Schumer’s power has faded. And he may finally be done for good.
Because Chuck Schumer is utterly humiliated after one Democrat betrayed him.
Mamdani’s Swift Policy Overhauls
New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, wasted no time on his inaugural day by overturning several measures from the previous administration.
He eliminated Executive Order 61, which had boosted police presence at synagogues, scrapped the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, and ended a ban on boycotting Israel.
These moves drew sharp rebukes from Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which posted on X: “On his very first day as New York City mayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel.”
Mamdani’s choices come against a backdrop of heightened tensions, including his past refusal to condemn the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” a phrase critics link to calls for violence against Israel.
He also named Ramzi Kassem, a lawyer with controversial views on terrorism, as the city’s top legal advisor.
Schumer Dodges Questions on Local Shifts
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, long positioned as a defender of Jewish interests, has offered no public reaction to Mamdani’s decisions, despite repeated outreach from reporters.
His office ignored inquiries about whether he backs the changes or has any words for New York’s Jewish residents feeling uneasy.
This quiet stance contrasts with Schumer’s earlier vocal warnings on rising hatred, where he declared: “The Jewish people have been collectively demonized. Our collective humanity demands we come together no matter our race, religion, our nationality and forcefully rebuke those forces. As I have warned repeatedly, antisemitism is a scourge around the world.”
During Mamdani’s campaign, Schumer sidestepped endorsement questions, simply noting: “We are continuing to talk.” His reluctance to engage now raises eyebrows, especially as the highest-ranking Jewish official in federal government, amid fresh worries over community safety following incidents like the recent deadly attack at a Jewish event in Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives.
Backlash Highlights Safety Fears
Israeli diplomats voiced alarm over the potential fallout, with Consul General Ofir Akunis in New York warning that the revocations “pose an immediate threat to the safety of Jewish communities in New York City and could lead to an increase in violent antisemitic attacks throughout the city.”
Pro-Israel groups echoed these sentiments, suggesting Mamdani’s approach might embolden threats at a time when vigilance is crucial.
The changes arrive as global incidents underscore vulnerabilities, prompting calls for stronger protections rather than reductions. Critics argue such steps could erode hard-won safeguards, leaving vulnerable spots in one of the world’s largest Jewish populations.
