Anti-Semitic incidents shock Gravesend, Bay Ridge officials
Two shocking anti-Semitic incidents that took place the same day have police and officials searching for answers. On May 24, a constituent contacted Councilmember Mark Treyger’s district office in Gravesend to report that a swastika had been carved into the sidewalk at the corner of McDonald Avenue and Avenue W. That same day, four swastikas were discovered painted on the 69th Street Pier in Bay Ridge, officials said.
Treyger (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-parts of Bensonhurst), who worked with city agencies to have the swastika quickly removed, denounced the anti-Semitic act of vandalism.
“As the grandson of Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans, I take incidents like this extremely seriously,” Treyger said in a statement. “This type of act is not one to be taken lightly, especially at a time when our city works to be an inclusive safe haven for people of all backgrounds and denominations. Symbols of bigotry and hate have no place anywhere in our community, and I thank the Department of Transportation for acting quickly to remove the symbol.”