The town of Smithtown, Long Island, recently voted to change the name of its "Anti-Bias Task Force" to the "Unity Council." This decision, while unanimous, wasn't without controversy, leading to the resignation of a founding member and raising questions about the implications of the name change.
Established in 1994 after an antisemitic incident at a local high school, the task force aimed to address bias-related issues. The recent 5-0 vote to rename the group to the "Unity Council" sparked immediate backlash. Maria LaMalfa, the group's chairwoman, read letters of protest at a town board meeting, including one from 86-year-old Ben Piskorz, a founding member who subsequently resigned.
Smithtown Town Hall (Google Maps)
Piskorz, an immigrant from Argentina, voiced his support for including "unity" in the name but stressed the importance of retaining "anti-bias." He argued that "unity" doesn't fully encompass the task force's mission of combating bias. While expressing his disappointment, he remained open to rejoining the council if the name reflected its core purpose.
Another council member, Sanaa Nadim, co-chair of Stony Brook University's Interfaith Center, also advocated for keeping "bias" in the name. She believes it reinforces the council's commitment to addressing structural, systemic, and experiential inequality, making communities feel safer and more heard.
Smithtown Library (John Paraskevas/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim explained that the name change was inspired by a similar move in the neighboring town of Islip. He stated that Islip's renaming resulted in increased diversity among volunteers and that Smithtown hopes to achieve the same outcome. He assured residents that the council's function would remain unchanged, focusing on preventing bias incidents and directing complaints to the appropriate authorities.
Smithtown High School (Raychel Brightman/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital has contacted the Smithtown Town Council for further comment.
