Overview
- The governor unveiled the plan in her State of the State address in Albany and said legislation will be pursued, with no law enacted yet.
- The buffer would bar demonstrations within 25 feet of property lines at synagogues, churches, mosques, and temples to ensure worshippers can enter without harassment.
- Hochul referenced last week’s protest outside Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills in Queens, describing pro‑Hamas chants there as harassment and antisemitism.
- Agudath Israel of America and the Anti‑Defamation League backed the focus on safe access to worship, as NYPD data show 330 anti‑Jewish incidents out of 576 suspected hate crimes in 2025.
- Critics such as The Yeshiva World questioned whether a 25‑foot limit would be effective, and lawmakers are expected to scrutinize the proposal’s implications for protest rights.