Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of actions to deploy all available resources to keep New Yorkers safe following an increase in incidents of hate and bias in the weeks following the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel.
Hochul announced that there is $50 million available for local law enforcement agencies to prevent and solve potential hate crimes and other crimes as well as $25 million in security funds for at-risk community groups and cultural centers, an expansion of the analysis unit of social networks of the New York State Police and a new initiative of the Division of Human Rights.
Governor Hochul also announced that Judge Jonathan Lippman, a highly respected former chief judge of New York and chief justice of the New York State Court of Appeals, will conduct an independent review of the policies and procedures of City University. New York related to Anti-Semitism and discrimination.
“My top priority is protecting the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” said Governor Hochul. “Let me be clear: we cannot allow hate and bullying to become normalized. As Governor, I reaffirm that there is zero tolerance in New York for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or hate of any kind, and it is critical that we deploy every state resource possible to keep New Yorkers safe.”
The million-dollar investment will be made in police technology and equipment to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crimes, including hate crimes. The Department of Criminal Justice (DCJS) is administering the funds and the deadline for submissions will be Wednesday, November 8. DCJS issued the request after getting feedback from police departments and sheriff’s offices last fall about the type of new technology and revamped equipment needed.
Hochul announced that an additional $25 million is available for Protecting Communities from Hate Crimes (SCAHC) grants. Given continued hate and extremism at home and abroad, the Governor also directed DCJS to develop new innovations and strategies to incorporate into the SCAHC program in the future, such as increases to the maximum award amount, a streamlined application process, and and assessments of deployed protective equipment and technology. These potential changes will help respond to the current needs and challenges facing organizations at risk of hate crimes.
“At this time, it is essential that we take care of each other and ensure that New Yorkers of all backgrounds are protected from hate and supported with love,” Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado said of the measure. “We will ensure that communities in our state are safe and that people are free to be who they are,” the official added.
Investments
In July, the Governor announced the most recent SCAHC funding awards to 497 organizations across the state for 1,081 projects totaling $51,680,910, of which $8,899,091 will go to 187 cybersecurity projects. Administered by DCJS, the SCAHC program provides funding to strengthen security measures and prevent hate crimes against nonprofit civic and community centers, cultural museums, day care centers, and other nonprofit organizations that may be vulnerable due to their ideology. , beliefs or mission.
These funds can be used to support exterior or interior security improvements, including, but not limited to, lighting, locks, alarms, panic buttons, fences, barriers, access controls, shatter-resistant glass and explosion-resistant films, security systems. public address system and for the first time, measures to reinforce cybersecurity. Funds may also cover costs associated with safety training.
The review of CUNY policies and procedures, which Governor Hochul asked Judge Jonathan Lippman to undertake, will include recommended actions for the CUNY Board of Trustees to strengthen its anti-discrimination policies and help protect Jewish students and faculty. Judge Lippman, an attorney in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, will be supported by his firm in the review. The review is expected to include interviews, investigations and other consultations and will cover the following topics:
- Campus environment, including an assessment of attitudes and perspectives on anti-Semitism on various CUNY campuses.
- Current university policies, procedures and systems for investigating complaints of anti-Semitism.
- Consistency in treatment by the University in handling complaints of anti-Semitism and all other types of discrimination.
- Appropriate balance between freedom of expression rights and the protection of students’ right to receive an education free from anti-Semitic threats, intimidation or discrimination.
A report of Judge Lippman’s findings is expected in the spring.
Rossana Rosado, Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, said: “There is no place for hate in New York. I am proud of the work my team does to provide critical funding to help protect at-risk organizations and their fellow New Yorkers. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your leadership and commitment to eradicating hate and working tirelessly to ensure our local partners have the resources they need to help keep their communities safe.”
The New York State Police uses publicly available social media posts and activities to help identify credible criminal activity occurring in the state. But the pool of information is so large and changing so rapidly that the State Police’s current efforts only scratch the surface of what is possible to detect and intercept.
Governor Hochul announced an additional allocation of $700,000 to enhance the Social Media Analysis Unit at NYSIC by hiring a team of analysts to conduct daily analyzes of publicly available social media activity, particularly that related to threats of school violence , gang activity, and illegal firearms, to link information to existing criminal investigations, initiate new investigations, and communicate threat information to appropriate field personnel.