Askanim Across NYC Endorse Cuomo, Warn Mamdani Poses ‘Existential Risk’

Jewish leaders from across New York City formally endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor on Monday, issuing a joint letter representing communities from Crown Heights, Queens, Far Rockaway, Flatbush, Riverdale, Staten Island, Manhattan, and the Sephardic community of Brooklyn. The statement came  days after Mayor Eric Adams suspended his reelection campaign, with organizers presenting Cuomo as the experienced figure best positioned to lead the city.

“I’m a firm believer that this particular election must be a demonstration of complete achdus amongst all segments of klal Yisroel to first save New York City and second, to protect ourselves. This is a critically important election. I don’t remember any election of this magnitude in my entire life—and I’m 64 years old. It’s one thing to have a preferred choice; it’s another to face an existential risk,” Richard Altabe of the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, who organized the endorsement push, told Belaaz.

The signatories pointed to Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s association with the slogan “globalize the intifada,” his track record on policing, and his backing of socialist-style policies they say would endanger Jewish neighborhoods.

“A Mamdani win is an existential risk to all of us in the city. We’re talking about someone who, even if he doesn’t say ‘globalize the Intifada’ himself, doesn’t condemn those who do, and that’s a problem. On top of that, he plans to defund the police or fundamentally change their role and legalize many things that should be illegal. This is certainly not in the interest of the kehila. I don’t know a single person who is interested in seeing that reality come to pass,” Altabe said, underscoring fears about public safety.

While the leaders acknowledged lingering grievances with Cuomo’s record as governor, they argued that his executive experience makes him uniquely equipped to steer the city through turbulent times.

“We have not forgotten what Andrew Cuomo did to our communities during COVID. However, he is the person best suited to lead the city at this time and to defeat Mamdani,” Altabe said. “It’s the opinion of many, not just myself, that Andrew Cuomo has the best shot of winning, and I wanted to create momentum to make that happen,” Altabe explained.

Organizers also expressed frustration that Orthodox and frum voters are consistently underestimated in polling, stressing that community mobilization on the ground could be decisive in a close race. “I felt that the polls are undercounting the frum community because we don’t always register in large numbers, and not everyone in our communities responds to online polls. Therefore, I wanted to create some noise and momentum, hoping this could turn things around,” Altabe said.

Altabe described his effort as the result of his decades of work across different Jewish communities. “I’m a longtime educator. I have served in the Syrian community, the Modern Orthodox community, and the Litvishe, Yeshivish community. I helped with PEARLS and substantial equivalency. Baruch Hashem, while I may not be as choshuv as others, I have the ability to reach out and talk to people, and I was able to bring us together in a way that I believe will be very powerful,” he said.

On Monday, the Crown Heights Jewish PAC issued its own endorsement of Cuomo.

Organizers stressed that they only made the decision after Mayor Adams dropped out of the race, due to their gratitude to the mayor for his close relationship with the Jewish community.  “We only started this effort on Sunday. No leader was interested in making an endorsement while Eric Adams was still running. We have a tremendous amount of Hakaras Hatov for the Mayor, and we would never endorse another candidate while he was still in the race,” Altabe said.

The letter itself extended thanks to Adams “for his years of friendship to the Jewish community and for prioritizing the wellbeing of the city in his decision-making,”

Altabe emphasized that the initiative was grassroots, not paid for or requested by Cuomo’s team. “This was not a request from the Cuomo campaign. It is an independent action taken once Eric Adams left the race. The goal is to unify the Jewish community, stop Mamdani, and elect an experienced leader who can protect the city and make it great,” he said.

Endorsers named in the letter include Rabbi Michael S. Miller, NYS Senator Sam Sutton representing the Sephardic community, Richard Altabe of the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, Rabbi Lazer Avtzon of the Association of Crown Heights Shuls, Sorolle Idels and Nechemia Hoch of the Queens Jewish Alliance, Harry Feder of Bronx-Riverdale, and Leon Goldenberg.