As the governor of New York pushes her support for items in her state budget she says are intended to crack down on hate crimes, a Rochester synagogue hopes to benefit from the proposals. 

New York state reports there is a 90% increase in hate crimes in the state between 2020 and 2022 with a sharp spike since Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel. 

“It’s unnerving. It’s very unnerving," said Executive Director of Temple Beth El in Rochester, Deborah Zeger.

She says it’s triggered the need for increased security. 

“We have increased our security routinely over the past 10 years and unfortunately there are technology changes, and upgrades always have to be made, so we’re always looking for ways to increase the level of security for the building so that people feel safe here,” said Zeger.

Gov. Hochul proposes an increase of $10 million in grant funding for hate crime prevention, $60 million total to fight hate crime in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. 

“Grants are now open everyone. That’s why I’m making the pitch. Grants are open right now," Hochul said on Thursday. 

Temple Beth El will apply for the grant.  

“We’ve been recipients of state funding in the past and we’re grateful for that, and we’re very grateful that the governor is making more funding available," said Zeger. 

Hochul also wants to expand the list of offenses eligible for prosecution as hate crimes. Under current law, 66 offenses can be charged as hate crimes. Language in the executive budget would increase that to 97, adding graffiti, arson, gang assault, first-degree assault, first-degree rape, criminal possession of a weapon and sex trafficking. 

“What that means, if someone is motivated by hate and they commit this assault, it can be prosecuted as a hate crime because it always should have been,” said Hochul. ‘This is a different category, the motivation is different.”

At Temple Beth El, there is appreciation for any potential additional funds for security — and sadness that it’s necessary.  

“It’s something that we’re having to deal with in a different way than we’ve had to deal with in the past," said Zeger.