New York committing $51 million to protect nonprofits from hate crimes, Gov. Hochul announces
NEW YORK -- State lawmakers are putting tens of millions of dollars into fighting the growing surge of hate crimes happening in New York.
At a bill signing on Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the legislation gives the state a fighting chance against hate.
The governor put her money where her mouth by signing a bill into law focused on combatting hate crimes in two main ways. Hochul announced a historic $51 million in grants for 1,000 organizations and nonprofits to help them stem the tide of hate and bias crimes.
"I want everyone who gathers in a synagogue, yeshiva, school, mosque ... I want people to know when you gather there, you're going to be okay," Hochul said.
The new law also requires all colleges and universities that receive state funding to have an effective plan to investigate hate crimes, and report all hate crime investigations to the state.
"This will add transparency and not allow colleges to sweep this under the rug any longer," District 27 Assemblyman Dan Rosenthal said.
"That should say to prospective students and their parents that's where I want to go. This is an institution that acknowledges this exists and is willing to do something about it," Hochul added.
Julia Jassey with the group Jewish on Campus said the new law is essential for students' quality of life.
"I think it's impossible to combat a problem you don't know exists. So if you're having these incidents on campus and you're not aware of them, nothing can be done to improve the environment for students," Jassey said.
The governor said the number of hate crimes in New York state has doubled over the past year, with one happening roughly every 33 hours.
"I still envision a future where hate crimes are no longer part of society, but until that day we must continue to rise up and find every avenue possible to defeat the haters and let them know we're united against them," Hochul said.