Meeting Laura Gillen

You cannot be anything but pleased with Rep. Laura Gillen’s staunchly pro-Israel voting record and her commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

Ms. Gillen (D-NY-04), who is very personable, understands that a large part of her district contains an active, engaged segment of the New York Jewish community, which numbers about 3 million statewide.

Congresswoman Gillen was in our office in Cedarhurst for a wide-ranging conversation, mostly about U.S. support of Israel along with other aspects of American foreign policy. She is very open and proud of her record on Israel, as she should be.

At the same time, I asked the Congresswoman if she can identify the House Democrat who can stand up for what’s right the way Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa) is able to do.

“Where are the House Democrats who are not afraid of taking a stand that differs from that of Hakeem Jeffries or Senator Chuck Schumer?” I asked. Anti-Semitic assaults on Jews and Jewish institutions are at an all-time high across the country, but leaders—who are Jewish—like Chuck Schumer, are silent.

This time around, Gillen is up for re-election in November with no June primary, as opposed to the Republican candidates who at this point are U.S. Air Force veteran Marvin Williams facing off against Jeanine C. (Jennie) Driscoll, the Receiver of Taxes for the Town of Hempstead.

On one level, there’s a unique opportunity for Republicans in Nassau County, with County Executive Bruce Blakeman taking on Democrat incumbent and “accidental” Governor Kathy Hochul. She’s referred to as such because had former Governor Andrew Cuomo not been forced to resign in the summer of 2021, there’s no chance that Hochul would have ever been elected Governor of New York.

When you consider the name recognition that Hochul has developed and the Democratic electoral tilt the party has in New York, that alone gives her an important edge over her Republican opponent, Bruce Blakeman. The 5TJT wholeheartedly endorses Blakeman for Governor for a multiplicity of reasons. One of the primary matters to consider is how Hochul is so connected to the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.

Unlike just about every New York City Mayor prior to the current Democratic Socialist in office, Mamdani made it clear that he will not be taking part in this coming Sunday’s Israel Day Parade. His absence from the parade breaks a 60-year mayoral tradition and is an affront to all Jewish New Yorkers, and in fact, all supporters of Israel. At the same time, Mamdani’s absence from the parade on Sunday is a favor to the Jewish community in New York because of his highly charged, anti-Israel rhetoric, which is filled with hatred and support for the murder of Jews, whether on October 7 or during the Holocaust. He infamously declined to condemn the phrase “Globalize the intifada” and consistently refers to Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide.” The examples are endless.

It’s a difficult situation for a member of Congress like Gillen, who is serious about her approach to legislation and the manner in which she is committed to representing her constituency that largely supports Israel. You can rest assured that unlike some of her congressional colleagues like Speaker Hakeem Jeffries or Senator Chuck Schumer, who support the Mamdani hatefulness, she prefers to distance herself as much as possible from the mayor.

Laura Gillen is a level-headed representative who is unwilling to use the power of her position to undermine an important ally of the United States like Israel. Mamdani’s inborn Jew-hatred does not allow him the ability to think straight or fairly. At the end of this story, someday New Yorkers will look back at this time period and realize the error they made in putting an individual like Zohran Mamdani into office. Hopefully someday New Yorkers will be able to recover.

In the meantime, there’s hope for the future in people like Congresswoman Laura Gillen.

Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.