In response to the increasing trend of anti-Semitic hate crimes in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams officially announced the establishment of the “Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism” on the 13th, becoming the first city in the United States to set up a dedicated institution to combat anti-Jewish hatred among major cities.
According to data from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), 54% of hate crimes targeted the Jewish community in 2024, which further rose to 62% in the first quarter of 2025. Adams emphasized the need to address this phenomenon immediately.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Adams stated, “We will not stand idly by when any group faces this scale of targeted behavior.”
He highlighted that the office will establish an interdisciplinary task force to oversee relevant cases in the judicial system, collaborate with the city’s legal department to promote litigation or join existing lawsuits, suggest executive orders and legislative directions, and ensure that all city government agencies and funding entities do not tolerate anti-Semitic words and actions. Adams also made it clear that the office will directly report to the mayor’s office, with Moshe Davis serving as the first executive director and expanding staff as needed.
Adams stressed that in addition to hate crimes, the office will also focus on anti-Semitic phenomena in schools, workplaces, and cultural areas.
Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro added that New York City has the largest Jewish population in the world and is also one of the largest gathering places for Holocaust survivors globally. The city government cannot allow anti-Semitism to continue to expand in New York City; this is not just a legal issue but also a challenge to culture and values.
Adams stated, “Our beliefs may not necessarily be the same, but our destinies are intertwined. This city belongs to every New Yorker, and we will continue to strive to ensure that all communities can live here safely and freely.”