From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
NYC’s antisemitism task force to hold inaugural hearing tomorrow
Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
The New York City Council’s Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism will hold its inaugural hearing at City Hall tomorrow.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and allies established the task force earlier this year, part of a broader plan to rein in antisemitism in the city, where Jews are targeted by hate crimes far more than any other group, according to NYPD data.
The hearing will focus on the reporting of antisemitic hate crimes, says Councilmember Inna Vernikov, the council’s Republican minority whip and a co-chair of the task force. The other chair is Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, a Democrat.
Vernikov says the NYPD, the mayoral Office to Combat Antisemitism, Jewish organizations and civil rights groups will testify.
The district attorney from each borough has also been invited, but only Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez has confirmed he will attend, Vernikov says.
The hearing begins at 12:00 p.m. in City Hall’s Committee Room. The public, including hate crimes victims, are invited to attend or testify.
The hearings will also be livestreamed on the council’s website.
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