Speaker Race Next

The candidates discussed issues on the minds of Orthodox Jewish New Yorkers including assisting non-public schools with security funds and education programs and advocating for universal free school lunch

W ith New York mayor Bill de Blasio winning a second term and a new City Council set to get down to business in January the race is now on for who will be the next Council speaker. Current speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is stepping down due to a term limits law.

Last week Agudath Israel of America hosted a candidate forum at its annual legislative breakfast featuring five out of the eight candidates who have announced their candidacy. The candidates — Mark Levine Robert Cornegy Donovan Richards Ydanis Rodriguez and Jumaane Williams — discussed issues on the minds of Orthodox Jewish New Yorkers including assisting non-public schools with security funds and education programs and advocating for universal free school lunch.

“If we believe in the principle that every child should be well fed that you can’t learn unless you are well fed then that has to apply to every child including those who observe kashrut ” said Levine who is also chair of the Jewish Caucus in the City Council with regards to the city’s new free lunch program that excludes yeshivos and private schools.