Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), who broadly represents the Northwest Bronx and who is currently running for reelection, was involved in an altercation seemingly with a member of the public during an event he was co-hosting in the Woodlawn section of The Bronx on Saturday, May 9.

 

In a video posted online by Woodlawn resident Mary Muldoon to Bronx-based community group on Wednesday, May 20, the assemblyman, 71, is first seen outside the Emerald Isle Immigration Center at 4235 Katonah Avenue near some temporary street stands and banners for the Center, for City Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11), the assemblyman’s son, and for Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

 

A representative for the assemblyman’s office later said, “The event was our paper shredding event outside the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Saturday, May 9th.” The assemblyman regularly hosts such paper shredding events where members of the public can attend and shred sensitive documents for free. The one held May 9 was co-hosted by the borough president, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), State Sen. Jamaal Bailey (S.D. 36) and the councilman.

The assemblyman is seen near the stands talking to people on the street when he is approached by another man dressed in white sneakers, a grey/blue sweatshirt, and dark colored pants. The man approaches Dinowitz with an outstretched arm and the two are seen shaking hands.

 

A third man dressed in all black/dark clothing and a baseball hat is seen standing sort of in between them with his back to the camera. The complete view of the incident is therefore obstructed by this third man.

Moments later, the man who approached Dinowitz is seen getting closer to his face and they appear to get into some type of verbal spat. The same man is then seen pushing the assemblyman backwards with some force. At one point, the assemblyman appears to place his hand on the man’s shoulder.

 

The assemblyman stumbles backwards after the push but does not fall to the ground as he bumps into a man and a woman standing behind him, who break his fall. The man he bumps into appears elderly, is dressed in a green jacket, possibly dark blue jeans, and has white hair.

The assemblyman and the man who pushed him appear to continue yelling at each other as the latter departs the area in the opposite direction and the assemblyman gives him the bird. While, there was no sound available on the original posted video, which is date-stamped May 9 at around 11.37 a.m., a second video was posted later on May 20 to the same group with some muffled sound. It is not possible to hear what is being said between the two but some swearing / foul language is heard from somewhere and the assemblyman is seen waving and saying “Bye” at one point.

 

In an accompanying post for the original video, Mary Muldoon writes, “This is not a good thing. Woodlawn people need to wake up. Dinowitz needs to go. He is also behind that all children must be vaccinated before going to summer camp.”

She adds, “He is selling the people of Woodlawn out. The video of Dinowitz is when someone asked him a question. From what I am hearing from multiple sources, he had his fingers in the guys chest, so the person pushed him. Wake up Woodlawn.” As above, the view of the incident is partially obstructed. Therefore, Norwood News is unable to corroborate this account of the interaction.

We reached out to Muldoon and asked what she meant by the assemblyman selling Woodlawn out and for more context on the incident / dispute, and will share any feedback we receive. We also reached out to the assemblyman for comment on the incident.

Norwood News is unable to corroborate if this is an accurate description of what happened until we receive a copy of the police report / official complaint. We will share any further updates we receive. When contacted about the matter, the Bronx District Attorney’s office said if a desk appearance ticket was issued, there would be no complaint on file.

 

In another post on Mary Muldoon’s social media page, she says the following, “Yoohoo, Dinowitz, You don’t know me but I’m going to be a thorn in your side. Let me introduce myself. My name is Mary Muldoon and I live in Woodlawn. As we all know, once again, you’ve gone against the people of Woodlawn. Why is the park closed as of June 1st? See I know what you’re up to, my dude. I exactly know.”

 

Muldoon continues, “See, you want everybody to get frustrated with everything that’s going on so they wind up putting their property up for sale so you and your little snails from Rockland County and Brooklyn can come in and buy everything and put builders. Well, guess what? We’re on to your f*cking game.”

She concludes, “And no kid should have to take a vaccine. What about all the illegal kids? Are they all caught up with their 67 something vaccines? I don’t think so. The only person going “Bye Bye” is you. Mark my words. I’m going to dig and dig and dig until I find dirt on you, ’cause you’re not f*cking clean, mother f*cker. Have a nice day, Jeffrey. I hope you’ll be ok.”

 

A representative for the assemblyman is of the view that such comments can be construed as being anti-Semitic and offensive. An extract from the paper “Antisemitic Imagery and Caricatures” published by the Antisemitism Policy Trust, reads, “Antisemitic imagery repeatedly represents [the Jewish people] as ‘the Jew,’ namely as one homogenous group working against society. Today, pictures echoing age-old antisemitic tropes can be found on social media, portraying the Jew as ‘the other’; as a nefarious controller of banks, Hollywood and politics, and as the hidden hand behind society’s contemporary problems.”

 

Norwood News asked Muldoon for comment on all of her remarks. She denied the allegation of antisemitism, saying, “I had no clue that saying the snails…. I was like ‘slow mover’.” She said she worked as a waitress for the best part of 50 years and had no problem with anyone. She added that she also had no problem with anyone from any background moving into Woodlawn for a better life and away from other neighborhoods where there were more problems but added that she worried they would be forced to move again because of overdevelopment in the neighborhood, citing a shelter at one point and other quality-of-life complaints like noise which she alleges the assemblyman did little to resolve. We have reached out to the assemblyman for comment.

 

Muldoon added further context of her criticisms of the assemblyman in terms of problems in Woodlawn like the closure of the playground. More to follow.

 

Click here, here, here and here to read some of our prior coverage of incidents/rallies targeting the assemblyman for his pro-vaccination stance.