A Muslim nonprofit with robust ties to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani was awarded $85,000 in taxpayer dough via the Metropolis Council – regardless of coming underneath hearth in January for internet hosting a Brooklyn fundraiser that includes a twisted array of trinkets selling Hamas and different terror teams.
The Muslim American Society of Brooklyn and Staten Island obtained $70,000 in Council “discretionary funds” from Democrat Kayla Santosuosso, who represents Bay Ridge and elements of southern Brooklyn. The remaining $15,000 in political pork was dished out by Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn), whose district consists of Pink Hook and Sundown Park.
The funds have been awarded regardless of Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin expressing shock in January upon studying the terrorist swag was being peddled by the nonprofit that beforehand obtained $265,000 in Council funds over three years underneath her predecessor, ex-Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Menin, the Council’s first Jewish speaker, informed The Publish on the time she would block $80,000 in funds that had but to be paid out to the MAS pending an investigation by metropolis attorneys – and doubtlessly future funding for the nonprofit.
Council spokesman Yoav Gonen stated the legislative physique’s Workplace of the Common Counsel performed an investigation and “discovered no affiliation” between the nonprofit and the seller “that offered the controversial merchandise,” including that MAS ended its relationship with vendor Thrift For Gaza.
“The nonprofit’s funding was restored after its management dedicated in writing to enhanced screening and prevention protocols for all future distributors utilizing its house,” he stated.
Councilwoman and staunch Zionist Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) stated “particular person members get to determine what teams get their discretionary {dollars}, however funding nonprofits that seem to flat out help designated terrorist organizations and unfold radical, Jew-hating propaganda is way past the pale and doubtlessly unlawful.”
“And if this was some type of an alleged hiccup, did MAS apologize and condemn Hamas? No,” she added.
“These members should clarify to the general public why their taxpayer {dollars} must be given to America-hating jihadis, relatively than so many different teams who’ve a professional goal and precise wants.”
Each Santosuosso and Avilés symbolize neighborhoods with massive Muslim populations.
The brand new funding is earmarked for neighborhood security, instructional, youth-mentoring, cultural, job-training and different packages in each pols’ districts, in line with the Council’s expense price range for member pet tasks for the fiscal 12 months that started Wednesday.
Santosuosso is the previous deputy director of the Bay Ridge-based Arab American Affiliation of New York, which obtained $124,500 in Council pork this fiscal 12 months — together with $5,000 via Santosuosso’s pot of funds.
In the course of the MAS New York chapter’s Jan. 18 support-Sudan occasion at its Brooklyn youth middle, distributors peddled keychains, stickers, pins and different tchotchkes supporting Hamas, Hezbollah and the Widespread Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine.
Different objects on the occasion, known as Thrift4Sudan, featured reverential photos of late terrorist leaders Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah and Yahya Sinwar of Hamas, and a masked determine resembling the late Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida.
Merchandise additionally sported terror-group logos or immediately known as for the destruction of Israel, with slogans like “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv” and “Loss of life to the IDF,” The Occasions of Israel reported.
MAS’ New York management consists of infamous pro-Hamas activist Abdullah Akl, who grew up attending its Brooklyn youth middle on Bathtub Avenue and can be an organizer for the unconventional, anti-Israel group Inside Our Lifetime.
MAS’ affect over metropolis politics morphed following the November election of socialist Mamdani as NYC’s first Muslim mayor.
MAS-NY’s government director Sherif Ahmed and Hannah Towfeik, political director at MAS’ youth middle, have been a part of Mamdani’s transition group that helped fill key Metropolis Corridor posts.
