Sid Rosenberg speaks to 'Post' on Trump, New York and the threat of antisemitism - interview

New York's airwaves are crackling with controversy as veteran radio host Sid Rosenberg speaks out with his characteristic bluntness, particularly concerning the surge in antisemitism he perceives in the city since the October 7th attacks. Rosenberg, a prominent voice on 77 WABC, argues that the events of that day, compounded by what he describes as the political climate fostered by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have created an environment where anti-Jewish sentiment has escalated dramatically.

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October 7 changed the whole map.

Rosenberg draws a stark contrast between his youth, when antisemitic incidents were relatively rare, and the present day, where he claims such occurrences are alarmingly frequent. He attributes this shift directly to what he terms 'Democratic permissiveness' in major liberal cities, suggesting that pro-Palestinian demonstrations, under the guise of free speech, have crossed into dangerous territory. He specifically criticizes the tolerance of pro-Hamas rallies, which he believes normalize and glorify the October 7th attacks.

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And after October 7, you follow it up with Mamdani, and there's a reason why antisemitism is up 182%. There's your answer right there.

The radio host's critique of Mayor Mamdani is particularly sharp. Rosenberg labels the mayor as a 'radical' who harbors animosity towards Jewish people. This strong stance led to a public firestorm in March when Rosenberg posted a highly inflammatory message on social media, calling the mayor derogatory names. The backlash was swift and severe, with prominent figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denouncing his remarks as 'dangerous and dehumanizing.'

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Every once in a while, you read a story about a Jewish kid getting his yarmulke knocked off or getting pushed down in the street. But now we get five or six of those a day, every day. It's terrible.

While Rosenberg did apologize and remove the post, he insists he was not coerced. He asserts that the coordinated condemnations from various officials, including the Attorney General and the Governor, suggested a level of orchestration. For Rosenberg, this situation highlights a broader concern about the erosion of safety and the rise of what he sees as unacceptable rhetoric and behavior in his beloved New York City.

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The fact that they allow these pro-Hamas rallies on the streets of New York as if that's free speech — when they're glorifying October 7 — it's pretty pathetic.