WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY (March 28, 2026) — Judah Holstein, Majority Leader and Legislator for the 10th District, has called on Governor Kathy Hochul to establish 25-foot buffer zones around religious institutions throughout New York State.
In a letter addressed to Governor Hochul, Holstein highlighted recent protests outside two synagogues in his district (Young Israel New Rochelle, Young Israel Scarsdale), which have caused distress among attendees. He argues that these buffer zones are necessary to ensure safe and secure access to houses of worship.
Holstein referenced similar protections enacted in Westchester around reproductive health care facilities, supported by the NYCLU, to balance access and free speech. He believes the same principles should apply to religious institutions.
“This bill does not prohibit protest. It sets a reasonable, narrowly tailored boundary so that exercising one right does not interfere with another,” Holstein wrote, citing support from free speech advocates for content-neutral restrictions.
Holstein emphasized the importance of acting promptly to prevent intimidation at houses of worship and to protect the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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