By: Don Driggers

A Long Island state assemblyman says he was cut off during a heated Albany hearing after attempting to question Mayor Zohran Mamdani about rising antisemitism in New York City — an incident the NY Post first reported.

Assemblyman Ari Brown, an Orthodox Republican representing parts of Nassau County, told The Post that fellow lawmakers moved to silence him when he tried to use his allotted speaking time to confront the mayor over what he described as a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents during Mamdani’s first month in office.

According to Brown, reported first by the NY Post, he intended to question Mamdani about a reported 182% surge in antisemitic incidents and to press him on his refusal to “unequivocally condemn” the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” which critics argue promotes violence against Jews.

Before Brown could complete his line of questioning, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, a Democrat from Mount Vernon, interrupted him during the budget hearing. Pretlow warned Brown not to continue, reminding him the session was focused on fiscal matters and urging him to “have respect for our mayor.” Shortly afterward, Brown’s microphone was cut and his speaking time ended.

Brown described the moment as intimidation rather than debate. As the NY Post first reported, he accused colleagues of deliberately shutting him down to avoid addressing antisemitism directly. Brown, who says he is the first yarmulke-wearing Republican elected to state office in New York, argued that the move sends a troubling signal about open discourse in the Legislature.

He further claimed that some Democratic lawmakers fear primary challenges from the left and therefore avoid taking positions that could be viewed as insufficiently progressive. Brown characterized certain members as “pure communists” and suggested that political pressure from groups aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America influences how debates unfold in Albany.

During his remarks to The Post, Brown invoked former President Ronald Reagan, citing Reagan’s warning that communism depends on enforced obedience. Brown argued that cutting off a microphone in a legislative hearing rather than allowing questions to be answered reflects a broader culture of silencing dissent.

The controversy also drew a reaction from upstate Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, who criticized what she described as a “power grab” by New York Democrats. In a post on X, Stefanik said elected officials conducting oversight on behalf of their constituents should not be prevented from asking questions about antisemitism or city policy. She accused Democratic lawmakers of shutting down legitimate inquiry and warned against what she called “single party Socialist rule” in the state.

Neither Pretlow nor Mayor Mamdani responded to requests for comment, according to the NY Post’s initial report.

The exchange underscores ongoing political tensions in Albany and New York City, particularly as debates over public safety, free speech and rising hate incidents continue to intensify.