Local Legislators Urge State To Rehire Kosher Inspectors

joined with other state lawmakers earlier this week to urge the state to rehire at least some of the eight fired kosher inspectors laid-off by the city at the end of last year.

“We feel that this population must continue to be protected,” Hevesi said.  “The best way to ensure that our kosher standard is protected and maintained is to have trained, highly skilled enforcement staff regulating the industry.”

as part of a package of budget cuts he approved at the end of his term last year. The state is slated to save roughly $1 million this year as a result of the cuts.

Hevesi was joined by Queens legislators Toby-Ann Stavisky, David Weprin, Rory Lancman and Audrey Pheffer, among others in the push to rehire some inspectors.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine, president of the Jewish legislators caucus, said the cuts were detrimental to the many members of New York’s kosher community.

"It is unfair to an entire community to deny the placement of appropriate kosher food inspectors that ensure the food they eat meets the very specific standards of their beliefs,” Lavine said. “Reinstatement of a portion of this unit will be at minimum cost to the citizens of New York State, and will go a long way towards protecting the integrity of food in the free marketplace for the consumer.”

Last year, Cynthia Zalisky, of the, said the loss of inspectors would put even more of an onus on those Jewish residents who keep kosher to carefully monitor what they purchase.

"It is important to have official checks and balances for consumer protection," she said.