Mayor Eric Adams announced an executive order Wednesday barring New York City from making business or pension investment decisions that discriminate against Israel — in a veiled swipe at his BDS-supporting successor Zohran Mamdani.
The order puts Mayor-elect Mamdani — who supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel — on the spot as he would have to decide whether to support or rescind the order.
“This administration recognizes the benefit of maintaining a strong relationship between the city of New York and the state of Israel,” Adams said of the executive order, which he discussed Wednesday night at an event sponsored by the North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in New Orleans.
An executive order was announced by Mayor Adams that doesn’t allow the Big Apple to make business or pension investment decisions that discriminate against Israel. X/@NYCMayor
A second executive order announced by the outgoing mayor Wednesday would see the NYPD tighten enforcement to protect synagogues and other religious worshippers from harassment.
Executive Order 61 directs the department to evaluate potential changes to the patrol guide to better regulate protests occurring near houses of worship — including setting up zones where demonstrations would be prohibited within a certain distance from the entrance of a church, mosque or synagogue.
The proposed restrictions come a week after a mob of protesters gathered in front of the Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side, uttering hateful chants such as “globalize the intifada” and “death to the IDF.”
“New York City has always been this nation’s melting pot, but, too often, over the last few years, we’ve seen those of Jewish ancestry be singled out and targeted,” Adams said.
“Today, we are ensuring our city government doesn’t participate in that type of behavior and are putting in safeguards that protect New Yorkers’ tax dollars and protect their right to practice their religion without harassment.”
Adams’ Executive Order 60, meanwhile, mirrors a state executive order issued in 2016 by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo — and continued by Gov. Kathy Hochul — that prohibits state agencies from doing business with companies that support the BDS movement against Israel.
City and state laws prohibit discrimination against bidders for city contracts on the basis of their national origin.
At the North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in New Orleans, Adams said, “This administration recognizes the benefit of maintaining a strong relationship between the city of New York and the state of Israel.” Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Still, Adams noted, the movement to boycott Israel and that the city has deep economic and social ties to the Jewish state and the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
“We are proud to sign this executive order and affirm that our investments and contracts should be made on the basis of what is best for New York City and our economic future, and not in pursuit of discriminatory policies on the basis of politics and national origin,” he said.
“This executive order builds on our long track record of fighting back against antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head and making the investments that help boost our city.”
The city registered more than $32 billion in procurement contracts with outside vendors during the 2024 fiscal year.
The city maintains five pension systems that support over 750,000 City employees, retirees, and beneficiaries and that invest almost $300 billion in securities in the global marketplace, including over $300 million invested in Israeli assets.
The latest piece of legislation before Adams’s departure from City Hall is a swipe against his BDS-supporting successor, Zohran Mamdani. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
The comptroller is the investment advisor and custodian of the five pension funds, whose boards also include representatives from the mayor’s office, city agencies and the municipal unions.
Outgoing City Comptroller Brad Lander has largely divested the city’s pension fund from Israel government bonds, but still invests in Israeli companies.
The chief pension administrator and those trustees of the city pension systems who have been appointed by the mayor are directed “to oppose divestment from bonds and other assets made for the purpose of discriminating against the State of Israel, Israeli citizens based on their national origin, or individuals or entities based on their association with Israel,” Adams said.
Unlike Mamdani, who will take office Jan. 1, 2026, Adams has been a staunch ally of Israel.
Adams last month launched the New York City–Israel Economic Council, bringing together city leaders and business executives to deepen economic cooperation between the Big Apple and Israel.
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In June, he signed an executive order to recognize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA definition identifies demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of antisemitism — the core tactics of the BDS movement Mamdani backs.