Lower East Side Jews Bidding for Seats in Poverty Board Elections

The Jewish community of the Lower East Side is making a determined effort to elect more Jews to the Anti-Poverty Board of the local Community Corporation in next Tuesday’s election. There is only one Jew on the 51-member board which allocates anti-poverty funds to 28 community agencies although Jews comprise an estimated 15-20 percent of the area’s population according to Harold Jacobs, one of the Jewish candidates seeking election. Jacobs said the Jewish community hopes to win at least eight seats.

Elly Rosen, director of the Association of Jewish Anti-Poverty Workers, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that none of the 28 community agencies receiving poverty funds is Jewish. He said that this situation existed despite the fact that the Anti-Poverty Board is mandated to provide assistance to the entire community. Rosen said the sole Jew on the present Board was appointed. According to the anti-poverty set-up, one-third of the Board is appointed for ethnic representation and two-thirds are elected every two years. All residents of the community over 18 are eligible to vote.