Exclusive | Rep. Ritchie Torres demands investigation of socialist-leaning Park Slope Food Co-op over alleged anti-Israel hate
The Park Slope Food Co-op is cooking up anti-Israel hate — and must be investigated by the city and state, a Bronx congressman urged this week.Rep.Ritchie Torres fired off letters Friday to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Gov.
Kathy Hochul and other city and state honchos demanding the state Division of Human Rights and NYC Commission on Human Rights probe allegations of “an insidious pattern of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination” against Jews — or anyone who is pro-Israel at the crunchy Brooklyn co-op.“Anti-discrimination laws must be rigorously and impartially enforced — without exception,” the Bronx Democrat wrote Friday.The socialist-leaning Union Street institution has long been locked in a holy war over Middle East politics, highlighted by members in 2012 voting down joining an international boycott of Israel products during a contentious meeting that became ripe for mockery by Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.”But in the wake of Hamas’ Oct.
7, 2023 terror attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, members who support the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement have seized control of the co-op’s governance, according to Torres and members sympathetic to Israel.“The cumulative effect is the creation of a hostile environment for Jews, particularly those who affirm a connection to the Jewish homeland,” wrote Torres, who is mulling a run a run for governor.Zara Watkins, a co-op member who opposes the BDS movement, said she was menaced and cursed at last Halloween for wearing a costume paying tribute to the Israeli-made product Sabra hummus.One man “seething with rage” repeatedly circled her while “muttering” under his breath, and another dropped an F-bomb and gave her the finger over her costume, she recalled.“It really shook me up,” said the lawyer, adding her complaints to the co-op’s “dispute resolution committee” were blown off.Jewish co-op member Ramon Maislen said he tried to t...