe the grant program should be expanded, or a new grant program should be created, to include security funding for entire municipalities."

Joining Senator Weber in signing the letter were Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Senator Joseph Griffo, Senator Jack Martins, and Senator Peter Oberacker. The five senators who make up the Senate Republican Conference Antisemitism Working Group have been hosting Antisemitism round tables and discussions with prominent community members, law enforcement, and activists for the past several months as reported by Rockland Daily here.

“Our working group was formed long before the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. It was, unfortunately, necessary then. Now that we have seen the explosion of antisemitism in broad daylight since the October 7th attack, our work is more important than ever,” says Senator Weber.