The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
3
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/19846.htm
ANTI-JEWISH CRIMES SOARING IN THE CITY
By STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 5, 2004 -- The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the city jumped during the last three months of 2003, reaching the highest point in three years.
There were 57 anti-Semitic incidents, primarily consisting of spray-painted swastikas and anti-Jewish slurs, from October to December - the highest number of anti-Semitic crimes since 2000, according to a study by Rep. Anthony Weiner to be rel
ased today.
There were 31 incidents in the same period in 2002.
"Like any other crime trend, we need to acknowledge the problem and take steps to stamp it out," Weiner said.
<b
r>Ai
des to Weiner said they did not have an explanation for the rise.
Anti-Defamation League Director Abraham Foxman said it was "attributable to what's going on in the world" - increased anti-Semitism due in large part to the strain in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
The troubling spike began when a suspicious fire on Oct. 4 in Williamsburg left eight Hasidic families homeless and came to a close when a 12-inch gold-colored swastika was discovered spray-painted on a stanchion supporting an elevated subway track in Sheepshead Bay.
Weiner, who obtained his data from the NYPD and state Division of Criminal Justice Services, said anti-Semitic crimes plummeted in January 2004, when only three incidents were reported, but rose again in February.
NYPD Insp
ector Michael Cohen responded that anti-Semitic hate crimes fell overall in 2003, compared to 2002, adding that the police "don't see a long-term trend" developing.
There were
108
anti-Semitic
incidents in 2003 compared to 114 the previous year, NYPD records show.
Foxman said the ADL is "satis
fied with the way the Police Department is handling these incidents."
Mayor Bloomberg weighed in on the report by lambasting Weiner - a possible 2005 mayoral contender - for attempting to make political hay out of a sensitive issue.
"To try to make politics out of bias crimes is ridiculous," the mayor fumed. "Given the source, you should expect that it is one of these statistics that is either made up, [or] maybe [he] picked one day."
Bloomberg added that there have been 10 percent fewer anti-Jewish incidents in the first two months of this year than in 2003.
Weiner responded by saying that Bloomberg needs to "relax"
and that the report is not an attack on his administration.
"Attacking the messenger may be good politics, but it doesn't do justice to a serious issue," Weiner said. <
br>
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/19846.htm
ANTI-JEWISH CRIMES SOARING IN THE CITY
By STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 5, 2004 -- The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the city jumped during the last three months of 2003, reaching the highest point in three years.
There were 57 anti-Semitic incidents, primarily consisting of spray-painted swastikas and anti-Jewish slurs, from October to December - the highest number of anti-Semitic crimes since 2000, according to a study by Rep. Anthony Weiner to be rel
ased today.
There were 31 incidents in the same period in 2002.
"Like any other crime trend, we need to acknowledge the problem and take steps to stamp it out," Weiner said.
<b
r>Ai
des to Weiner said they did not have an explanation for the rise.
Anti-Defamation League Director Abraham Foxman said it was "attributable to what's going on in the world" - increased anti-Semitism due in large part to the strain in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
The troubling spike began when a suspicious fire on Oct. 4 in Williamsburg left eight Hasidic families homeless and came to a close when a 12-inch gold-colored swastika was discovered spray-painted on a stanchion supporting an elevated subway track in Sheepshead Bay.
Weiner, who obtained his data from the NYPD and state Division of Criminal Justice Services, said anti-Semitic crimes plummeted in January 2004, when only three incidents were reported, but rose again in February.
NYPD Insp
ector Michael Cohen responded that anti-Semitic hate crimes fell overall in 2003, compared to 2002, adding that the police "don't see a long-term trend" developing.
There were
108
anti-Semitic
incidents in 2003 compared to 114 the previous year, NYPD records show.
Foxman said the ADL is "satis
fied with the way the Police Department is handling these incidents."
Mayor Bloomberg weighed in on the report by lambasting Weiner - a possible 2005 mayoral contender - for attempting to make political hay out of a sensitive issue.
"To try to make politics out of bias crimes is ridiculous," the mayor fumed. "Given the source, you should expect that it is one of these statistics that is either made up, [or] maybe [he] picked one day."
Bloomberg added that there have been 10 percent fewer anti-Jewish incidents in the first two months of this year than in 2003.
Weiner responded by saying that Bloomberg needs to "relax"
and that the report is not an attack on his administration.
"Attacking the messenger may be good politics, but it doesn't do justice to a serious issue," Weiner said. <
br>