(MINEOLA, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D - Plainview) applauded today’s vote in by the Legislature to establish key deadlines for the work of the County’s Special Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism.
Following today’s unanimous vote by the full Nassau County Legislature, appointments to the Task Force will be due no later than International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. The Task Force’s recommendations for legislative action must be submitted to the Legislature’s Presiding Officer and the Minority Leader no later than Yom Hashoah on April 28, 2022.
Legislator Drucker is one of three Minority Caucus members who will serve on the Committee. He will be joined by Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams (D – Freeport) and Nassau County Legislator Joshua A. Lafazan (D – Woodbury).
Legislator Drucker co-introduced the resolution establishing the Special Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism on June 22, 2021 in response to an alarming and frighteningly persistent increase in antisemitic incidents in recent years. It was adopted unanimously by the full Nassau County Legislature in August 2021.
Prior to today’s vote, Legislator Drucker highlighted recent incidents of antisemitism – including a Jan. 15, 2022 hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas – that makes the upcoming work of this commission especially critical.
“When I proposed the creation of the Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, our nation and the world was already navigating an alarming and unacceptable increase in bias incidents targeting Jewish people,” Legislator Drucker said. “It’s long past time to fully confront this moral crisis and implement policies that will set us on a trajectory toward safer and more just society. I am eager to roll up my sleeves and get to work on behalf of Nassau residents.”
ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE TO COMBAT ANTISEMITISM
Membership of the Special Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism will consist of six Legislators - three appointed by the Nassau County Legislature’s Presiding Officer and three chosen by the Minority Leader – and the County Executive or a designee. The Legislative members will then select five additional community leaders based upon their expertise and background in opposing antisemitism and intolerance.
Working under the guidance of the Working Definition of Antisemitism as adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the task force is directed to host one or more public hearings to engage governmental and community leaders, law enforcement personnel, clergy, academics, members of the public and key stakeholders to gather facts about the origins and extent of antisemitism in Nassau County.
Upon the completion of these hearings and a public comment period of at least 60 days, the task force will submit a report containing recommendations for legislative action.
In addition to its fact-finding mission, the Special Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is tasked with educating youth by hosting a Virtual Youth Roundtable Against Antisemitism. Focused upon how the law and public policy can help to diminish bias and insensitivity, the event will be known as “Cardozo Day” in honor of esteemed New York jurist and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo.