New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the release of $70 million in state hate crimes funding to “fortify” religious facilities across the state — as well as a “surge” in police presence — as the High Holy Days begin this weekend.

The Democratic governor opened her press conference on Tuesday with an early “shana tova” and vowed to be “not just a protector but an ally and friend to the Jewish people of New York State.” The nearly 300 schools, houses of worship and civic groups that will receive grants of up to $250,000 each for cameras, alarms, security training and cybersecurity enhancements are not exclusively Jewish institutions, her office told Jewish Insider.

But the spike in hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers, and efforts to contain it, were Hochul’s focus as she recalled recent attacks against Jews in Manhattan and antisemitic graffiti in Queens.

“There has been more antisemitism and overt hatred levied against the people of Jewish faith than we can remember in recent history,” Hochul said.“We shouldn’t have to do this. We should never have to be thinking that these places of worship and places where children have to go to school have to be fortified against hate. And I pray that this time will pass.”

Hochul simultaneously announced increased state police deployments to houses of worship between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. She also highlighted the state’s recent passage of legislation that makes protesting within 50 feet of the entry points to a house of worship a misdemeanor.

“From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, our police officers will be out in force,” she said.  “That means when a grandfather walks into a shul, he’ll have the peace of mind to know he’ll be protected.”

Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition — an advocacy group for Jewish day schools and yeshivas — was on hand to laud the governor for defraying the increasing cost of protecting their students.

“Fear has a price tag,” Altfield said. “Thank you for recognizing the enormous financial burden that our communities simply cannot carry.” A recent study by the Jewish Federations of North America found that the American Jewish community now spends over $1 billion on security measures annually.