NYC Council Speaker Proposes 100-Foot Protest Buffer Zone for Synagogues

Measure aims to address rise in antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish houses of worship

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:39pm

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New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin introduced legislation to create a security perimeter of up to 100 feet around synagogues and other houses of worship during demonstrations. The proposal comes amid a spike in antisemitic hate crimes targeting Jewish New Yorkers, who make up 10% of the city's population but were victims of over half of all reported hate crimes last year.

Why it matters

The proposed buffer zone legislation is part of a broader five-point plan by the city's first Jewish council speaker to address the rise in antisemitism. It aims to provide greater protection for Jewish houses of worship, which have increasingly become targets for anti-Israel protesters spewing hateful rhetoric.

The details

Menin's bill would allow the NYPD to establish a security perimeter of up to 100 feet around religious institutions during demonstrations, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. The measure is intended to enable worshippers to safely access their synagogues and other houses of worship without facing hostile protests. The proposal comes after Governor Kathy Hochul previously suggested state-level legislation for a 25-foot protest buffer zone.

  • In 2025, Jewish New Yorkers were victims of more than half of all reported hate crimes in the city.
  • Menin introduced the buffer zone legislation on January 29, 2026.

The players

Julie Menin

The first Jewish speaker of the New York City Council, who introduced the legislation to create a buffer zone around synagogues and other houses of worship.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York, who previously suggested state legislation for a 25-foot protest buffer zone around religious institutions.

Zohran Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City, who did not clap when Governor Hochul announced the proposed 25-foot buffer zone during her State of the State address.

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What they’re saying

“Jewish New Yorkers make up roughly 10 percent of our city's population yet last year they were the victims of more than half of all reported hate crimes. That's a reality we cannot normalize and we cannot ignore.”

— Julie Menin, New York City Council Speaker (New York Post)

“The right to peacefully protest is sacrosanct, it's what our country was built on. None of these bills penalize protests. That is not what we're doing. What we are doing is really creating the safe perimeters that allow people to really move into their respective house of worship and schools.”

— Julie Menin, New York City Council Speaker (New York Post)

What’s next

The New York City Council is expected to vote on Menin's buffer zone legislation in the coming weeks. If passed, the NYPD would then determine the specific perimeter sizes around synagogues and other houses of worship on a case-by-case basis.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the growing concerns over the rise in antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish New Yorkers and the need to balance the right to protest with the need to ensure the safety and security of religious institutions and their worshippers. The buffer zone legislation is part of a broader effort by the city to address this troubling trend and provide greater protection for the Jewish community.