Incoming New York Governor Is Asked To Restore Staffing of Kosher Law Enforcement

New York's incoming governor, Andrew Cuomo, is being lobbied  by Jewish leaders, some lawmakers and some businesses to restore cuts made in the Department of Agriculture and Markets budget. The cuts have eliminated all the staff and retain only the director of the Department's Division of Kosher Law Enforcement.  Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reports that the cuts in the Division made by outgoing Gov. David Patterson will save the state approximately $1 million per year.  Since 2004, New York's law has been a disclosure statute, requiring producers, processors, distributors and retailers to identify the person or organization that is certifying their food as kosher. Inspectors monitor grocery stores and restaurants to make certain that they are properly complying with the disclosure requirements.