Lansdowne borough council discusses antisemitic ZHB member’s post, impacts

Lansdowne Borough Council continued to grapple with what is widely perceived to be an antisemitic social media post that targeted a Jewish councilman by a member of the borough’s  Zoning Hearing Board.

Both Borough Council President Jessica Pointer and Mayor Magdalena Byrne have issued a joint statement on the borough’s website decrying that social media targeting Councilman Benjamin Hover “with imagery that invokes antisemitic tropes.” They called it “inappropriate” and not reflecting the borough’s views. 

Both Pointer and Byrne spoke about the issue at Wednesday’s Council meeting, as did Hover.  Pointer mentioned that William “Bill” Horton, the zoning hearing board member, had apologized for the post

“I acknowledge that,” she said.  Hover asked that Gilbert to step down or be removed by the council, and that officials receive training given to officials by Jewish organizations. Pointer suggested hiring a DEI consultant instead, Christina “Tina” Gilbert, to train the borough officials for $1,750. 

A Lansdowne resident, Gilbert would also mediate between Hover and Horton.  The council subsequently approved hiring Gilbert with Hover as the sole vote against it. And Hover rejected mediation, later saying it “sounds like victim abuse.”

Hover read part of a letter to the council from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the American Jewish Committee of Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

“We understand that this incident is not isolated. Over an extended period, Councilman Hover has faced repeated hostility tied to his Jewish identity and religious practice, including rhetoric and conduct that have made it more difficult for him to serve and participate fully in civic life. No elected official should be subjected to bias or intimidation on the basis of religion or shared ancestry.

“Mr. Horton’s continued service on the Zoning Hearing Board, a quasi-judicial body that must maintain public trust and impartiality, heightens these concerns. Conduct reflecting bias toward a religious minority undermines confidence in municipal processes and may expose the Borough to legal and reputational risk,” the letter said in part. 

The group StandWithUs also sent a letter supporting Hover.

Pointer said there has been a “long-standing and public conflict between these two individuals,” and many residents have seen it. But it “does not excuse conduct that crosses the line into discriminatory tropes.” She said she’s asked the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the local Human Relations Commission for guidance.

Hover, who has served on council for eight years and was its president for four years, said he’s being censored and silenced now, including at the Wednesday meeting when council spurned motions that came through the committee he chaired regarding honoring St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History month, but approved similar proclamations from Byrne.

Pointer said it was better to have those items come from the mayor, rather than the Council.

She said the Irish-American St. Patrick’s Day resolution was rejected because of religious references.

In January, Hover’s motion to recognize International Holocaust Remembrance Day was rejected after two women spoke against it. 

“This incident represents a pervasive pattern of antisemitic harassment and abuse from a core group of residents, leadership in the Lansdowne Democrats, and leadership of Lansdowne Borough Council. The leadership of council and the mayor have labeled me as deserving of the attack, and instead of providing accountability for the behaviors, are attempting to sweep (them) under the rug and silence me for speaking out about the harassing behaviors,” he said.

Yet, ironically, the council moved a meeting because of Ash Wednesday and Ramadan, which are both religious holidays, he told Fideri News Network. And the borough is sponsoring an Egg Hunt on April 4. The hunt is described as an “Egg Hunt and Field Day,” and does not utilize the word “Easter” in its promotions on social media.

Hover also proposed that Lansdowne host a forum on antisemitism with Jewish groups and the county district attorney to be held in May. He had a similar forum last year, but the council declined to participate.