In Wake of Jersey City Tragedy Security and Safety Meeting Convened at Staten Island Borough Hall
On December 19, 2019, in wake of the Jersey City Tragedy claiming the lives of 5 people including the life of a highly decorated and well respected Police Detective, Staten Island Borough President James Oddo opened Borough Hall and convened together with Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, NYPD and the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO) a Security and Safety Meeting.
Borough President Oddo together with District Attorney McMahon expressed on behalf of Staten Island their condolences to the Jewish Community and conveyed their outrage to the perpetrators of Hate Crimes especially anti-Semitic hate crimes which is scarily growing nationally at an alarming rate. Borough President Oddo made it clear that he, “will not tolerate hate mongers in Staten Island and his office will work in tandem with District Attorney McMahon and the NYPD to zealously monitor and apprehend the perpetrators of hate crimes and anti-Semitic incidents.”
District Attorney Mcmahon concurred with Borough President Oddo and made it clear, “that when perpetrators of hate crimes are arrested his policy is not to plea down a hate crime. As the District Attorney, I will seek the maximum penalty as permitted by law and will do the utmost to send the message that Staten Island as a community has zero tolerance for hate mongers and when such an unfortunate incident such as a hate crime is committed be expected to be arrested and held accountable for those heinous actions.”
District Attorney McMahon further stated that his office works closely with the Council of Jewish Organizations and that COJO as the central coordinating agency and big umbrella for the Staten Island Jewish Community, “has by far one of the best track records in uniting all the various diverse groups and communities that call Staten Island home.” Borough President Oddo added, “the leadership of COJO Mendy Mirocznik, president and Scott Maurer, CEO and executive vice=president and its security Committee Chairman Ari Weiss are accessible and are on the forefront of communicating with his office and this communication is beneficial to the elected representatives and to law enforcement in helping to maintain confidence and allowing the NYPD in doing their policing.”
Captain Bruce Ceparano, commanding officer of Pct. 121 remarked that, “the community partnership with COJO has helped build bridges with the various groups and this communication affords the NYPD important information in fighting crime….It also is beneficial in that by having this bond and friendship with the greater Staten Island community it helps the communities to cooperate and to have trust and to get to know each other and thereby help prevent crime.”
Mendy Mirocznik, president of COJO at the conclusion of the meeting stated that, “I am is satisfied with the meeting and it showed that the NYPD and our elected representatives take our concerns seriously. We must continue to be diligent in working together, it is only through mutual respect and cooperation we will be able to preserve community and win the war against Hate Crimes and anti-Semitic incidents.”