Attention California Residents: Ask Governor Newsom to support security funding

With the frightening rise of antisemitism including shooting attacks outside of local shuls, protecting our community is more critical than ever.

The California state budget recently passed by the Legislature includes $20 million in security grants for nonprofits. Please ask Governor Newsom to support this vital program by completing the form below.

Agudath Israel of America has been at the forefront of the effort to enact and expand federal and state security grants, and has been working with other partners in DC and Sacramento again this year. The California State Nonprofit Security Grant, championed by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and the Legislative Jewish Caucus, provides funding for security enhancements and distributed nearly $12.7 million over the last two years to Orthodox institutions. Last session, Agudah worked with coalition partners to increase the grant maximum to $500,000 per applicant and expand the available uses.

With a projected budget shortfall of more than $30 billion, the originally proposed budget this session did not contain any funding for the program, but thanks to the work of many advocates, including our California director Rabbi Yaakov Subar (watch testimony here), the current version just passed by the Legislature included $20 million and heads to the Governor for his approval. While we will continue pushing for the program to be fully funded in future years, for now, we need to ensure that the $20 million will  remain in the final budget.

Please see the form below to submit an email to Governor Newsom and ask him to help keep our institutions safe and provide $20 million of security funding in this year’s state budget. The budget needs to be approved by July 1st so time is of essence.

The link provides a draft message, but we encourage you to personalize it – it’s much more effective that way!

Thank you for taking action and doing your part in saving lives!

Rabbi A.D Motzen

National Director of Government Affairs

Agudath Israel of America