11 Major Jewish Groups Condemn Mamdani Schools Buffer-Zone Veto as "Profound Failure"

April 25, 2026Times of Israel / JTA Official

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Summary

A consortium of 11 prominent Jewish organizations issued a joint statement on Friday, April 25, calling Mayor Mamdani's veto of the schools buffer-zone bill (Intro 1226-A) "a profound failure of City Hall to demonstrate to all New Yorkers that our safety is a priority." Signatories: UJA-Federation of NY, ADL NY/NJ, AJC NY, Conference of Presidents, JCRC-NY, NY Board of Rabbis, Orthodox Union, The Rabbinical Assembly, StandWithUs, Teach NYS, and Union for Reform Judaism. Mamdani justified the veto on constitutional grounds, citing the bill's broad definition of "educational institution" — universities, museums, teaching hospitals — that "raises constitutional concerns regarding New Yorkers' fundamental right to protest." JFREJ and labor groups praised the veto. Marks an unusually broad alignment of mainstream Jewish institutions against a sitting NYC mayor.

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