Moskowitz's Move

New York Sun ^ | 5/5/05 | Editorial

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The Democrat who represents Manhattan's East Side on the City Council, Eva Moskowitz, made a courageous move in declining the Independence Party's line in her race for borough president.

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the party's failure to repudiate an anti-Semitic remark by one of its activists, Lenora Fulani.

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Eliot Spitzer, Governor Pataki, Senator Schumer, Mayor Bloomberg, and State Comptroller Alan Hevesi all now have a choice of following Ms. Moskowitz's lead or letting be known the compromises they are willing to overlook in exchange for a ballot line.

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From Ms. Moskowitz's letter:

I cannot ignore the fact that when recently asked on "Road to City Hall" about anti-Semitic comments attributed to her, Dr. Lenora Fulani neither denied making the comments nor repudiated them. As you know, the day after Dr. Fulani's appearance, I released a statement condemning her remarks that Jews "function as mass murderers of people of color." The Independence Party's failure to do the same has led me to decide not to seek the party's line.

I do not believe that the Independence Party is itself anti-Semitic but, to the contrary, that members are good-hearted people who are passionate advocates for change. But this is not good enough. It must be made clear that there is no place in the party for anti-Semitism. Only if that occurs can the party have the role in reforming our electoral system that both you and I would like it to have.

Sincerely, Eva Moskowitz City Council Member

http://www.nysun.com/article/13348

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