Republican councilmember’s appointment draws sharp criticism from progressive groups
Council Moves Quickly on Antisemitism While Mayor Works on Office
New York City Council Speaker Julia Menin announced formation of a new bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, appointing Republican Inna Vernikov to serve as co-chair alongside Democrat Eric Dinowitz. The announcement came as Council leadership moved ahead of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has not yet appointed leadership to his own office addressing antisemitism. The task force represents Council response to rising antisemitic incidents throughout the city, including swastika vandalism, violent assaults on Jewish community members and demonstrations featuring hateful rhetoric.
Vernikov’s Controversial Track Record Raises Eyebrows
Vernikov, representing the 48th District in Brooklyn, has herself been controversial, including facing gun charges after openly carrying a firearm at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Brooklyn College. She has previously called Mayor Zohran Mamdani a “terrorist lover” over his stated position that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should face arrest if visiting New York City. Mamdani made clear that his mayoral position would defend Palestinian rights and immigrant communities. Vernikov responded by inviting Netanyahu to visit New York on January 1, 2026Mamdani’s inauguration dayin deliberate rebuke to the mayor. She stated: “New York will always stand with Israel, and no radical Marxists with a title can change that.”
Real Incidents Underscore Task Force Urgency
The task force announcement followed genuine antisemitic violence and vandalism across the city. A New Jersey resident was arrested for repeatedly ramming his car into Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn. Two teenagers were charged with drawing dozens of swastikas on a Borough Park playground. A local man was arrested for attacking a Queens rabbi on Holocaust Remembrance Day. An anti-Israel demonstration featured chants supporting the terrorist group Hamas, according to Council reports. These incidents demonstrate the pressing need for coordinated city response to antisemitism.
Controversy Over Vernikov’s Role Reflects Broader Political Divisions
Progressive advocates questioned Vernikov’s suitability for the co-chair position, citing her aggressive rhetoric against Mamdani and her immigration hardline stance that diverges from other council members. Vernikov stated her focus: “It’s now cool to be antisemitic, to attack Jews, to harass Jews, to create a hostile environment. And the problem is that we have leadership that is either emboldening antisemitism or allowing it to happen.” Despite controversy, Council Speaker Menin moved forward with the appointment, suggesting bipartisan cooperation on combating hate crimes takes precedence over ideological disagreements. The task force represents Council initiative to demonstrate responsiveness to community safety concerns while Mamdani administration continues staffing its own antisemitism office.
