Over 15 thousand additional Yeshiva students in New York City will now be eligible for city funded security guards at their schools following a new bill passed by the New York City Council today. The bill, Intro 532, expands upon a 2016 law that reimbursed nonpublic schools for the cost of security guards, recognizing that all students deserve a safe school environment, whether they attend public or nonpublic school.
However, with rising antisemitism the law needed critical updates. The current law was limited to schools with at least 300 students, leaving smaller schools vulnerable. Today’s legislation, long championed by the Agudah and other nonpublic school advocates, reduces that threshold to 150 students, enabling many more schools to seek reimbursement.
The bill, sponsored by Councilman Justin Brannan and co-sponsored by Councilman Kalman Yeger, garnered support from over half of the Council as co-sponsors. Many of those signing onto the bill did so as a direct result of Agudath Israel’s advocacy efforts and the parents who reached out to their elected officials.
“Today’s legislation goes a long way in enabling more schools to provide adequate security for their students,” said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel’s Director of New York Government Relations. “We thank Councilmembers Brannan and Yeger for leading the efforts on this bill, as well as the more than 25 members who initially signed onto the bill as co-sponsors. We now call on Mayor Adams to sign it into law immediately.”
“For years we have heard from schools that did not meet the threshold and were struggling to provide proper security services. Today’s legislation will significantly ease the burden on these schools, ensuring a safer environment for all students,” added Rabbi Yehoshua Pinkus, Agudath Israel’s Director of Yeshiva Services.
{Matzav.com}