Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a series of actions to deploy "all available resources" to keep New Yorkers safe following a surge in hate and bias incidents in the weeks following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks.
In an address to New Yorkers, Hochul highlighted:
- $50 million available for local law enforcement agencies to prevent and solve hate crimes and other crimes
- $25 million in security funding for at-risk community groups and cultural centers
- an expansion of the New York State Police’s social media analysis unit
- a new initiative from the Division of Human Rights
Hochul also announced that Judge Jonathan Lippman, the former Chief Judge of New York and Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, will conduct an independent third-party review of the City University of New York’s policies and procedures related to antisemitism and discrimination.
“My top priority is to protect the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “Let me be clear: we cannot allow hate and intimidation to become normalized.”
New York State is making $50 million available in law enforcement technology and equipment to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crimes, including hate crimes, according to a release from the governor's office.
Hochul also announced $25 million for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grants are available.
The review of CUNY policies and procedures, which Hochul has asked Lippman to conduct, will include recommended actions for the CUNY Board of Trustees to bolster its antidiscrimination polices and help protect Jewish students and faculty.
Lippman, of Counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, will be supported by his firm in the review. The review is expected to include interviews, research, and other consultations and to cover:
- Campus environment, including an assessment of attitudes and perspectives of antisemitism on various CUNY campuses
- Current university policies, procedures, and systems of investigating antisemitism complaints
- Consistency of treatment by the University in handling of antisemitism complaints and all other types of discrimination
- Appropriate balance of free speech rights with protection of students’ right to receive education free of antisemitic threats, intimidation, or discrimination.
A report of Lippman’s findings is expected in the spring.
“As a Judge and lawyer, my focus has always been first and foremost on fairness and equal justice," Judge Lippman said. "That same sense of fairness, and freedom from intimidation, for Jewish students and all others in CUNY’s academic community, will be at the center of my review. Antisemitism and discrimination in all its forms are unacceptable and I am honored that the Governor has asked me to carry out this important task.”
Last week, Hochul announced the launch of a new hotline and online form for New Yorkers to be able to quickly report hate and bias incidents.
Hochul has also activated the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Counterterrorism, expanded State Police monitoring of social media, and directed MTA and Port Authority leaders to patrol high-risk transit hubs.
Meanwhile, Hochul announced an additional $700,000 to enhance the Social Media Analysis Unit at the NYSIC by staffing a team of analysts to perform daily analysis of publicly available social media activity — particularly that which pertains to school violence threats, gang activity, and illegal firearms — to tie information back to existing criminal investigations, initiate new investigations, and communicate information on threats to appropriate field personnel.
