By COLlive reporter
He should know better!
Zellnor Myrie, who is running to represent Crown Heights in New York’s 20th Senate District, claimed ignorance when asked about the anti-Israel BDS movement.
“He said he that he isn’t educated enough on the matter to comment and that he believed that that is handled on a federal level,” said Andrea Karshan, a Jewish resident of Crown Heights.
Karshan, a former intern for incumbent State Senator Jesse Hamilton, said she spoke to Myrie about a host of issues and was disappointed that Jewish concerns weren’t covered at a candidate’s forum.
Karshan wrote on Twitter that she informed Myrie that the NY State Senate recently voted on BDS and that in addition to Israel, other important issues for the community are housing, anti-Semitism and crime.
“Jews and blacks in Crown Heights need to stop pointing fingers at each other and blaming each other,” she said. “That we all together need to fight the housing crisis and crime in this area. I also urged him to speak out against the recent attacks against Jews.”
Karshan said that she does not walk alone in the neighboorhood’s streets after 10 PM out of fear of crime.
She also told him that “I know many Jews who have left Crown Heights due to high rents or are struggling to pay their rent. The housing crisis isn’t just affecting blacks, it is affecting all of us.”
These comments were first reported by Kings County Politics. Myrie didn’t directly respond to their request for comment.
“Zellnor’s focus is protecting and expanding affordable housing – an issue that affects constituents of the 20th Senate District across ethnic and religious groups,” said a spokesperson for Myrie’s campaign. “He looks forward to partnering with a range of organizations, including Jewish community groups, to encourage interfaith dialogue about issues of concern to Central Brooklyn.”
Hamilton and Myrie have been locked in a contentious race since the relative newcomer first announced his candidacy, Kings County Politics reported. The primary election is September 13.
Hamilton has been an ardent supporter of Israel, and recently released a mailer pointing out that support, which includes supporting tax credits for Yeshiva tuition [including Christian schools in other parts of the district], his opposition to the Iran nuclear accord deal, and getting funding for both small business opportunities and increased healthcare, the website reported.
One of Zellner Myrie’s big supporters is a fellow named Naftuli Nick Moster. Naftuli hates Jesse and he is very active in fighting against funding for yeshivas. Moster is obsessed with “deep secular inadequacies at private Jewish schools” and with supporting Myrie. They are connected.
Jesse is the best. Let’s vote to keep him in
So instead giving a answer on BDS he just dances around the question. This guy is not good for us.
Agree with you
Very rare that we have a politician who the entire Jewish C.H. supports. I think we will see Shea Hecht, Chanina Sperlin and every other community come out strongly in support of Jesse Hamilton. I’m excited to see him win re-election with the overwhelming support of our community. FYI we can do better on our voter turnout but shockingly we actually already vote in high proportions then our non Jewish neighbors. But more is never enough.
can someone explain me this whole situation! I don’t understand all this famcy English
(including all of the bochorim & girls who learn/work out of town but could vote absentee ballots) and start to provide transportation to the polls for those that need it.
This is the Aleph Bais of having our Community voice heard thru a large voter turn-out but somehow no one does anything to really strengthen our political power..
TO SHOW HIM HAKARAS HATOV AND ALL GO OUT AND VOTE
With Jesse he is our hero!!!!
CH Resident
BS”D
who is that handsome devil on the left, let’s vote him in
If all of us vote he won’t win !!
If you are running for office in a place that included a large Jewish population you will think he will know a little more about BDS. He tried to spin it as a federal issues, he claimed he did not know the NY State Senate voted on the measure. What a lier!
Zellnor is a big fan of Brad Lander, the Councilman who wrote a thesis that goes against Israel as our country, a vote for Zellnor is a vote for BDS and a vote against Israel
This guy is BAD NEWS! He supports BDS and he does not give a direct answer for the Iran Deal, one of his supporters is Linda Sansour, he shared a stage with her.