Soriano-Taveras Apologizes for ‘Doing Nothing Wrong’ in Calling for Boycott

After audio surfaced of Alexandra Soriano-Taveras calling for a boycott of Cedar Lane businesses, questions began to swarm about her fitness to represent the 37th District, which includes Teaneck, in the NJ Assembly.

Yesterday, Soriano-Taveras released a statement (see full statement below) via InsiderNJ.

“There was a call to action in Teaneck this past summer and I attended to speak up and speak out against our town leadership who once again was not listening to the voices of our community.”

The call to action she refers to was revealed (in a statement made to Politico) to be the decision not to appoint Gervonn Romney-Rice to Mayor or Deputy Mayor.

“She said the video was taken during a protest over the council refusing to name Council Member Gervonn Romney Rice, who’s Black, as deputy mayor. “It’s not a boycott of Cedar Lane businesses, really. There was much missing in that,” she said. “It was a boycott of the businesses that were supported or owned by those members of the town council who had at no point supported … Gervonne Romney Rice*

NO COUNCIL MEMBERS OWN ANY BUSINESSES OR STORES ON CEDAR LANE

(Check the Financial Disclosures filed by members of Council)

[* while this isn’t the place to rehash the issue, the idea that the members of council in 2020 were never supportive of Romney-Rice (as she says in the Politico piece) belies the facts]

Soriano-Taveras’ statement continues:

“It was not my intention to offend anyone by my statement or to single out any community and for that, I am sincerely sorry.”

Well, you did single out a particular community.  You called for a boycott of stores on Cedar Lane.  Why did you do that?

“In a moment of passion I urged those in attendance not to shop in the businesses owned by town leadership, but after more thought and careful consideration of the impact on our small businesses I took no such action and led no such effort.”

Again, check the Financial Disclosures filed by members of Council:

NO COUNCIL MEMBERS OWN ANY BUSINESSES OR STORES ON CEDAR LANE

First Soriano-Taveras called the issue “fake news”.  Then, when the audio surfaced, it was “out of context”.

Now, by her own admission, she was attempting to hurt the merchants on Cedar Lane as retribution against Town leadership?

Meanwhile, questions of antisemitism still remain:

Soriano-Taveras is heard saying:

“Boycott those businesses, including the Dunkin’ Donuts and everything else, and we hurt them in their pockets. Who owns those businesses that we continue to support on Cedar Lane?”

These are familiar tropes for anyone familiar with BDS and accusations of Jewish-owned establishments.  Is it now being applied to stores perceived to be supported by those that may vote for members of Council?

Why Cedar Lane as opposed to Teaneck Road or West Englewood?

Cedar Lane is visible as home to many Jewish stores.  Some have questioned if Soriano-Taveras wanted to attack the people that in her eyes supported town leadership, completely disregarding the damage to their income that would result in her wake.

Does any explanation suffice to enable Alexandra Soriano-Taveras to represent us?

“but after more thought and careful consideration of the impact on our small businesses I took no such action and led no such effort.”

Did you tell everyone cheering you on that the plan was off?  Or did that not matter too much either?


Full Statement of Alexandra Soriano-Taveras

Teaneck, NJ- Teaneck Democratic Chairwoman Alexandra Soriano-Taveras issued the following statement in response to a selectively edited video crafted to give the impression that Soriano-Taveras is anti-semetic or harbors any anti-semetic sentiments:

“The edited video clip has been taken out of context and weaponized against me in the darkest, most destructive of ways. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the Jewish community in Teaneck, District 37 and all of New Jersey. There was a call to action in Teaneck this past summer and I attended to speak up and speak out against our town leadership who once again was not listening to the voices of our community. In a moment of passion I urged those in attendance not to shop in the businesses owned by town leadership, but after more thought and careful consideration of the impact on our small businesses I took no such action and led no such effort.

I am a school teacher and I have devoted my life to promoting unity, acceptance and inclusion of all cultures and backgrounds. But I have also devoted my life to speaking up against unfairness and injustice.

It was not my intention to offend anyone by my statement or to single out any community and for that, I am sincerely sorry. Let me be clear: I love our Jewish community, I treasure the contributions my Jewish neighbors make to Teaneck and to the world, and I have always and will always stand up against anti-Semitism. I am sorry for any pain or offense this video may have caused, and I renew my commitment to stand against hate and bigotry in all forms and at all times.”

Update: video from July 2020 rally where audio above was found:

The entire video can be found here:

Politico: Huttle vs. Johnson gets heated

InsiderNJ: Teaneck Democratic Chairwoman Alexandra Soriano-Taveras Issues Statement

2 Replies to “Soriano-Taveras Apologizes for ‘Doing Nothing Wrong’ in Calling for Boycott”

  1. I’m not so sure I believe Ms. Soriano-Taveres’ comments were based on anti-Semitism because there are more than just Jewish businesses on Cedar Lane. I patronize most businesses on Cedar Lane from Brown, Black and Jewish businesses. What was meant by the question “why she didn’t call for boycotts on Teaneck Rd. or W. Englewood?” I would consider that to be a polarizing question too in the vein as much as an anti-Semitic remark is.

    I’ve lived in Teaneck over twenty years and do realize tension from time to time between non-Jewish residents and the Jewish community. And that same tension that some of my Jewish friends and neighbors feel about other groups that reside in our fair township. I recommend a solution in getting to the bottom of this problem. A virtual Townhall be scheduled and all that are concerned express their feelings on the matter. Then more than third party bits and pieces of a comment may be addressed.

    1. “What was meant by the question “why she didn’t call for boycotts on Teaneck Rd. or W. Englewood?” “

      One counilmember has business interests in that area. Had she said that, at least there would be a legitimate chance that she was speaking to the claim that she was attacking town leadership (although you still shouldn’t hurt a struggling business to make the landlord suffer, in my opinion).

      Soriano-Taveras is no neophyte (she’s the party chair of the political machine) and as the ownership of buildings there is a public record discussed at council meetings many times, she would likely know this to be the case.

      Instead, she chose Cedar Lane (and specifically mentioned a store). That’s why I asked that question.

      I agree with you that this tension is unnecessary. To the credit of this council and especially our Mayor, we have several forums (some have taken place already) scheduled to address these issues. I hope you and others will join us.

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