Local officials are offering mixed reactions to today’s U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-New York) says the state is taking “precautionary steps to protect New Yorkers. State Police are increasing their presence at religious, diplomatic, and cultural sites statewide in coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.” She added in a statement that ahead of the Jewish holiday of Purim, “State Police remain alert and have already begun outreach to religious organizations to offer support.”
There have been no specific, credible threats to New York identified, Hochul said.
New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, is critical of the attacks, writing on social media that they “mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this.” He added, “They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-Hudson Valley) backs the military action. “President Trump’s decision to strike Iran, after months of negotiations over its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs, is just,” he wrote on X. “The Ayatollah and his regime have been the single greatest state sponsor of terrorism and the biggest impediment to peace and stability in the region.”
Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-New Jersey) issued a statement, saying in part “The safety and security of New Jerseyans is my number one responsibility. As a former Naval officer and member of the House Armed Services Committee in Congress, I know how seriously we must take any decision to use military force.” Sherrill said her office is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, and says there is no known threat to New Jersey.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) posted a scathing critique of U.S. involvement. “In America, we don’t allow one doddering, self obsessed old man to waste our money on a dangerous, disastrous overseas war,” Murphy wrote alongside a video he posted on social media.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) posted that “The United States, the Middle East and the world will be a safer and more peaceful place when the oppressive and murderous Iranian regime is eliminated.”
Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R- Long Island) also backed the strikes in an online post. “The Iranian regime is the world’s top state sponsor of terrorism and has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans. The regime has plotted to assassinate President Trump, financed and executed terrorist attacks across the globe, and targeted dissidents on U.S. soil. I’m grateful for our service-members who are keeping our country safe.”
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