Following bomb threats, de Blasio & Cuomo raise hate crime reward to $20,000

HATE hot line; stepped up security at schools, day care centers

March 10, 2017 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Police at the scene after a bomb threat at the Jewish Children's Museum in Brooklyn on Thursday. Photo by Edwin J. Torres/ Mayoral Photo Office.

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Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced jointly on Friday that the city and state would be throwing their resources together to offer a $20,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction for a hate crime.

New York State’s current hate crime reward is $5,000.

The increased amount follows a doubling of reported hate crimes and anti-Semitism in New York City, the state and across the nation, including a bomb threat on Thursday at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn, and at the Anti-Defamation League in Manhattan last Tuesday.

De Blasio said the threats directed at children were particularly disturbing.

“As New Yorkers, we stand united in the face of cowardly tactics designed to frighten, disrupt and divide us,” he said in a statement.

Cuomo said he is directing the New York State Police to coordinate with federal and local law enforcement to investigate the threat.

Anti-Semitic hate crimes in NYC have increased faster than other hate crimes. While hate crimes overall are up nearly 115 percent, anti-Semitic crimes have spiked nearly 200 percent, according to the city.

More than 100 alleged hate crimes have been reported in NYC since the beginning of 2017. The number of incidents reported outside of the city in November and December of 2016 also doubled.

HATE hot line, boosted investigations

The city and state have taken a series of recent actions to combat the rise in bias incidents.

New York State has established a toll-free hotline — 888-392-3644 — which operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. People may also text “HATE” to 81336.

In the city, residents may also call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

The city has increased the size of the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force to investigate the bomb threats. In addition, neighborhood coordination officers and individual precinct commanding officers are visiting community centers and cultural institutions with greater frequency to determine if and where additional security resources are required.

Security cameras will be added and upgraded to select locations, the city said.

In November, Cuomo created a State Police Hate Crimes Unit to investigate and offer assistance to other law enforcement agencies. This month, the governor created a $25 million grant program to boost security at schools and day care centers at risk of hate crimes because of their ideology.

Last week, more than 120 members of state, county, and local law enforcement agencies completed New York State Hate Crimes Investigation School at the State Police Academy in Albany.