ALBANY, N.Y. -- As hate crimes continue to plague Jewish facilities and sites around New York, state lawmakers are pushing bills designed to crack down on the situation.
"We're seeing all types of very hateful of graffiti which is not kids just being kids," said Jeff Klein, the Senate's Independent Democratic Conference leader. "This is serious, and I think we have to deal with it in a very serious manner by enhancing the penalties."
Klein has proposed a package of bills strengthening penalties for those who desecrate cemeteries and other religious sites. The bills come after bomb threats were called into Jewish Community Centers and headstones at Jewish cemeteries were damaged.
"Remember something: This is not only impacting us as Americans and as people who really celebrate our diversity, this is really interfering with our ability to practice our religion as we see fit," Klein said.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved some of those bills Wednesday, and Majority Leader John Flanagan hinted at plans to pass more of them.
"We should have very very swift and strict enforcement of existing law," Flanagan said. "Number two, we should re-examine hate crimes and see what we could do better."
Governor Andrew Cuomo last month called for $25 million in new spending to enhance security at Jewish facilities. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said his Democratic conference is reviewing the proposal.
"I think we're all concerned about the safety about all of our constituents," Heastie said, "and I think what is happening is deplorable."
On Thursday, there was yet another bomb threat, this time at a Jewish museum in Brooklyn.
Cuomo traveled to Israel for a brief trip there Sunday to show solidarity and strike economic development deals.