Exclusive Interview with Republican Candidate for NY Senate District 17 Vito LaBella
by: Brooklyn Jewish Republicans Committee
“A vote for Vito LaBella is a vote for Jewish educational freedom“
As anyone who follows Jewish history understands, New York’s current political and economic climate is threatening thousands of years of Jewish education and heritage. Recent challenges to Yeshiva school curriculums are only the latest example of escalating threats to Jewish culture and way of life. We recently had the opportunity to interview Vito LaBella, a lifelong Brooklyn resident and community activist, who is running for State Senate in District 17.
Days ahead of the midterm elections, Vito LaBella reflected on his close ties with Brooklyn’s Jewish community, and his commitment to support our Jewish education and way of life. Following are excerpts from the interview.
How do you feel about the recent attacks on the Yeshiva school curriculums?
The Department of Education and Board of Regents are challenging the subject matter in Yeshiva schools, which is ironic in a city with below 50 percent literacy rates for NYC public school students. New York policymakers are concerned that Yeshiva curriculums do not match math and science requirements in New York State. I think this approach is unnecessarily heavy-handed and disrespectful of the Jewish community. Parents and community leaders have a right to decide what is being taught in their children’s Yeshivas without any government interference whatsoever.
What steps will you take on this when you’re elected?
As a NYS Senator, i will vote against any & every bill being proposed trying to mandate & regulate the Yeshivas.
I will also work with both Republicans & moderate Democrats across the isle, to remove the current Anti Yeshiva “substantial equivalency” regulations that was drafted by the NYS Board of Regents. And give parents back the ability to choose their children education.
I’ve heard from Jewish parents that Yeshivas give their students an excellent education, and nothing should be changed.
When I visit the Jewish communities of Borough Park & Flatbush in my district and hear about residents being attacked on the street for no reason simply because they are Jewish, it makes me more committed than ever to see what we could do to about all the hate crimes against the Jewish community & holding the perpetrators accountable.
Starting with cashless Bail Reform, No bail – Bail Reform (and other recent Pro crime bills) needs to be repealed & replaced back to what it used to be, In todays NYC a criminal that gets arrested for a violent crime is released from jail before the brave police officers that arrested him are even finished their shift, That needs to change immediately. Day 1.
As a former NYPD Lieutenant, I have never seen so much crime affecting our beautiful district, from Dyker Heights till Borough Park. And I will be a staunch supporter of the NYPD.
It’s about time our elected officials start to care about the rights of the innocent crime victims & law abiding citizens instead of the violent criminals in our city & state.
What values do you share with the Jewish community?
We all need to be able to practice our religion in our own chosen ways. There are a lot of religious people of all different faiths in my district, as well as non-religious people, and we need to work together and find ways to peacefully coexist and respect each other’s beliefs.
Vito LaBella is the Republican candidate running for NYS Senate District 17.
The district covers Dyker Heights neighborhood, As well as a large portion of both Jewish Borough Park & Flatbush.
Our NYS district 17 Senator is currently Simcha Felder, But due to the recent Redistricting Maps by NYS, The center of Borough Park/Flatbush is now district 22 which Felder is running for, and the new District 17 now covers the outskirts of Borough Park/Flatbush (about 25% of the Jewish Community).
