Lavine Statement on Governmental Leadership

GLEN COVE, NEW YORK – New York State Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-North Shore), who serves as President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and a member of its National Board of Directors, issued the following statement on governmental leadership:

Shania Twain never imagined that her 1993 hit "You Gotta Dance With the One That Brought You" would ever be relevant to the mayoralty of Zohran Mamdani more than thirty years later.

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Mamdani is a proud Democratic Socialist. Portions of that party's philosophy are shared by many of us. Equality, justice, healthcare, environmental protection, economic security, and the support of workers' rights are essential American values.

There is, however, a component of treacherous demagoguery shared by many of the so-called Socialists. It is the ancient demon of Jew hatred, too often masquerading as Anti-Zionism.

Mamdani has been fairly and widely criticized for his tepid response to a rising tide of Jew hatred. His official statements fail to come anywhere near to the zeal of his anti-Israel and anti-Netanyahu fervor. Taking a strong stance against Jew hatred does not appear to be his priority. The fact that this is obvious contributes to the tension felt by all fair-thinking New Yorkers.

As someone who has been privileged to serve in public office for many years, it is my fear that Mamdani's inconsistency is spurred by his need to appease and please the Jew hating contingent that helped support his candidacy.

Fiorello La Guardia remains America's greatest mayor because he fought for all and brought disparate immigrant communities together during our nation's worst economic crisis. He is the model for leadership in every great municipal government.

Zohran Mamdani and I served together in the New York State Assembly. I strongly opposed his "Not on Our Dime" bill that was based on Texas' anti-abortion statute. It would have permitted lawsuits against any New Yorker who contributed to Israel, just as Texas permits lawsuits against anyone who assists any woman seeking an abortion.

Introduced in the Assembly on May 9, 2023, just five months before the primitive atrocities of October 7, that bill encouraged, comforted, and enabled Hamas and Hezbollah. It was a pure example of demagoguery.

Rather than continue to try to "Dance with the One That Brought You," it is past time for Mayor Mamdani to begin to fight for the protection and basic human rights of all New Yorkers.

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Assemblymember Charles Lavine represents New York's 13th Assembly District in Nassau County. He presently serves as Chair of the Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Committees on Codes, Ethics and Guidance, Insurance and Rules. Lavine previously served as Chair of the Election Law Committee, Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Guidance, co-Chair of the New York State Legislative Ethics Commission, and as Chair of the bipartisan Taskforce that produced the Assembly Speaker's Policy on Sexual Harassment, Retaliation and Discrimination.