City Council members on April 11 unanimously adopted a resolution that denounces and condemns all types of racism and bigotry, including an “alarming” rise in antisemitism.
The resolution was requested by Mayor Scott Singer, who is Jewish. He cited a March report by the Anti-Defamation League that said 3,697 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism targeting Jews were reported to the ADL in 2022, the highest number of antisemitic incidents since the league began tracking them in 1979 and a 36% increase from 2021.
As of last year, more than 1,000 governments across the country, including those of Florida and 29 other states, had passed similar resolutions, he said.
“It was important to lend our voice here, particularly as we see antisemitism coming closer to home,” Singer said. “It is always a great opportunity to decry bigotry and hate.”
Antisemitic flyers have been thrown on driveways in Boca Raton several times in the last year.
Singer’s fellow council members all spoke in favor of the resolution, as did Lisa Beers, president of the American Jewish Committee board of directors.
“Thank you for standing up for antisemitism,” she said.
During a March 31 organizational meeting after Singer, Fran Nachlas and Marc Wigder won council terms without opposition, council members unanimously agreed on how to divvy up responsibilities.
Monica Mayotte was chosen as deputy mayor, replacing Andrea O’Rourke, who was term limited from seeking office again.
Wigder is now chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency and Nachlas is vice chair.
Yvette Drucker and Nachlas are the council’s representatives on the county Transportation Planning Agency and Drucker is the city’s delegate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities.
— Mary Hladky
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