Bill de Blasio & Malcolm Hoenlein TONIGHT

Tonight – At his prime time debut, Dov Hikind will be hosting "The Dov Hikind Show" live from Jerusalem. Scheduled guests include NYC Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio as well as Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

"The Dov Hikind Show" 7pm on 620 AM, WSNR.

DOLAN SUPPORTS HIKIND'S BID TO REMOVE CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

August 7, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)

DOLAN SUPPORTS HIKIND'S BID TO REMOVE CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY

CALLS CHILDREN’S EASY ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHY
‘SHOCKING AND REGRETTABLE’

Archbishop Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan is supporting Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) in a quest to remove children’s access to pornographic materials in New York City Libraries.

Last month, Assemblyman Hikind and a coalition of concerned parents expressed their shock and indignation at learning that even the smallest children can easily obtain inappropriate materials that no retailer would ever allow a child to hold. In a press conference, Hikind noted that he was not asking for censorship of any books for adults who wanted them. “The issue is removing these books from the ready access of children,” he said.

Yesterday, the Archbishop added his voice to the issue, calling the matter shocking and regrettable “how easily children are able to attain such pornography.”

“I have heard back from the various heads of the New York City Libraries,” said Hikind, “and I am disappointed that they do not seem to see the problem. Rather than take responsibility and address this, they cite the mission of statement of the American Library Association which states, in part, ‘Libraries should not limit the selection and development of library resources simply because minors will have access to them.’ Again—we are not asking them to limit their collection or censor their materials—just to remove it from the reach of children!”

Following complaints by constituents, Assemblyman Hikind’s staff surveyed numerous branches of the public library in Brooklyn where they found such inappropriate titles as Best Gay Erotica, Lux’s Practical Erotica Adventure, and Girls Who Score: Hot Lesbian Erotica, all clearly within reach of small children.

Under the library’s current system, children can check out any library book once they are 13 years of age—or even younger if parents did not realize such material was available when library cards were created for their children. Books can also be automatically checked out without the likelihood of any interaction with an adult librarian.

“Because of the way fiction books are placed on library shelves, inappropriate books often end up on the very bottom shelves, clearly within reach of the smallest children,” said Hikind. “This kind of content would never be allowed in schools nor placed within a child’s reach by retailers. Certainly our public libraries can do more to keep such books out of the reach of unsuspecting children.”

Assemblyman Hikind has also called on Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Dr. Merryl Tisch, Chancellor of the Board of Regents; and Dennis Walcott, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, to address this issue.

Even small children have easy access to pornographic books at Brooklyn Public Library branches.

HIKIND DEMANDS DEPT. OF EDUCATION PULL PERMIT FROM NOISY GROUP AT ERASMUS FIELD

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

August 5, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release718-853-9616 (office)

HIKIND DEMANDS DEPT. OF EDUCATION PULL PERMIT FROM NOISY GROUP AT ERASMUS FIELD

NOISE DISRUPTS QUIET COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY BOARD 12 EXPRESSES OUTRAGE

Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has called on Chancellor Dennis Walcott of the Department of Education to rescind a permit granted to a group at Erasmus Field who are disturbing local community members until all hours of the morning. The park—which is surrounded by an otherwise quiet, residential community—sports Fieldturf-style artificial grass with markings for baseball, football, and soccer.

Without consideration for the families that would be disturbed by its action, the D.O.E. granted a park permit to the International United Soccer League allowing them to play soccer until midnight, nearly every night, until September 1. The result: Parents are having difficult times putting children to bed. Some complain that their small children have been awoken in a panic by the loud cheers of crowds reacting to soccer games in the nearby park. As if a midnight curfew weren’t late enough, the group tends to stay at the park for many hours after their permitted activities have expired. Residents who live blocks away are disturbed—how much the more so those who live close by.

“It’s outrageous!” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind. “Why would the D.O.E. be so insensitive as to grant a permit to any group until midnight in this park? They had no right to do this without first consulting with the community. Community Board 12 was never contacted. This neighborhood is made of families with small children who can clearly hear this noise not only at their children’s bedtimes but also long, long into the night and even the morning. The D.O.E. made a mistake and let this group run amok. It’s shameful.”

Assemblyman Hikind said his office has received numerous complaints from residents and he has reached out to the D.O.E. on behalf of the community. He is insisting that the “midnight permit” that is allowing the community families to be disturbed be pulled immediately and that no further permits beyond 9 pm be issued.

A letter to Chancellor Walcott from Yiddel Perelstein, Chairman of Community Board 12, and Wolf Sender, District Manager of CB 12, also expressed outrage at the situation at Erasmus Field.

Erasmus Field is located at 1497 McDonald Avenue.

Assemblyman Hikind stands in front of Erasmus Field.

Erasmus Field sits right in the middle of a residential community.

This Saturday Night: Bill Thompson

NYC Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson will join me this Saturday night on "The Dov Hikind Show." My other special guest is Effie Zuroff, Director of the Simon Weisenthal Center in Jerusalem. Don't miss it!

SANITY RULES: HIKIND DELIGHTED BY COURT’S DECISION TO ALLOW BIG GULPS

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

July 30, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                         For Immediate Release

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

SANITY RULES: HIKIND DELIGHTED BY COURT’S DECISION TO ALLOW BIG GULPS

ASKS BLOOMBERG NOT TO GO TO SUPREME COURT

“Sanity rules,” said Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn) reacting to an appeals court ruling today that New York City's Board of Health had exceeded its authority and acted unconstitutionally in trying to limit the size of soft drinks served in city restaurants. In a unanimous opinion, the four-judge panel of the State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division said the Board of Health acted too much like a legislature when it created the limit, which would have stopped sales of non-diet soda and other sugar-laden beverages in containers bigger than 16 ounces. The judges wrote that while the board had the power to ban "inherently harmful" foodstuffs from being served to the public, sweetened beverages didn't fall into that category.

“I’m very interested in health,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “I just don’t believe we need government regulating the size of the sodas people can purchase. That’s going a wee bit too far. I hope the mayor let’s this go now.”

ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOV HIKIND ENDORSES KEN THOMPSON FOR BROOKLYN DISTRICT ATTORNEY

I am proud to endorse Ken Thompson because he is the best choice for the Jewish community and all the people of Brooklyn to be our next District Attorney. It's time for a change. As a prosecutor and attorney in private practice, Ken has a proven track record of fighting for one standard of justice. Ken is a true friend to our community who honors the cultures that make Brooklyn great -- I have no doubt that he will be an outstanding District Attorney.

In recent days, Thompson has also won the support of former candidate Abe George and New York City's largest labor union, 1199/SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, which represents 220,000 members in New York City and over 100,000 members and retirees in Brooklyn alone.

The son of one of the first female NYPD officers to patrol the city, Ken Thompson has fought to ensure equal justice and equal protection for everyone throughout his career. As a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, he investigated and prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases. He was part of the legal team that delivered justice for Abner Louima, who suffered some of the most horrific acts of police brutality ever committed in the history of New York City. In private practice, Ken has stood up for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and employment discrimination to ensure that their voices were not drowned out by the wealth or political connections of their abusers. 

For more information on Ken's campaign, visit: www.KenThompson4DA.com

HIKIND CHARGES CREDIT-CARD COMPANIES WITH AIDING AND ABETTING HATE GROUPS, HOLOCAUST DENIERS

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

July 30, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                         For Immediate Release

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

HIKIND CHARGES CREDIT-CARD COMPANIES WITH AIDING AND ABETTING HATE GROUPS, HOLOCAUST DENIERS

INSISTS AMEX/VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER/PAYPAL PULL SUPPORT FROM PROPAGANDISTS

HIKIND TO CREDIT CARD COMPANIES: “STOP PARTNERING WITH HATE GROUPS”

Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is calling on the major credit card companies to withdraw their support from numerous hate groups operating in the United States and abroad. It was discovered that eight Holocaust denial organizations are currently selling racist, anti-Semitic and Holocaust Denial products (books, videos) via websites through credit card sales.

“Unfortunately, it is no longer shocking in this day and age to find those who deny the Holocaust—those who espouse openly racist, hateful ideologies,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “What is shocking is to find prestigious credit card companies doing business with them and enabling these groups to raise money to spread their hateful messages.”

The Holocaust Denial organizations offering credit card sales are:

- Institute for Historical Review (Amex, Visa, MC, Discover)
- Noontide Press (Amex, Visa, MC, Discover)
- Inconvenient History (Visa, MC)
- Barnes Review/Foundation for Economic Liberty (Amex, Visa, MC, Discover)
- Irving Books/Focal Point Press (Amex, Visa, MC, Discover, Paypal)
- The International Conspiratological Association (Amex, Visa, MC, Discover, Paypal)
- Castle Hill Publishers and CODAH (Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust) (Visa, MC)

Some of the many anti-Semitic and Holocaust-denial books sold by these organizations include Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, The ‘Gas Chambers’ of Dachau, Mauthausen and Hartheim, which states that “none of these facilities were ever used, or could have been used, as lethal ‘gas chambers’” and The Rudolf Report which states, “The alleged gas chambers of Auschwitz could not have existed.”

“As someone whose mother went to Auschwitz while her own mother went to the gas chambers, I find it immoral that respected banking institutions can partner with these hate groups,” said Assemblyman Hikind. Hikind has reached out to AmEx, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Financial Services and Paypal asking them to cease their business relationships with these and other hate groups, and to better monitor who they do business with.

In 2009, Assemblyman Hikind brought attention to the relationship between Holocaust denier David Irving and American Express when the Assemblyman discovered that Irving was accepting AmEx payments for tickets to his ongoing book tour. Assemblyman Hikind drafted a letter urging the company to “rescind Mr. Irving's merchant agreement” and one dozen of the Assemblyman’s fellow elected officials also signed the letter. American Express complied and Hikind applauded the company for “doing the right thing."

Anthony Weiner & Jeff Jacoby on The Dov Hikind Show

Join us this Saturday evening at 11:00 pm -- my special guests will be mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner and nationally acclaimed Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby.

HIKIND DEMANDS LIBRARIES REMOVE CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

NEWS FROM
ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

July 10, 2013

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release
718-853-9616 (office)
 

HIKIND DEMANDS LIBRARIES REMOVE CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is insisting that New York City Public Libraries take more responsibility in preventing children from accessing pornographic materials currently found throughout city branches. In a press conference this morning, the Assemblyman will be joined by concerned community parents who were shocked to learn that even the smallest children can easily obtain inappropriate materials that no retailer would ever allow a child to hold.

“I am not asking for censorship of any books for adults who want them,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “The issue is removing such books from the ready access of children. I am certain that the overwhelming majority—if not unanimity—of parents in our city would be appalled to find such books readily available to their children.”

Following complaints by constituents, Assemblyman Hikind’s staff surveyed numerous branches of the public library in Brooklyn where they found such inappropriate titles as Best Gay Erotica, Lux’s Practical Erotica Adventure, and Girls Who Score: Hot Lesbian Erotica, all clearly within reach of small children.

Under the library’s current system, children can check out any library book once they are 13 years of age—or even younger if parents did not realize such material was available when library cards were created for their children. Books can also be automatically checked out without the likelihood of any interaction with an adult librarian.

“Because of the way fiction books are placed on library shelves, inappropriate books often end up on the very bottom shelves, clearly within reach of the smallest children,” said Hikind. “This kind of content would never be allowed in schools nor placed within a child’s reach by retailers. Certainly our public libraries can do more to keep such books out of the reach of unsuspecting children.”

In a letter to the heads of New York City’s Public Libraries, the Assemblyman asked for immediate action to better protect the city’s children from inappropriate books their parents would never want them to see, let alone expect to find in the public library within easy reach of a child.