Governor Hochul Steps Up Fight Against Rising Hate

By Yehudit Garmaise

To step up the state’s efforts to fight spiking hate crimes, in 2024, New York will prosecute 97, instead of only 66 offenses as hate crimes, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced at her 2024 State of the State speech in Albany two and a half weeks ago.

Thanks to new legislative language that was included in the state’s 2024 Executive Budget, charges, such as arson, gang assault, and criminal possession of a weapon are among the crimes that now can be prosecuted as hate crimes when they target minorities in New York. 

“Vulnerable communities will sleep better at night knowing that the leadership of New York State has their backs and is committed to continuing its work until we all feel protected,” said Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein. “All those who commit hate crimes will be brought to justice.” 

The new legislation comes in response to a 90% spike since 2020 in reported hate crimes, according to the most recent statewide date, with an even sharper spike since Hamas’s murder of 1,200 Jews and kidnapping of more than 200 Israeli and other international hostages on Oct. 7, 2023. 

To further fight hate crimes in the next two years, the governor announced additional funding for the Securing Communities Against Hate (SCAHC) initiative as reported by BoroPark24 here. This will provide for the possibility of a combined $60 million over FY24 and FY25. Last year's budget carved out $25 million in funding for the SCAHC, with a proposed boost of $10 million divided over the next two years in response to recent events.

Eligible organizations can request up to $200,000 to step up their buildings’ physical security and cybersecurity.

The funding can be used to support exterior or interior security improvements, including security training, lighting, locks, alarms, panic buttons, fencing, barriers, access controls, shatter-resistant glass and blast-resistant film, public address systems, strengthening cybersecurity, and impact protection enhancements.