The New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA) and the Forward are committed to informing and engaging the city’s Jewish voters in the upcoming municipal elections. As part of that commitment, we partnered on a survey of City Council candidates in New York City. A record 35 out of 51 Council District seats are open this year. We conducted this survey of City Council candidates to find out their perspective on a few issues of high importance to many segments of the Jewish community. You can see the overall results here and the individual candidate responses we received by clicking on the candidate’s name on the right-hand side of this page. We listed only those candidates from whom we received responses.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 22, 2021, and Early Voting continues through Sunday, June 20. The General Election is on November 2, 2021. You can find all of the information required to vote in person or by absentee ballot at vote.nyc. Remember to Vote!
Responses by Candidates To Each Question
With identity-based hate crimes on the rise, including anti-Asian and antisemitic violence, do you support efforts to increase criminal penalties in this area?
65 Respondents
Do you believe that New York City’s public-school curriculum adequately educates students about the Holocaust, antisemitism, and other forms of identity-based hate?
65 Respondents
How would you rate the performance of NYC hate-crime czar, Deborah Lauter?
57 Respondents
Do you believe the state should inspect non-public schools, including Haredi yeshivas, to ensure that students are receiving adequate education in secular subjects including English, math and science?
66 Respondents
Should the city intervene if non-public schools are found not to be providing adequate education in secular subjects?
66 Respondents
View each candidate to read individual responses (see sidebar).
See sidebar for individual responses.
Have you been to Israel?
66 Respondents
If invited, would you visit Israel while in office to learn first-hand from both Israelis and Palestinians about the conflict there?
65 Respondents
View each candidate to read individual responses (see sidebar).
See sidebar for individual responses.
What is your position on the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement?
62 Respondents
View each candidate to read individual responses (see sidebar).
See sidebar for individual responses.
In 2016, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order barring BDS supporters from doing business with the state government. Some BDS opponents find that and similar moves a bridge too far that infringes on free speech. How would you vote if a prohibition on contracts with individuals or institutions that back the boycott came before the City Council?
60 Respondents
Rate your alignment with the following groups that engage on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (1 to 5, 5 being “I support them fully” and 1 being “I disagree with them vehemently”).
65 Respondents
* JVP = Jewish Voices for Peace | ZOA = Zionist Organization of America
* JVP = Jewish Voices for Peace
* ZOA = Zionist Organization of America
There are many Jewish groups and individuals that City Council members can consult with on Jewish issues. Please rank the following groups in order of who you would be most likely to reach out to for advice.
How would you describe New York Jews?
66 Respondents
What issues do you think New York Jews care about most?
66 Respondents
47 Respondents also said: “You can’t generalize, Jews are no more united in the issues they care about than any other voters.”
47 Respondents also said: “You can’t generalize, Jews are no more united in the issues they care about than any other voters.”