#State lawmakers blast NYC DSA endorsement survey for City Council members

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New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
Hans Pennink

ALBANY — Top Assembly Democrats joined the condemnation of New York City’s Democratic Socialist political chapter, which provoked a firestorm with its demand that City Council candidates boycott any travel to Israel.

“No political organization that embeds antisemitism into its platform should be welcome in the halls of our legislature,” they said in a joint open letter Tuesday.

Dan Rosenthal (D-Brooklyn) organized the letter, getting roughly 50 other Democratic politicians to sign on to the missive slamming a survey sent out by the NYC chapter of the DSA last week.

The left-wing group asked candidates seeking their endorsement: “Do you pledge not to travel to Israel if elected to the City Council in solidarity with Palestinians living under occupation?”

A second inquired, “Do you support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement? If not, why?” referencing the push to economically punish Israel for its annexation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank.

“This blatantly antisemitic litmus test is abhorrent. Singling out the only Jewish state — a strong democracy in the region, where women’s rights, freedom of speech, and religious freedom are protected — is detestable,” the lawmakers said in the letter.

“New York is home to the world’s second largest Jewish community. Jewish culture and tradition are ingrained in the very fabric of the city’s diversity. The DSA’s position cannot be rationalized. It is offensive, antisemitic, and dangerous, particularly at a time when antisemitism is on the rise in the United States and in the New York area,” they added.

Rosenthal first issued a mass request to his Assembly colleagues, sending out an email Friday urging Democrats to sign on with the headline: “TIME SENSITIVE SIGN ON REQUEST- Statement on NYC DSA Antisemitic Pledge.”

He personally made phone calls to members and issued a follow up email on Monday for last minute signatures.

The original survey prompted outrage on social media from DSA supporters and those decrying the form as anti-Semitic alike.

The DSA later clarified their travel boycott was in reference to opposing politicians taking junket trips paid for by taxpayers .

DSA candidates recently made waves in statewide elections, winning a series of primaries for seats in both the state Assembly and Senate.

A request for comment from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx) by The Post was not immediately returned.

Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks