NYC Council Establishes Antisemitism Task Force, Beating Mayor to the Punch

Republican Inna Vernikov and Democrat Eric Dinowitz to chair the bipartisan group

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:07pm

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The New York City Council has announced the creation of a bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, with Republican Inna Vernikov and Democrat Eric Dinowitz as co-chairs. This move comes as the city has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, including a car ramming attack on a Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn. The task force will address the growing problem of antisemitism in the city, which the Council Speaker says is being "emboldened" by current leadership.

Why it matters

Antisemitism has been on the rise in New York City, with a number of high-profile incidents occurring in recent months. The creation of this task force signals the City Council's intent to take a more proactive approach to addressing this issue and protecting the city's Jewish community.

The details

The Task Force to Combat Antisemitism was announced by City Council Speaker Julie Menin. It will be co-chaired by Republican Inna Vernikov and Democrat Eric Dinowitz. The task force's formation comes in the wake of several recent antisemitic incidents in the city, including a car ramming attack on a Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn. Vernikov stated that antisemitism is now "cool" and that Jewish people are facing a "hostile environment" in the city. Dinowitz also lamented incidents that go unreported, such as Jewish students removing their yarmulkes out of fear.

  • In 2026 so far, an anti-Israel demonstration outside the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills featured chants supporting the terrorist group Hamas.
  • In 2026, two teenagers were charged with drawing dozens of swastikas on a Borough Park playground.
  • In 2026, a local man was arrested for attacking a Queens rabbi on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The players

Julie Menin

New York City Council Speaker who announced the creation of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.

Inna Vernikov

Republican co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.

Eric Dinowitz

Democrat co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.

Zohran Mamdani

Mayor of New York City who has not yet picked a person to lead his Office to Combat Antisemitism.

Ofir Akunis

Israel's consul general in New York who expressed skepticism about the mayor's response to the rise in antisemitism.

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What they’re saying

“It's now cool to be antisemitic, to attack Jews, to harass Jews, to create a hostile environment. And the problem is that we have leadership that is either emboldening antisemitism or allowing it to happen.”

— Inna Vernikov, Republican co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism (CBS News New York)

“The kids that want to take off their yarmulkas because they are afraid of being Jewish in our city.”

— Eric Dinowitz, Democrat co-chair of the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism (CBS News New York)

“The response requires more than a statement. We warned that changing the definition of antisemitism and lifting the ban on boycott initiatives against Israel could lead to an increase in attacks, and regrettably, that is what is happening.”

— Ofir Akunis, Israel's consul general in New York (CBS News New York)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the New Jersey man accused of ramming his car into the Chabad Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn to be released on bail.

The takeaway

The creation of the bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism by the New York City Council signals a proactive approach to addressing the growing problem of antisemitism in the city, which has seen a rise in high-profile incidents targeting the Jewish community. The task force's formation comes as a rebuke to the mayor, who has not yet taken similar action, and underscores the urgency of the issue for city leaders.