Wednesday, November 27, 2013

HIKIND OUTRAGED AT MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE IN SHOMRIM SHOOTING CASE



NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND


November 27, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
973-945-4903 (cell)


HIKIND OUTRAGED AT MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE IN SHOMRIM SHOOTING CASE

‘THE SHOMRIM WERE PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN’

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is outraged at today’s decision clearing David Flores of all serious charges after Flores shot four Shomrim members in 2010. Flores was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal use of a fire arm, among other charges but only found guilty of weapon possession.

“It’s beyond comprehension,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Four unarmed people shot and hospitalized. How was this sick individual not found guilty? How could the DA possible lose this case? Now Flores is out and capable of creating more mayhem? This is our justice system upside down. It’s insane!”

Assemblyman Hikind visited the individuals who were shot while they were hospitalized and praised their efforts in attempting to safeguard the community.

“The Shomrim were protecting our children by trying to prevent this sick animal from doing further harm. What kind of message does 'not guilty' send?"

David Flores, then 35-years-old, had been identified by the Shomrim on Sept. 4, 2011, as acting indecently in front of young children—but when approached by four Shomrim members, Flores pulled a gun and shot at them. Avrohom Kaztow, Motty Pearl, Motty Brauner and Yoily Klein were injured. Flores claimed self-defense.

Flores had nine prior arrests and had previously pled guilty to public lewdness.


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Discussing the 'Knockout' Attacks Tonight on 'On the Record with Greta Van Susteren'

The knockout attacks are serious and must be addressed. I'll be doing that tonight at 7:30pm on "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" on Fox.

Friday, November 22, 2013

FOUR ARRESTS IN ‘KNOCKOUT’ ASSAULTS; HIKIND PRAISES SWIFT POLICE ACTION

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND


November 22, 2013
Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release


718-853-9616 (office)
973-945-4903 (cell)

FOUR ARRESTS IN ‘KNOCKOUT’ ASSAULTS;
HIKIND PRAISES SWIFT POLICE ACTION

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) had the highest praise for Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Commander Michael Deddo of the 66 Precinct, and the community Shomrim following four swift arrests early this morning.

A Jewish man walking on 18th Avenue in Boro Park was assaulted by a gang of four men at approximately 2:30 AM. The four were quickly apprehended and taken into police custody.
All four men have previous police records.

“I commend the excellent police work that we saw this morning,” said Assemblyman Hikind who has been vocal in bringing attention to the rash of ‘Knockout’ attacks in his community and throughout the city. Recently, the Assemblyman convinced a 78-year-old woman in Midwood to come forward and report her assault to the police.

“I am grateful that these four thugs are off the streets and am hopeful that they will be treated with the severity of the law. I urge continuing diligence in dealing with this issue.”


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The 'Knockout Game' and Our Community

Tonight on The Dov Hikind Show, Yoni Hikind is our special co-host along with Ethan Finkle, Program Director of Friends Helping Friends. Join us as we discuss the frightening reality of denial, self-awareness and addiction in our community. We'll also be talking about the recent rash of "Knockout" assaults.
 
The Dov Hikind Show 7pm on 620 AM, WSNR.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

HIKIND DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT ‘KNOCKOUT’; 78-YEAR-OLD MIDWOOD WOMAN BECOMES LATEST VICTIM

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND


November 19, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
973-945-4903 (cell)

HIKIND DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT ‘KNOCKOUT’

78-YEAR-OLD MIDWOOD WOMAN
BECOMES LATEST VICTIM

ASSAULT ‘GAME’ TARGETS CHILDREN, ELDERLY ENDANGERING LIVES

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) says that addressing the rash of potentially deadly assaults on innocent victims in Brooklyn is his top concern and should be the police department’s highest priority.

“I just returned from addressing this issue in Crown Heights where this problem has been widespread only to find that an elderly woman in my district had been brutally punched in the head this past weekend (on Shabbos),” said Assemblyman Hikind. “This innocent woman is 78 and she is lucky to still be alive after such a vicious assault. To make matters worse, she was too afraid to even go to the police. I learned of the incident when her son called me to ask for greater police vigilance because this ‘knock-out’ rampage is occurring more and more frequently—not just in Crown Heights but also Midwood and many other neighborhoods.”
Assemblyman Hikind immediately alerted Commander Michael Deddo of the 66th Precinct.
The 78-year-old woman was walking passed Friends Field on East 5th and Avenue L in the afternoon when she was approached by an African-American male who she said was approximately 20 years old. The man said nothing, hit her in the head, and left.

“It is critical that people are aware of what’s happening,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “It is critical that they report any and all occurrences like this to the police immediately. And it is critical that the police make every effort to arrest these cowards and thugs who target the elderly and target children, attacking them for amusement.”


HIKIND DEMANDS CONSUMER AFFAIRS CEASE TARGETING COMMUNITY BUSINESSES WITH PETTY, NUISANCE TICKETS

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND


November 19, 2013
Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
973-945-4903 (cell)

HIKIND DEMANDS CONSUMER AFFAIRS CEASE TARGETING COMMUNITY BUSINESSES WITH PETTY, NUISANCE TICKETS

‘THE CITY NEEDS MONEY,
BUT DON’T BREAK OUR SMALL MERCHANTS TO GET IT.’

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is demanding that the Department of Consumer Affairs cease ticketing small businesses in Boro Park with petty, nuisance tickets. In recent months, community merchants have been inundated with expensive tickets, many of which Assemblyman Hikind believes were unnecessary and meant only to fill a quota.

After receiving numerous complaints from local merchants, Assemblyman Hikind’s staff began canvassing community businesses to find out what has been occurring with Consumer Affairs’ tickets. In one case, a silver merchant was fined $625 for not posting prices on silver items, when it is well known that silver is a commodity and the price of silver fluctuates from day to day. In a second case, a small barber shop was fined for not posting a refund policy. In a third case, an eyewear establishment was fined for not having posted their refund policy in a “conspicuous” location, although it was plain to see that a refund policy had indeed been posted.

“When you read some of these tickets, it’s just ludicrous,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Store owners weren’t even warned about questionable infractions—they were just blindsided with very expensive penalties. Is that fair? Clearly these inspectors were instructed to try to find any and all opportunities to fine these store owners. But that is a tremendous hardship for some of them. How many haircuts does a barbershop have to give to pay one of these fines?”

The number of tickets given out by Consumer Affairs skyrocketed from 10.9 million in 2010 to nearly 24.2 million in 2012.

Earlier this year, Assemblyman Hikind began working with NYC Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio to address this problem. On June 26, Hikind joined de Blasio in demanding the resignation of NYC Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz following the commissioner’s admission that inspectors are “flagged” for writing less than a certain number of tickets. “This is the toughest economy in recent history,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Small businesses in our community are having a hard enough time without the additional expense of petty tickets from Consumer Affairs that are aimed at raising revenue for the city. The DCA should be helping educate businesses on what the laws are and aren’t—they should be there to support these businesses, which are the lifeblood of our community. Instead, these businesses are being shaken down.

“Our merchants are receiving fines for hundreds of dollars and are then compelled to pay them because they are told by the DCA in writing that if they contest the tickets and are found guilty, the penalty will be double the price of a plea bargain. We have long suspected a quota system was in place and in June it became clear that this shake down of small businesses is being mandated from the top. I look forward to working with our new mayor to put an end to this type of extortion.”

Assemblyman Hikind with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio at the Public Advocate’s office on June 26, 2013 denouncing a quota for Consumer Affairs tickets.

Monday, November 18, 2013

HIKIND CALLS ON GERMANY TO PUSH FOR MURDER CHARGES AGAINST ALL NAZI WAR CRIMINALS IN U.S.

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND


November 18, 2013
Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
973-945-4903 (cell)

HIKIND CALLS ON GERMANY TO PUSH FOR MURDER CHARGES AGAINST ALL NAZI WAR CRIMINALS IN U.S.

SEES OPPORTUNITY TO BRING JUSTICE TO ALL NAZIS FOLLOWING GERMAN PROSECUTORS PURSUIT OF MINNESOTA ‘COMMANDANT’  

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is calling on Germany to pursue murder charges against all Nazi War Criminals living illegally in the United States. The Assemblyman’s request followed an announcement by German prosecutors that they are recommending that former Nazi SS commander Michael Karoc—who is living quietly and illegally in Minnesota—be charged with murder.

“This farce has gone on too long,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “These murderers of innocent men, women have lived illegally in this country enjoying the freedoms that they denied others. Why are they still here? Because of a technicality that we can’t deport them because there’s no country that wants them. But the current German government taking responsibility for these Nazis murderers represents an historical opportunity to bring justice and let their victims rest easier.”

This month, which marked the 75th anniversary of the tragedy of Kristallnacht, Assemblyman Hikind launched a campaign to bring the remaining Nazi war criminals in America to justice. Hikind vowed to pursue Nazi war criminals that had been identified by the U.S. Justice Department data—Nazis who had been ordered deported by the U.S. but had never left the country. The Justice Department’s list included Vladas Zajanckauskas in Sutton, Massachusetts; Theodor Szehinskyj in West Chester, Pennsylvania; John Kalymon in Troy, Michigan; and Jakiw Palij in Queens, New York.

On November 10, Assemblyman Hikind led a group of more than 150 yeshiva students and Holocaust survivors to Queens where they protested Palij’s presence  in the U.S. in front of the Nazi’s home as Palij himself looked out of his window upon the crowd. Assemblyman Hikind promised to return, and to travel to and lead similar rallies in front of the homes of the other identified Nazis war criminals.

“We don’t want these murderers living among us—among the descendants of the men, women and children they tortured,” said the Assemblyman. “Their presence here mocks the memory of the tens of thousands they collectively murdered. It is our obligation to remove this evil from among us. And it is only just that today’s German government accept them into Germany so these mass murderers can finally be prosecuted.”

Assemblyman Hikind leads rally in front of the home of Nazi war criminal Jakiw Palij in Queens, NY on Nov. 10. Photo courtesy of Shmuel Lenchersky/VIN News