As New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani contemplates vetoing a pair of bills regulating protests outside schools and houses of worship, City Hall has been inundated with more than 3,000 emails urging him to sign the legislation.<\/p>\n
UJA-Federation of New York organized the email-writing campaign<\/a> after the council passed the bills on March 26<\/a>, sending them to the mayor\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n \u201cThese bills, which passed the City Council with overwhelming support, reflect a clear and urgent need. Communities of faith \u2013 and the families who rely on our schools \u2013 are facing real concerns about harassment, intimidation, and obstruction at their doors,\u201d the form letter reads. \u201cNo one should have to hesitate before entering a synagogue, church, mosque, or school out of fear for their safety.\u201d<\/p>\n One bill, Int. 1-B,<\/a> directs the NYPD to make a plan for \u201csecurity perimeters\u201d around places to worship \u2013 meant to ensure that protesters don\u2019t interfere with New Yorkers\u2019 access to synagogues, churches or other religious buildings. That passed 44 to 5, a comfortable, veto-proof majority. The other bill, Int. 175-B<\/a>, directs the police to do the same thing for \u201ceducational facilities.\u201d But that bill proved more controversial, passing just 30 to 19, well below the two-thirds majority the council would need to override a veto.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mamdani\u2019s allies in the Progressive Caucus had concerns that bill would hamper free speech and be used to crack down on campus protest, such as pro-Palestinian activism.\u00a0<\/p>\n The mayor hasn\u2019t indicated whether he\u2019ll sign the bills, veto them or let them become law without his signature. After they were passed, Mamdani said he\u2019d review the changes that had been made to them, and said he would consider \u201cthe serious concerns that New Yorkers have raised regarding these bills limiting New Yorkers’ constitutional rights.\u201d<\/p>\n Reached Monday, a City Hall spokesperson directed City & State to his earlier comments.<\/p>\n Critics have argued the bill would have little impact, but it\u2019s become a significant political issue, with City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Jewish groups such as UJA looking to notch a win early in the Mamdani administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis legislation sends a clear message: Intimidation and obstruction of houses of worship will not be tolerated,\u201d UJA CEO Eric Goldstein said at a March rally celebrating the bills\u2019 passage.<\/a> \u201cWhile this legislation is deeply meaningful for the Jewish community, make no mistake, this is in support of New Yorkers of all backgrounds.”<\/p>\n