Mayor Eric Adams introduced an govt order Wednesday barring New York Metropolis from making enterprise or pension funding selections that discriminate in opposition to Israel — in a veiled swipe at his BDS-supporting successor Zohran Mamdani.
The order places Mayor-elect Mamdani — who helps the boycott, divestment and sanctions marketing campaign in opposition to Israel — on the spot as he must determine whether or not to assist or rescind the order.
“This administration acknowledges the advantage of sustaining a robust relationship between town of New York and the state of Israel,” Adams stated of the manager order, which he mentioned Wednesday night time at an occasion sponsored by the North American Mayors Summit Towards Antisemitism in New Orleans.
A second govt order introduced by the outgoing mayor Wednesday would see the NYPD tighten enforcement to guard synagogues and different non secular worshippers from harassment.
Government Order 61 directs the division to guage potential adjustments to the patrol information to raised regulate protests occurring close to homes of worship — together with organising zones the place demonstrations can be prohibited inside a sure distance from the doorway of a church, mosque or synagogue.
The proposed restrictions come every week after a mob of protesters gathered in entrance of the Park East Synagogue on the Higher East Aspect, uttering hateful chants akin to “globalize the intifada” and “demise to the IDF.”
“New York Metropolis has all the time been this nation’s melting pot, however, too typically, over the previous couple of years, we’ve seen these of Jewish ancestry be singled out and focused,” Adams stated.
“Right this moment, we’re guaranteeing our metropolis authorities doesn’t take part in that kind of habits and are placing in safeguards that defend New Yorkers’ tax {dollars} and defend their proper to observe their faith with out harassment.”
Adams’ Government Order 60, in the meantime, mirrors a state govt order issued in 2016 by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo — and continued by Gov. Kathy Hochul — that prohibits state businesses from doing enterprise with firms that assist the BDS motion in opposition to Israel.
Metropolis and state legal guidelines prohibit discrimination in opposition to bidders for metropolis contracts on the idea of their nationwide origin.
Nonetheless, Adams famous, the motion to boycott Israel and that town has deep financial and social ties to the Jewish state and the most important Jewish inhabitants outdoors of Israel.
“We’re proud to signal this govt order and affirm that our investments and contracts ought to be made on the idea of what’s finest for New York Metropolis and our financial future, and never in pursuit of discriminatory insurance policies on the idea of politics and nationwide origin,” he stated.
“This govt order builds on our lengthy monitor file of preventing again in opposition to antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head and making the investments that assist increase our metropolis.”
The town registered greater than $32 billion in procurement contracts with outdoors distributors throughout the 2024 fiscal yr.
The town maintains 5 pension programs that assist over 750,000 Metropolis staff, retirees, and beneficiaries and that make investments virtually $300 billion in securities within the international market, together with over $300 million invested in Israeli property.
The comptroller is the funding advisor and custodian of the 5 pension funds, whose boards additionally embrace representatives from the mayor’s workplace, metropolis businesses and the municipal unions.
Outgoing Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander has largely divested town’s pension fund from Israel authorities bonds, however nonetheless invests in Israeli firms.
The chief pension administrator and people trustees of town pension programs who’ve been appointed by the mayor are directed “to oppose divestment from bonds and different property made for the aim of discriminating in opposition to the State of Israel, Israeli residents primarily based on their nationwide origin, or people or entities primarily based on their affiliation with Israel,” Adams stated.
In contrast to Mamdani, who will take workplace Jan. 1, 2026, Adams has been a staunch ally of Israel.
Adams final month launched the New York Metropolis–Israel Financial Council, bringing collectively metropolis leaders and enterprise executives to deepen financial cooperation between the Massive Apple and Israel.
In June, he signed an govt order to acknowledge the Worldwide Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA definition identifies demonizing Israel and holding it to double requirements as types of antisemitism — the core techniques of the BDS motion Mamdani backs.
