New York, NY – Following the release of Mayor Mamdani’s executive budget, which added $26 million to the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes' previous $3 million budget, Audrey Sasson, Executive Director of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) released the following statement on behalf of the organization:

“For months, JFREJ has been organizing for a $26-30 million investment in non-carceral hate violence prevention funding. Mayor Mamdani’s executive budget makes it clear that his administration is listening. By delivering on the mayor’s campaign promise to increase funding for hate violence prevention by 800%, the Mamdani administration has significantly raised the bar for what it looks like to seriously address antisemitism and hate violence. 

Mayor Mamdani inherited staggering deficits from the corrupt Eric Adams machine, and still managed to put forward a balanced, transparent city budget with no cuts to social services, and an unprecedented investment in hate violence prevention funding. We’re pleased to see investments necessary for rolling out universal childcare, stronger deportation defense and legal support for immigrant New Yorkers, and the formation of the Office of Community Safety. 

We are proud that this budget reflects many of the priorities of the grassroots movements that helped propel Mayor Mamdani into office to build a more caring and affordable city. Increasing revenue and maintaining access to essential services like libraries, parks, and affordable housing is non-negotiable for all of us. In order to expand and improve the city services on which New Yorkers rely, Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature must raise taxes on the wealthy few and most profitable corporations. This, too, is non-negotiable.”     

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Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) is a 6,000-member grassroots organization and the home of New York’s Jewish Left. For 36 years, JFREJ members have organized alongside our neighbors to transform New York from a playground for the wealthy few into a real democracy, free from all forms of racist violence.