Hilary Stuchin (UJA Federation) testifies on antisemitism and CBO partnerships

I'd now like to call the second panel.

Which consists of Sophia Tobia Gage and Hilary Stutchen.

And you each have three minutes and may begin in whichever order you'd like.

All right.

Hi there.

Chair Salam, members of the committee, thank you so much for hosting this hearing today.

I'm Hilary Stuchin, and I'm here on behalf of UJA Federation of New York, and thank you so much for providing the opportunity to testify.

UJA supports nearly 100 nonprofit partners that serve New Yorkers of all backgrounds.

We serve older adults, children, families, immigrants, survivors of trauma, people with disabilities, individuals facing poverty and food insecurity, as well as isolation.

We also work to strengthen Jewish life, combat anti-Semitism, and build bridges across communities throughout the five boroughs.

We appreciate the council's continued attention to the alarming rise in hate and bias incidents in the city, which harm more than just the targeted individual.

These events send a message to communities that they may not be safe in their neighborhoods, schools, houses of worship, workplaces, or public spaces.

For Jewish New Yorkers in particular, this fear is not abstract.

Anti-Semitic incidents, as you've heard, continue to represent a disproportionate share of reported hate crimes in New York City.

And Jewish institutions, on their end, have operated at heightened vigilance since October 2023.

So CBOs in this are essential partners in both the prevention, education, and response to hate and bias.

They're trusted by their communities.

They serve and can help people navigate trauma, access mental health.

report social services, and understand the reporting options that they have to build a sense of safety.

We ask the council as well as the city to prioritize the following steps and actions.

We appreciate the proposed $29 million for the Office of Prevention of Hate Crimes, and we urge the administration to invest those resources in effective programming that addresses the underlying causes of hate and bias, including anti-Semitism.

The city should continue to improve reporting systems and outreach so New Yorkers know the difference between what a hate crime is, a bias incident, discrimination complaints, and emergencies, and know where to go for help in their preferred language.

We also believe that the city should continue to invest in education and music prevention where schools and youth-serving programs are critical settings for addressing bias before it escalates to harm.

It's similarly important to make sure that teachers are aware and informed so they can recognize these incidents.

And we encourage the city to view educator preparedness as an essential component of this prevention strategy.

CBO's community-based prevention should include partnerships with organizations that equip teachers and schools with the resources and support necessary to foster understanding our differences.

And I see I have 23 seconds left, so I'll just say thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I will submit written testimony separately.

Thank you as well.