NORPAC LI To Host Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), February 8

Nicole Malliotakis was elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2020, defeating an incumbent Democrat by more than 18,000 votes. She currently serves as Assistant Whip for the House Republican Conference and on the House Ways and Means Committee. She also serves on the subcommittees on Tax and Oversight.

Following America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear sites last year, Nicole stated “A nuclear-armed Iran is an existential threat to Israel, the region, and the world. The Iranian 3 regime left Israel no choice but to act. We must continue to build on the Abraham Accords and work toward lasting peace.”

After welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in 2024, Malliotakis stated “…after Hamas’ horrific attack against innocent Israeli civilians, we welcomed Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a Joint Meeting of Congress to unite our nations against terrorism and unequivocally condemn the rampant and disgusting displays of antisemitism in America and across the globe.”

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), along with Congressman Thomas Kean (NJ-07), Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), introduced the American-Hellenic-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill establishes a security-focused ‘3+1’ framework among the United States, Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus to enhance counterterrorism and maritime security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Please join NORPAC in support of Congresswoman Malliotakis, and share your concerns about the US-Israel relationship with her at this event in Lawrence. Sunday, February 8, 10:00 a.m. RSVP required. For additional information or to RSVP, please e-mail [email protected] or call 201-788-5133. Contribute and RSVP online at Norpac.net/contribute. n

Why I’m Supporting Pesach Osina For State Assembly

By Rabbi Michael S. Miller, former JCRC-NY CEO

It gives me great pleasure to endorse Pesach Osina for New York State Assembly in the 23rd District of Queens.

I have known Pesach for nearly two decades and have seen firsthand his deep, hands-on knowledge about the real challenges facing our community—and the responsibility Albany has to address them. At a time when too many families feel uneasy in their own neighborhoods and are struggling with the rising cost of living, Pesach is committed to restoring public safety, supporting law enforcement, ensuring that both quality-of-life offenses and serious crimes are enforced consistently and fairly, while also fighting to make our community more affordable for working families and seniors.

Pesach brings a deep and personal understanding of the concerns facing the Jewish community. As antisemitism and hate crimes continue to rise across New York, we need his clear and unwavering voice. Pesach strongly supports robust hate crime enforcement, real consequences for offenders, and full funding for security at synagogues, houses of worship, schools, and community institutions. He understands that combating hate requires more than statements: it requires action, accountability, and leadership.

Throughout his career in government, Pesach has demonstrated that he listens first, leads with empathy, and acts with integrity. He understands that strong communities depend on safe streets, respect for religious freedom, affordable housing, excellent schools, economic opportunity, and a government that works efficiently and transparently for the people they serve.

At a time when New Yorkers are demanding practical solutions—not empty rhetoric—Pesach Osina stands out as a leader who puts constituents ahead of politics and delivers results. He will be a strong advocate in Albany for public safety, the aggressive enforcement of hate crime laws, and policies that help families stay in their homes and keep Queens affordable.

I strongly urge voters to support Pesach Osina for New York State Assembly. The 23rd District deserves a representative who will show up, speak up, and fight for our safety, our values, and our future—and Pesach is that leader. n

Michael Miller has spent over the past four decades as one of the most influential and respected figures in New York. As the longtime CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) he has built bridges between communities, guided the city through moments of crisis and helped define what community building looks like in this modern era.

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick & Senate Republican Conference Unveil Affordability Report

Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Members of the Senate Republican Conference unveiled “An Affordable New York,” a comprehensive report including legislative recommendations to ease the high cost of living for New Yorkers. The report is the result of a series of roundtable discussions held by the Senate Republican Conference throughout New York that focused on the key areas driving New York’s affordability crisis.

During the roundtables, Senators heard from stakeholders and community organizations about a variety of issues including taxes and regulations, energy and utility costs, childcare, housing, insurance, transportation and commuting costs, and the cost of food and groceries. Participants emphasized that while each of these components present affordability challenges on their own, together they form an unsustainable climate that makes the cost of living increasingly unaffordable for New Yorkers.

“Following a series of roundtables held across the state, we listened closely to local leaders, business owners, and families about the financial pressures they face every day, and this report reflects the need to turn those conversations into real, practical solutions. For years, my Senate Republican colleagues and I have been focused on addressing New York’s affordability crisis, an issue Albany Democrats are only now beginning to acknowledge. Our conference has advanced commonsense legislation that puts money back in the pockets of constituents, instead of repeating the cycle of higher spending and higher taxes with little to show for it,” stated Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick.

The report makes a series of recommendations to help ease the burden on New Yorkers in several areas identified as major drivers of the high cost of living and doing business. Among the highlights are proposals cosponsored by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick that would:

Reduce Taxes: Exempt tips from state income tax (S.587), exempt overtime wages from state income tax (S.3914), and create a tax relief program to reimburse qualifying homeowners for increases in local property taxes on their primary residence (S.8489)

Reduce Regulations and Government Spending: Create a task force to review the State Administrative Procedure Act, making the regulatory process more business-friendly by ensuring state rules are consistent, efficient, and not overly burdensome (S.930)

Lower Costs of Basic, Everyday Necessities: Return unused funds held by the State from the New York State Climate Investment Account to ratepayers, providing nearly one billion dollars in relief to ratepayers at a time when utility bills are skyrocketing (S.8461), Repeal the system benefit charge, a fee imposed on all ratepayers that provides money to NYSERDA and the PSC. Repealing such fees would lower utility bills (S.7075), Establish the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act (S.850), Repeal All-Electric Building Act, which adds approximately $20,000 to $25,000 to the construction cost of a single-family home (S.1167), Allow developers to comply with the less costly and less burdensome 2020 Energy Codes in lieu of the 2025 Energy Code, a $7,400 savings per single family home (S.8621), Ensure the Child Care Assistance Program is fully funded in the 2026-27 State Budget, so all eligible families receive proper help with childcare expenses, Supplement the State’s existing child tax credit by providing a $1,000 “baby bonus” refundable tax credit for all parents of newborns (S.4487).

Senate Republicans will continue to roll out key initiatives under their Save New York agenda through the coming weeks.

Effects Of Energy Mandates

Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman blasted Kathy Hochul’s energy policies as new data proves her mandates are sending electricity bills soaring and making life more expensive.

According to an analysis by the Empire Center, using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average residential electricity price in New York reached 26.95 cents per kilowatt-hour in October 2025—nearly 50 percent higher than the national average and among the ten highest rates in the nation. Electricity prices rose 7.6 percent over the past year, outpacing the national increase.

Blakeman said the real problem is what makes up the bill. The Independent Power Producers of New York estimate that 65 to 70 percent of a typical electric bill is made up of taxes, delivery charges, fees, and state policy costs, not the electricity itself.

“New Yorkers are paying more for electricity because Kathy Hochul has imposed an energy agenda that guarantees higher bills,” Blakeman said. “She forces utilities to spend billions upgrading the grid and buying expensive ‘clean energy’ credits—and that cost is passed directly onto taxpayers.”

Under Hochul, New York ordered utilities to rapidly electrify buildings and transportation while simultaneously overhauling the power grid to handle the added demand. That policy has triggered massive infrastructure spending, driving up delivery charges and government-imposed fees that appear on monthly bills regardless of usage.

“This is why electric bills are so high,” Blakeman said. “Every mandate, every grid upgrade, every clean-energy requirement pushed by Kathy Hochul shows up as another charge on your bill. Hard working men and women, and small businesses, are paying the price.”

Those costs have been compounded by Hochul’s expanded clean-energy mandates, which require utilities to purchase renewable power and compliance credits at above-market prices. Those expenses are built directly into electricity rates, further increasing bills across the state.

Blakeman said protecting the environment should not mean punishing families. “We can protect our air and water without turning electric bills into a tax bill,” he said. “Hochul chose a rushed, one-size-fits-all approach that ignores affordability and common sense.”

As Governor, Blakeman said he would take a different approach—one focused on affordability, reliability, and accountability. “New Yorkers need lower electric bills, a stable grid, and an energy strategy that works in the real world,” Blakeman said. “I will put ratepayers first and end Albany’s habit of using utility bills as a backdoor tax.”

TOH Illuminates Historic Clock Tower Yellow for International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Supervisor Ferretti joined by Antisemitism Task Force in Historic Lighting

Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti and the Town Board, joined by members of the Town’s Antisemitism Task Force, recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day by illuminating the historic clock tower atop Hempstead Town Hall yellow, honoring the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and the millions of other innocent victims of Nazi persecution. The solemn commemoration reaffirmed the Town’s commitment to standing against antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry.

“The words ‘Never Forget’ are not just a phrase, they are a responsibility,” said Supervisor Ferretti. “Lighting our clock tower yellow is a solemn reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and a clear statement that antisemitism and intolerance have no place in the Town of Hempstead. We remember the victims, we honor the survivors, and we recommit ourselves to educating future generations. Never Forget. Never Again.”

The yellow lighting carried deep symbolic meaning, recalling the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. By illuminating the clock tower in yellow, the Town of Hempstead joined ongoing efforts to transform that this color into one of remembrance, resilience, and resolve.

The Town of Hempstead—the largest township in America and home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the world—has long recognized and participated in International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In recent years, the observance has taken on increased urgency amid a troubling rise in antisemitism locally, nationally, and globally, as well as the spread of disinformation and gaps in Holocaust education among younger generations.

Town officials have noticed a rise in antisemitic acts in recent years, including multiple instances of graffiti containing hate-filled rhetoric. In one significant incident, antisemitic graffiti defaced private property in East Meadow ahead of Passover. That crime resulted in an arrest and a hate crime conviction through swift and collaborative action by local and county officials.

Following that, the Town of Hempstead passed a local law to curb the instances of intolerant graffiti and vandalism, allowing for enhanced penalties against offenders. The Town also launched its Antisemitism Task Force, which brings together community leaders, educators, and faith-based organizations to identify, confront, and prevent antisemitism through grassroots outreach and awareness initiatives.

The Town of Hempstead remains one of the first in the region to adopt both anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) legislation and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, strengthening local capacity to address hate wherever it surfaces.

For generations, the Hempstead Town Hall clock tower has marked the passage of time through community events, milestones, and everyday life in the Town of Hempstead. This special lighting in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day added a powerful new chapter to the tower’s long-standing tradition of public service and community remembrance.