INBOX: Dear Borough President Reynoso

by Max Azulow

Dear Borough President Reynoso,

I want to begin by acknowledging the important role you hold as Brooklyn Borough President and the responsibility that comes with representing one of the most diverse communities in the country. I respect your commitment to public service and recognize that, like every individual, you are certainly entitled to your personal views, especially on difficult and emotional issues.

That said, in these times, we need our public officials to bring communities together, not take sides in a deeply painful and decades-old international conflict. While you are absolutely entitled to your opinion as an individual, as someone holding significant public office, your words carry real weight and can have consequences here at home.

Your recent statement regarding land sales in the West Bank is deeply concerning because, regardless of intent, this kind of public messaging can inflame tensions, create more hostility, and give legitimacy to hate or even violence against Jewish residents here in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is home to many different communities, including a large Jewish community, and public officials have a responsibility to use language that promotes understanding, safety, and unity rather than division. Peace will not come from public shaming, selective outrage, or one-sided slogans. It will come from dialogue, security, mutual recognition, and a willingness to understand the complexity of this issue.

Respectfully, we expect more from your office than simply echoing Mayor Mamdani’s personal agenda on this issue. Brooklyn deserves independent leadership that rises above one-sided rhetoric and represents all communities fairly, especially during such sensitive times.

We are hopeful, and trust, that moving forward your office will use its important platform to promote unity, safety, and mutual respect among all Brooklyn residents, and that this type of divisive messaging will not continue in the future.

Thank you