Rep. Ritchie Torres slammed Gov. Kathy Hochul for not addressing a mask ban in her State of the State speech, raising concerns over antisemitism.
New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul skipped over the hot topic of a mask ban in her State of the State address, and it didn’t sit well with Rep. Ritchie Torres. He’s eyeing a primary challenge against her next year and was quick to point out her omission.
Torres noted that Hochul didn’t mention “antisemitism” either, which he found troubling. He highlighted that in a lengthy 140-page policy booklet, there was no mention of it at all. “Not one mention of ‘antisemitism’ in an hour-long speech,” he said.
There’s been a push from civil rights leaders and Jewish activists to bring back a mask ban that was lifted during the pandemic. They argue that without it, people can hide their identities while committing crimes, especially during recent anti-Israel protests.
Torres didn’t hold back, stating, “The scandal is not that Kathy Hochul is failing to combat antisemitism. The scandal is that she is not even trying.” He even sent a letter to Hochul, urging her to include a mask ban in her upcoming budget plan, noting that a recent poll showed 75% of New Yorkers support it.
He argued that mask bans have historically protected civil rights, referencing anti-masking laws from the early 20th century aimed at the KKK. “No one at the time would have said that the KKK had a First Amendment Right to mask itself,” he added.
Democratic strategist Jon Reinish was also surprised by Hochul’s lack of mention of antisemitism, especially since she had been vocal about it in the past. He pointed out that Jews are looking for leadership and will notice the absence of this topic in her major speech.
Hochul’s office responded, accusing Torres of trying to make a spectacle out of the situation. They pointed out that her speech included a rabbi discussing her efforts against antisemitism and highlighted her work on hate crime legislation.
While Torres opposes defunding the police, Hochul’s camp took the opportunity to remind everyone of his past liberal views on criminal justice. It’s clear this issue is heating up as both sides prepare for what’s shaping up to be a contentious election season.
