UES Lawmaker Passes Diluted Bill On Protest Restrictions

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — After a previous version of Upper East Side Councilmember Julie Menin's bill to allow 100-foot protest-free buffer zones around houses of worship was critiqued by free speech advocates, a slightly watered-down version of the bill passed in City Council on Thursday.

Under the new law, the NYPD will be in charge of setting guidelines for when buffer zones can be used at protests at houses of worship and how large the buffers should be.

The second version of the District 5 lawmaker's bill passed with a 44-5 vote, with one abstention.

A draft plan from the police commissioner is due within 45 days of the law taking effect, a final version within 90 days, and the final plan must be posted publicly, according to the new bill.

"I am immensely proud of the legislative package the Council passed today to combat hate, including my legislation to help protect safe access to houses of worship," Menin said. "This is an urgently needed and carefully crafted bill that will ensure transparency, accountability, and community engagement in NYPD plans to respond to protests — three pillars to protecting both public safety and free speech rights alike."

The push to create buffer zones around houses of worship started in November, in the aftermath of an anti-Zionist protest outside Park East Synagogue in Lenox Hill.

The protest was in opposition to an event at the synagogue run by Nefesh B'Nefesh, a nonprofit that helps North American Jewish people move to Israel. Shortly after, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed a statewide law to create a 25-foot protest-free buffer zone around houses of worship.

After Menin was officially elected Speaker of the City Council in January, one of the first things she did was roll out a slate of bills aimed at addressing antisemitism.

In 2025, antisemitic incidents accounted for 57 percent of all reported hate crimes in 2025, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in January.

Menin wasn't the only Upper East Side lawmaker with a legislative win on Thursday.

Councilmember Virginia Maloney, who represents District 4 on the Upper East Side, also passed a bill on Thursday. Her bill, which is part of the Schools and Houses of Worship Access and Safety Act, requires city officials to help religious groups and nonprofits create emergency preparation and response plans.

"This package of legislation makes clear that hate has no place in New York and the Council will act to ensure New Yorkers can gather and worship freely, safely, and securely,” Maloney said. "This is a necessary, proactive measure to give our houses of worship the tools they need to keep New Yorkers safe."

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.