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Hochul Plans Synagogue Safety Zones as NYPD Reports Antisemitism Led 2025 Hate Crimes

New polling alongside planned protests highlights a widening political fault line for Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Overview

  • The NYPD reported 330 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2025, accounting for 57% of all reported hate crimes in New York City, a level Commissioner Jessica Tisch called persistently high.
  • Gov. Kathy Hochul said she will propose protest-free "safety zones" around houses of worship in her Jan. 13 State of the State address to provide congregants with a protected space.
  • The group behind November’s Park East Synagogue rally, PAL-Awda, scheduled two more protests this week targeting a Nefesh B’Nefesh event in Manhattan and an Israeli real estate event in Queens, with locations undisclosed for security reasons.
  • A Honan Strategy Group poll found 53% of Jewish respondents say they have reason to feel threatened by Mamdani’s statements and associations, while 55% of non-Jewish respondents view those concerns as a politically driven overreaction.
  • Since taking office, Mamdani revoked New York City’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism but kept the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, accepted a top aide’s resignation over past antisemitic posts, and reiterated pledges to pursue divestment from Israel and to honor any applicable ICC warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu.