Attorney General James Holds Roundtable Discussion With Rockland Askanim and Local Elected Officials

By M. C. Millman

Attorney General Letitia James paid a visit to Rockland this evening, where a roundtable discussion with Rockland Jewish leadership and local elected officials was held. 

Director of Community Affairs and Engagement Alyson Spindell and Chief Hate Crimes and Bias Prevention Rick Sawyer from the district attorney's office were on hand as well as Ramapo, Clarkstown,  and Spring Valley Police Departments, and officials from Airmont, Pomona, Chestnut Ridge, Montebello, Spring Valley, New Square, Ramapo, and Clarkstown.

The meeting, which took place at Rockland Community College, was arranged through the unflagging efforts of Yoel Lefkovitz, Director of Community Jewish Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs.

The aim of the roundtable discussion was to discuss pressing community issues while fostering collaboration with the Attorney General for a stronger, safer community.

First and foremost among the many topics discussed was the ongoing hate and bias, including antisemitic social media attacks, which continue to fuel hate conspiracies against Rockland's Jewish community and the rising racist and antisemitic incidents in the Lower Hudson school districts and on college campuses.

Town of Supervisor Specht talked about the younger generation who weren't even around for 9/11, who take their news from TikTok and from that source have come to believe that Osama Ben Laden was a hero, as are Natzis, and additionally believe that the Holocaust never happened. 

To address the concerns of those in attendance of that antisemitism being spewed on social media, James spoke about the new bill she is confident will be passed in the legislative session focused on social media's propensity to lead to hate and also with respect to the addictive algorithms leading to teen depression.

Given that the attorney general announced earlier today that New York City filed a lawsuit against five social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube, for their role in fueling a youth mental health crisis alongside hundreds of school districts across the country, James was particularly interested in addressing the topic of teens targeted by algorithms leading to a scourge of mental health issues in today's youth. 

Local issues, such as busing issues for countless yeshivas in Rockland, was also a predominant part of the discussion. The evening also touched on mental health issues that are cropping up in police departments.

"It means a lot to the residents of Rockland County to see the Attorney General here today," Legislator Aron Wieder shares exclusively with Rockland Daily. "As a close friend to the community, her visits to our county have been a regular near annual event since even before the Attorney General's election, and we appreciate the fact that she stands strong as a champion against antisemitism as well as knowing we have a listening ear with her office as was demonstrated by the meaningful conversation that took place here today. Director of Community Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs Yoel Lefkovitz's efforts were critical in making this meeting a reality, and Rockland County thanks him for his role in making it happen."

"It was an honor to welcome Attorney General Tish James back to Ramapo to meet with community leaders and discuss issues that matter to our residents," Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht tells Rockland Daily. "Attorney General James has proven herself to be a great friend of our community and a courageous advocate in the fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate and bias."