Rebecca M Taxman

Chess Coach @ Chess NYC - teach in NYC schools, Rikers Island and NYS Prions. Associate Policy Writer @ Tzedek Association working on Prison policy reform.

[Sydney Altfield @sydneyaltfield]

Interesting - I’m not aware of a "federal school voucher program".

Are you referring to federal tax credit scholarships?

By definition, those aren’t vouchers because they don’t draw from public school funding.

[Sam Berger @SamBergerNY]

As we prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, I was pleased to welcome @GovKathyHochul to Kew Gardens Hills. Our community faces unique challenges, and I appreciate the Governor taking the time to hear directly from our residents & see firsthand the issues we’re working to address.

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

Thank you Gov. Hochul's for committing $70 million to the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program.

"Rosh Hashanah is one of the most meaningful days on the Jewish calendar, but for so many Jewish New Yorkers, that anticipation now comes bundled with real concern about whether their synagogue will be safe enough to gather in. Security has become an unavoidable part of preparing for the holidays," said Rebecca Taxman, Political Director of Teach NYS. "Today's briefing showed the importance of law enforcement and Jewish organizations planning together. Increased patrols matter, but so does making sure community leaders know who to call, what to expect and how to respond if a concern arises."

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

This new federal program is the silver bullet to create equity in education for NY students in ALL schools. To learn the facts please read @sydneyaltfield’s piece highlighting the advantages this program will have for public school children across the state.

[Sydney Altfield @sydneyaltfield]

Public education has always been one of America’s boldest ideas.

Nothing about the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program changes that.

Read my latest in @amNewYork .

https://t.co/M4RzHFezH8

[Sydney Altfield @sydneyaltfield]

Very interesting as that is exactly what the Federal Scholarship Program would support with ZERO cost to the NY state budget.

[Sydney Altfield @sydneyaltfield]

We should all be fighting for EVERY child to succeed - regardless of their devotion to their faith or commitment to a faith-based education.

It’s a shame others don’t see it that way.

[Sydney Altfield @sydneyaltfield]

📢A Queens public school parent,: Lihua Li, supports the scholarship initiative to help pay for after-school programs.

“I work full-time, and my workday often ends later than my younger son’s school day. Without a safe, affordable after-school program, I simply would not have a reliable place for him to go until I can pick him up,” Li said.

[Sydney Altfield @sydneyaltfield]

Join us in thanking @GovKathyHochul for her leadership and urge her to opt-in immediately following the release of the regs!

Designed to benefit all students no matter where they attend school, the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program helps fund

✅tutoring
✅special education services
✅enrichment programs
✅transportation
✅school supplies
✅and more

because every student deserves the educational support they need to succeed.

Learn more: https://t.co/fdM1l6GwBx

[Elizabeth Kim @lizkimtweets]

“What might seem to be an effective comm strategy that could generate tons of clicks and views might not be a good governing strategy, because it has day-to-day implications on the people that you serve and represent,” Mark Treyger, of Jewish Community Relations Council says.

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

We’re calling yesterday’s stabbings exactly what they are: a hate crime targeting a Jewish man and an Asian man in our own city.

Proud to represent @TeachNYS today alongside elected officials and community leaders in condemning this violence on the Upper West Side.

New Yorkers should not have to live behind barriers or spend millions on security simply to pray, gather, and live safely.

Security is necessary, but fear cannot become our new normal. New York can and must do better—and we will.

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

#NewProfilePic

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

@YLefkowitz @BillAckman It’s all white people. I didn’t see one person of color in that mosaic.

[John Spencer @SpencerGuard]

Where are the international calls for Hamas to stop using hospitals for military purposes, for Hamas to stop endangering the hospitals, their staff and patients?

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

#NewProfilePic

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

@StopAntisemites This isn’t the shooter. Please report honestly. This doesn’t help the Jews. Please do your due diligence

[Israel Foreign Ministry @IsraelMFA]

This is what a modern blood libel looks like:

A sick child. A hijacked photo. A lie that spreads faster than truth.

His name is Osama al-Raqab. He has cystic fibrosis, a serious genetic illness.

He’s been in Italy receiving treatment since June 12. Israel enabled his medical transfer from Gaza.

But that didn’t stop media outlets from weaponizing his image NOT to tell his story, but in order to smear Israel.

Because when it comes to Israel, facts are optional.

Hate always finds a headline.

[Bill Ackman @BillAckman]

Listen to this and tell me WTF is going on?

[Bill Ackman @BillAckman]

In summary, as can be gleaned by the responses to my post:
https://t.co/uy9Q961GDb

those opposed to America assisting Israel in destroying Iran’s nuclear reactors make the following arguments:

“It’s not our problem. We shouldn’t put U.S. lives at risk for Israel’s war. It risks dragging us into another war like the Great War on Terror. It is a waste of taxpayer money. And one shouldn’t take Bill’s advice because he is Jewish and supports Israel.”

In response to the above, I thought it would be helpful to make a purely America First argument for our assisting Israel in destroying Iran’s nuclear capability.

Iran’s Principal Target is the United States as the ‘Great Satan’

Iran has made it entirely clear that Israel is not their only target. The Iranian leadership has for decades continually called not only for “Death to Israel,” but also for “Death to America” as the “Great Satan.” Iranian sponsorship of terror in the U.S. and its continued progress in its ballistic missile program create serious, longer-term threats to our safety and security at home and abroad.

Low Energy Costs are Threatened by a Nuclear Capable Iran

Putting aside the direct risks to our homeland, a nuclear Iran would threaten global energy production and increase energy costs in America with Iran’s ability to strike Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the other Gulf states, and its ability to control and interfere with shipping in the Middle East. So even if you don’t care about Israel and you only care about the price of gas at the pump, you don’t want Iran to have the nuke.

Iran Denuded of Its Nuclear Threat Sets up the Potential for a More Peaceful Middle East and Reduces Risks to Civilians

A denuclearized Iran and the destruction of the IRGC leadership, which is well underway as I write this post, create the potential for a much more peaceful Middle East as Iran has been the largest sponsor of terror in the Middle East with its funding of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

For example, without Iran’s support, Hamas would not have been emboldened to invade Israel on October 7th, and Israel would not have been forced to respond to extirpate Hamas, with the collateral damage to civilians created by a terrorist group embedded in tunnels under schools, hospitals, and homes.

By limiting the funding for and terrorist acts of Hamas and other Iranian proxies, you also minimize the risk to civilians of the inevitable responses to these terrorist acts.

Iran’s Proxies in the Region Have Caused Shipping Costs and Global Risk Premiums to Rise

The Houthis have attacked more than 100 ships as well as our bases in Iraq and Syria, killing sailors and harming our military personnel while massively disrupting trade. The result has been substantially increased shipping costs, which are ultimately borne by U.S. businesses and consumers.

Our military and navy have recently responded to these attacks at considerable economic cost to our country and risk to our military. Eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat and the IRGC’s funding of the Houthis will dramatically reduce these costs and risks.

Massive Peace Dividends for the United States (and the World) Will Emerge Without the Iranian Threat

Reducing the funding for Iran’s proxies in the region creates the potential for further progress with the Abraham Accords, setting up the region for greater economic progress and peace. A more peaceful Middle East will become an even greater contributor to the global economy and a massive source of business for U.S. companies and their employees as Saudi, Qatar, and the other Gulf States modernize and diversify their economies, a peace dividend that the U.S. is uniquely positioned to cash.

The Risk and Cost to the U.S. Assisting Israel in Destroying Iran’s Nuclear Capability is Limited Once Israel is Nearly Finished with the Job

Over the last three days, Israel has made remarkable progress in eliminating Iran’s air defenses, destroying IRGC leadership, nuclear scientists and police leadership, and beginning to degrade Iran’s nuclear capability. Iran will soon be largely defenseless, certainly from the air. Unfortunately, however, Israel will only be able to delay Iran’s nuclear capability and not destroy it without our assistance, in particular, without our bombers and massive ordinance penetration bombs.

President @realDonaldTrump has made clear as recently as yesterday that he cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon:

"For those people who say they want peace -- you can't have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon. So for all of those wonderful people who don't want to do anything about Iran having a nuclear weapon -- that's not peace."

To complete the mission, our military and our assets are needed to destroy Iran’s nuclear assets. Doing so does not require troops on the ground. It can be accomplished from the air in a few days at relatively low cost.

Importantly, there is no real risk of “being dragged into a long war” as our role here is simply a short-term tactical participation in Israel’s battle. In fact, if we were able to lend these assets to Israel, and the IAF were sufficiently trained to use them, the Israelis could do it themselves.

There is also no real risk that our assistance here causes Iran to become a bigger threat to the U.S. The opposite is the case. The IRGC and its leadership already consider us their most important enemy. We are already assisting Israel by defending them from Iranian missiles and drones with U.S. aircraft, naval warships, and personnel, and by sharing intelligence.

Furthermore, Israel is clearly in process on achieving regime change in Iran in response to the IRGC targeting Israeli civilians in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa etc. rather than military targets. I would surmise, therefore, that the IRGC is not likely to be in power in Iran for much longer. An obvious tell is that the IRGC and their families have been leaving the country on private planes over the last two days.

A denuclearized Iran with new leadership is much lower risk to the United States than the current regime with its continued aspirations to achieve nuclear capability and destroy America.

In short, you don’t need to care about Israel to conclude that using a limited amount of U.S. military assets for a few days to eliminate Iran’s ability to become a nuclear power makes sense.

Doing so greatly improves our security and our economy while reducing inflation risk, and increases American jobs at home and abroad. It also greatly reduces risks to our soldiers stationed in the Middle East and to our shipping resources operating in the region. Importantly, our intervention now can be achieved at low risk and limited cost, and executed in a matter of days once Israel is done setting the table.

I welcome any arguments to the contrary as I have yet to find a compelling one.

[Andrew Cuomo @andrewcuomo]

As Mayor, I will reestablish the nightly removals of homeless individuals from subway trains and stations and I will begin relocating people with serious mental illness from Rikers Island to supportive housing.

https://t.co/2qBxATED4Y

[Rebecca M Taxman @rmtaxman]

@BtSIsrael @CynthiaNixon Why are you so obsessed with Jews? Don’t you care about the Sudanese who are dying by genocide? Or the people of Yemen? Congo? Syria? Why do you care so much to make tons of irrelevant posts about minor things that happen with Jews?