58th Annual Meeting Strengthens Critical City-Community Partnerships for a Safe and Seamless Holiday

Edited by: TJVNews.com

As the borough prepares for the Passover holiday, the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) of Staten Island convened its 58th Annual Pre-Passover Security, Sanitation, and Community Briefing. This pivotal meeting, held with the explicit purpose of finalizing safety and logistics, brought together the highest ranks of New York City’s uniformed services and key community leadership.

The delegation was welcomed by COJO officials and a formidable group of community and religious leaders. Presiding over the critical security coordination were the co-chairs of the COJO Security Committee, Ari Weiss, Coordinator of Staten Island Shomrim, and Brian Vaughan, Regional Security Director for Staten Island/Manhattan at the Community Security Initiative (CSI), a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY).

High-Ranking Borough and Citywide Officials in Attendance

Demonstrating the city’s profound commitment to the Staten Island Jewish community, the meeting was attended by:

Chief Melissa Eger, NYPD Staten Island Borough Commander

Deputy Commissioner Aldin Foster, NYPD Community Affairs

Chief Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer, NYPD Community Affairs Bureau

Chief David Simms, FDNY Staten Island Borough Commander

Chief Chris Hancock, Staten Island DSNY Borough Commander

Chief Terence Hurson, Patrol Borough Staten Island, Executive Officer

Lt. Yesina Gomez, Commanding Officer, Community Affairs Staten Island Patrol Borough

Inspector Ryan Russel, Commanding Officer, District 9, NYS MTA Police

Prominent Rabbis and spiritual leaders, including Rabbi Yaakov Lehrfield of Young Israel of Staten Island and Rabbi Aharon of Aur Torah Sephardic Minyan, were present to ensure religious observances were integrated into the city’s strategic plans.

A Unified Front for the Community

The briefing addressed the intricate intersection of religious requirements and urban logistical needs, specifically focusing on enhanced security patrols, fire safety protocols for the traditional Biur Chametz (bread burning), and specialized sanitation schedules to handle pre-holiday waste.

Mendy Mirocznik, President of COJO Staten Island, emphasized the importance of this long-standing collaboration:

“For 58 years, this briefing has served as the vital heartbeat of our Passover preparations. Having Chief Eger, Chief Simms, and Chief Hancock at the table together with our Rabbis and security co-chairs allows us to create a unified shield of safety and support for our residents. Our partnership ensures that when our families gather for the Seder, they can do so with peace of mind, knowing that the NYPD, FDNY, and DSNY are working hand-in-hand with COJO to protect our community and keep our streets clean.”

Ari Weiss, COJO Security Committee Co-Chair, and Brian Vaughan, Regional Security Director for CSI/JCRC-NY, added that the seamless coordination between professional law enforcement and community-based volunteer safety patrols like Shomrim is a model for community-police relations.

About COJO Staten Island: The Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO) serves as the central coordinating and umbrella organization for the Staten Island Jewish community, working to enhance Jewish life, provide social services, and represent communal interests.