New York City Council’s Committee to Combat Hate held an oversight hearing on June 23, 2026, in Hearing Room 1 at 250 Broadway to question the Mayor’s Office to Combat Anti‑Semitism (MOCHA) about why it defines “anti‑Semitism” specifically as prejudice against Jews and how the administration will address related harms affecting Muslim and Arab New Yorkers. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4)
# What’s happening
– The Committee held an oversight hearing on June 23, 2026. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4)
– MOCHA stated anti‑Semitism is widely understood as prejudice against Jews. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2465)
– MOCHA announced a citywide listening tour and plans to expand staff and programs. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2801)
# Why it matters
– Jewish, Muslim, and Arab New Yorkers may be affected by how incidents are defined and classified. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2465)
– Definitions influence which office leads prevention, funding allocations, and where residents are directed for help. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2547)
# Key details
– Hearing date and location: June 23, 2026, Hearing Room 1, 250 Broadway. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4)
– MOCHA described anti‑Semitism as “prejudice, hatred, and violence against Jews because they’re Jewish.” (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2465)
– The administration pledged a listening tour across the five boroughs and a report “at the end of the summer.” (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2801)
– The city announced about $26 million in additional prevention funding tied to hate‑crime prevention. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2547)
– MOCHA said its staff is growing from two toward three or four, depending on the executive budget. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=1306)
– MOCHA said it convenes an interagency task force on anti‑Semitism by executive order. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2877)
Felisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Anti‑Semitism (MOCHA), testified that the office defines anti‑Semitism as prejudice against Jews and that the office’s initial work is focused on Jewish New Yorkers. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=1156)
**Mayor’s Office to Combat Anti‑Semitism (MOCHA)**
– Role or jurisdiction: City office tasked by executive order to prevent anti‑Semitism in New York City. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=1235)
– Action taken or responsibility: Conducting a listening tour, convening an interagency task force, building prevention programs. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2801)
– Relevant numbers or dates: Office expansion described as “3 to 400%” growth from prior administration; $26 million additional prevention funding noted. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2716) (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2547)
The Committee questioned whether MOCHA’s definition should explicitly include harms affecting Muslim and Arab New Yorkers that witnesses described as “Semitic‑origin” harms. MOCHA’s response emphasized that the historical and academic use of “anti‑Semitism” refers specifically to anti‑Jewish prejudice. The office said it will refer broader hate‑and‑bias work to other city agencies while coordinating across agencies. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2465) (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2547)
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York urged focused use of the term anti‑Semitism and warned that applying it to other groups can erase the distinct history of anti‑Jewish bigotry. AJC cited its 2025 report showing 56% of Jewish New Yorkers changed behavior out of fear of anti‑Semitism. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=7135)
**American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York**
– Role or jurisdiction: Regional office of the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy organization. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=7135)
– Action taken or responsibility: Testified on historical definition of anti‑Semitism and presented 2025 survey findings. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=7135)
– Relevant numbers or dates: Reported 56% of Jewish New Yorkers changed their behavior due to fear of anti‑Semitism. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=7135)
MOCHA framed its work as prevention, policy, programming, and education rather than enforcement, and said it has revitalized interagency meetings with NYPD, the Office for Preventive Care (OPC), the City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), and others. MOCHA said other agencies handle broader hate and bias portfolios and that MOCHA will support those efforts. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=1306) (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2877)
MOCHA described operational steps: a staff expansion, a listening tour across boroughs, an interagency task force reconvened to share best practices, and a first‑round report due at the end of the summer. Witnesses and committee members raised concerns about categorization and reporting for anti‑Muslim and anti‑Arab incidents and urged distinct reporting categories or clearer cross‑agency coordination. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2801) (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2716)
Public testimony included calls for the city to improve reporting systems, expand education in schools, and invest prevention funding effectively. AJC and other witnesses recommended that the city invest prevention dollars in programming, education, and clearer reporting and outreach in multiple languages. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=6297) (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=7135)
The Committee did not change the office’s legal definition during the hearing. MOCHA repeatedly stated its working definition aligns with academic and historical usage, and that the city will address other forms of hate through broader interagency work and by supporting other city offices. (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2465) (Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4&t=2547)
Source: https://youtu.be/AfnHnyx6iR4
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