Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first antisemitism strategy opens with a big number: $26 million. The 33-page plan was rolled out September 29, 2026, by Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. Matzav called it an increase of more than 800%.
Read past the number and it shrinks.
Where the $26 million goes
The money is an increase for the city's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, which serves every community, not only Jews. According to amNY, only $7.4 million of it is spelled out:
$6.4 million to double the Partners Against the Hate grants
$1 million for security upgrades at houses of worship and vulnerable nonprofits
The other $18.6 million will be detailed later, the city says. Writing in The Jewish Press, Mark Goldfeder of the National Jewish Advocacy Center pointed out that the shul security line is under 4% of the headline.
The plan also funds $2 million for the Queens Holocaust Memorial and $2.5 million for a Center for New Jewish Culture in Central Brooklyn.
No definition
The strategy fights antisemitism without defining it. Mamdani rescinded the city's use of the IHRA definition on January 1, his first day. Goldfeder argued that Mamdani's executive order largely copies Eric Adams's, without ever naming Adams.
UJA-Federation, JCRC-NY, AJC New York and the New York Board of Rabbis criticized the plan in a joint statement. Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch called it "disappointing and unserious," per amNY. Councilmember Eric Dinowitz said it misses the link between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. New York Jewish Agenda and Brad Lander backed it.
Who wrote it
Wisdom was appointed February 4, 2026. Before that she ran New York Jewish Agenda for nearly three years, the same group that praised the plan. Religion News Service reported she also previously worked for Yaffed, the group fighting Hasidic yeshivas over secular education. The city's announcement of her hire left that out. Rabbi Marc Schneier criticized her appointment over her opposition to the IHRA definition.
What we are checking
Kol America will ask the Mayor's Office how the $1 million will be distributed, who decides, and when the remaining $18.6 million will be assigned.
How we reported this: based on reporting by Matzav, VIN, The Jewish Press, amNY, NY1, Religion News Service and the city's February 4 announcement. Spending breakdowns are the city's own as reported; we have not seen budget documents. Tips: [email protected].