The Teaneck Council meeting on August 22, 2024 was productive and informative. A municipal budget was approved, questions about funding a local youth program were discussed, and a proposal for redevelopment from a group interested to invest in the community was presented. It is always good to see the continued leadership, active engagement, and dialogue with citizens and stakeholders of our municipal government.
However, I left the session conflicted after an attendee voiced, by what should be considered by all accounts, highly offensive remarks. I appreciated that the individual was not given the reaction he attempted to elicit and that the room stayed calm and collected. While I acknowledge and champion that the use of particular words and even expressing fringe views may be protected (and should be) irrespective of personal and political positions, I hope that the entire community can condemn the inflammatory remarks that blamed a group for the bigoted views against them.
There is no debate:
Blaming Jews for antisemitism is antisemitism.
Scapegoating the Jews of Teaneck with accusations of wanting and “being the poster children of antisemitism to manipulate a global agenda is antisemitism.
Not denouncing this bigoted speech is antisemitism.
I am sure that all agree that this language is unproductive, inappropriate, dangerous, hateful and does not represent Teaneck.
