August 7, 2009: Vol. 32, No. 32
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Chuck wagon! Schumer makes the Steve Levin endorsement official
The Brooklyn Paper
Steve Levin — got the big Schumer endorsement on Friday.
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Del.icio.usCity Council hopeful Steve Levin, slammed by his opponents in the Greenpoint to Park Slope district as the “machine candidate” because of his relationship with Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez, moved into higher gear thanks to last Friday’s endorsement by Sen. Charles Schumer.
“I believe that Steve will be a great councilman and I’m proud to endorse him,” Schumer said at Borough Hall on Friday morning. “I think he will follow in the footsteps of David Yassky,” the current councilman.
In making the endorsement, Schumer dodged a question about Levin’s support for the city’s controversial rezoning of the Broadway Triangle area in the eastern portion of the district. The proposal has been criticized because the city gave the redevelopment to two non-profit groups with ties to Lopez and Levin.
“Creating new housing, but not letting development just run upshot, is a hard thing to do,” Schumer said. “You have to thread the needle and Steve did an excellent job in doing that. The correct answer is creating new and affordable housing.”
Levin pronounced himself “deeply humbled, inspired and greatly honored” to be “endorsed by our great senator, Charles Schumer.”
He also thanked Lopez (D-Bushwick), who is not only the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman, but also employs Levin has his chief of staff. Lopez was not at the event.
Lopez may not have physically been on hand, but Levin’s rivals continue to use Levin’s connection to Lopez to paint him as the “machine candidate,” though Lopez challenged that notion in a call to The Brooklyn Paper last Thursday.
“He’s his own man, which, I know, coming from me, on a call like this, doesn’t sound, you know…,” Lopez said. “But if you look at his endorsements, there are a lot of groups and people on his list that don’t like me.”
Levin has also been tapped by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan), the League of Conservation Voters, the United Federation of Teachers and DC37, and the Working Families Party.
By comparison, other candidates’ lists are less filling: Civil rights attorney Jo Anne Simon has been endorsed by Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D–Sunset Park) and Ed Towns (D–Fort Greene) and a long list of lesser-known officials.
Former Yassky aide Evan Thies has been endorsed by a former “Jeopardy” champion, a Teamsters local, the Freelancers Union — and, perhaps more important, was named a “rising star” by City Hall, a political newspaper.
Other candidates include Ken Baer, Ken Diamondstone, Doug Biviano and Isaac Abraham.
On Friday, Biviano put out a statement lambasting the Schumer endorsement.
“Is Chuck Schumer popping Albany pills?” the statement asked. “If not, then why did he endorse machine candidate Steve Levin instead of putting his support behind single-payer health care?
“The reason Levin continues to pile up these farce endorsements is because [of] his position as Vito Lopez’s chief henchman,” the statement continued. “The people of the 33rd District deserve better.”
Schumer suggested that they would get that — in Levin.
“Unlike many of those who go to the Ivy League, he didn’t go to Wall Street or go into a big fancy law firm, or anything like that,” Schumer said. “He came to Brooklyn and worked as a community organizer.”
Being endorsed by Schumer has become something of rite of passage for Brooklyn office-seekers. Last year, New York’s senior senator picked then-Councilman Mike McMahon to succeed Vito Fossella in Congress, and he also chose former staffer Daniel Squadron over incumbent state Sen. Marty Connor. Both candidates won handily.
©2009 Community Newspaper Group
billy from cobble hill says:
who cares even he get a obama endorsement.we are not going for the 27 year old kid.we don't need vito's finger here
Aug. 7, 2009, 8:58 pm
Bob from Bushwick says:
I really don’t understand according the latest polls this young Levine a puppet of Lo-paz don’t even have a chance!!!
Aug. 9, 2009, 12:16 am
Ken from Greenpoint says:
Levin is a carpetbagger. He moved into the 33rd sometime after November 2007. The fact is that he is just a puppet for Vito. The fact that his cousin and uncle are in Congress just proves that being a political animal runs in the family. The 33rd deserves a lot better than someone who is "fine" being identified as Vito Lopez's guy. I have lost count of the number of publications calling Lopez corrupt. Aside from Clarence Norman, he has done more than anybody to make a mockery of the judiciary in Brooklyn. Vito is pulling the strings and the 33rd will not stand for it
Aug. 9, 2009, 2:05 am
Divide and Rule from Vito Low-PEZ says says:
Divide and Rule
A last-minute campaign mailing is accusing Hasidic Jews and other "powerful interests" of opposing City Council member Diana Reyna . . . Vito Lopez sent out a letter to voters in the mostly Hispanic section of the Brooklyn district warning that their future is at stake because "many powerful interests, like the real-estate industry and the Hasidim community . . ." Fernando Ferrer compared the "disgusting" letter to the racially tinged campaign against him in the 2001 mayor's race" - NY Post, 9/9/03
Is this the man you can trust? the venom and hatred that he has spread and spoke against the Jewish Community for over 20 years, even Councilwomen Diana Reyna who he supported in this letter, is no longer affiliated with him.
We in the Jewish Community are not so stupid to go to bed with Vito Low-pez, the people and housing agenda that he supports.
The Jewish Community for a Better Williamsburg
A last-minute campaign mailing is accusing Hasidic Jews and other "powerful interests" of opposing City Council member Diana Reyna . . . Vito Lopez sent out a letter to voters in the mostly Hispanic section of the Brooklyn district warning that their future is at stake because "many powerful interests, like the real-estate industry and the Hasidim community . . ." Fernando Ferrer compared the "disgusting" letter to the racially tinged campaign against him in the 2001 mayor's race" - NY Post, 9/9/03
Is this the man you can trust? the venom and hatred that he has spread and spoke against the Jewish Community for over 20 years, even Councilwomen Diana Reyna who he supported in this letter, is no longer affiliated with him.
We in the Jewish Community are not so stupid to go to bed with Vito Low-pez, the people and housing agenda that he supports.
The Jewish Community for a Better Williamsburg
Aug. 9, 2009, 2:08 am
Bill from Park Slope says:
Here comes sour grapes again.
Steve Levin is hands down the best candidate in this race. While working for a not for profit in North Brooklyn, he helped low income families dealing with lead paint poisoning in their apartments, and helped to found a program that protects homeowners from mortgage foreclosure and predatory lending. After that, he went to work for Assemblyman Lopez, a Brooklyn Assemblyman, and the Chairman of the Assembly's Housing Committe. While there, Levin helped to pass some of most progressive affordable housing legislation in the United States. He also ran an office recognized for its agressive constituent services. Is he younger than some of the other candidates? Sure, but this is an asset, since his (relative) youth gives him the energy and vision that the 33rd District needs during these difficult economic times.
What the above posts show is that for some campaigns it's time to get negative. With less than six weeks to go, some campaigns are feeling desperate, and will continue to pollute the race with ad hominem attacks, guilt by association and whatever sleazy tactics they can use to tear people down.
Voters of the 33rd deserve more than that. They deserve a race focused on the issues, not on cheap libel and gossip. Vote for Levin on September 15th!
Steve Levin is hands down the best candidate in this race. While working for a not for profit in North Brooklyn, he helped low income families dealing with lead paint poisoning in their apartments, and helped to found a program that protects homeowners from mortgage foreclosure and predatory lending. After that, he went to work for Assemblyman Lopez, a Brooklyn Assemblyman, and the Chairman of the Assembly's Housing Committe. While there, Levin helped to pass some of most progressive affordable housing legislation in the United States. He also ran an office recognized for its agressive constituent services. Is he younger than some of the other candidates? Sure, but this is an asset, since his (relative) youth gives him the energy and vision that the 33rd District needs during these difficult economic times.
What the above posts show is that for some campaigns it's time to get negative. With less than six weeks to go, some campaigns are feeling desperate, and will continue to pollute the race with ad hominem attacks, guilt by association and whatever sleazy tactics they can use to tear people down.
Voters of the 33rd deserve more than that. They deserve a race focused on the issues, not on cheap libel and gossip. Vote for Levin on September 15th!
Aug. 9, 2009, 9:08 am
Bill from Boerum Hill says:
Sour grapes Bill in Boerum Hill wonders: WHO is Steve Levin? I have never seen him at candidate forums. I never read about his positions. All I read is how great his political relatives and connections are...including his nasty boss Vito Lopez. Shame on
Schumer for his endorsement of someone who he hardly knows (likes his uncle, though, which is fine so far as it goes). And shame on the Working Families Party---this guy was born with the golden spoon in his mouth. On the merits almost everybody else in this race is as good as or better than Mr. Levin, so let's all keep our eye on the ball. The 33rd does not need a phantom councilman--we need robust leadership.
Schumer for his endorsement of someone who he hardly knows (likes his uncle, though, which is fine so far as it goes). And shame on the Working Families Party---this guy was born with the golden spoon in his mouth. On the merits almost everybody else in this race is as good as or better than Mr. Levin, so let's all keep our eye on the ball. The 33rd does not need a phantom councilman--we need robust leadership.
Aug. 9, 2009, 12:34 pm
realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com from 33rd Distr says:
Levin is a carpetbagger. He moved into the 33rd sometime after November 2007. The fact is that he is just a puppet for Vito. The fact that his cousin and uncle are in Congress just proves that being a political animal runs in the family. The 33rd deserves a lot better than someone who is "fine" being identified as Vito Lopez's guy. I have lost count of the number of publications calling Lopez corrupt. Aside from Clarence Norman, he has done more than anybody to make a mockery of the judiciary in Brooklyn. Vito is pulling the strings and the 33rd will not stand for it
Aug. 9, 2009, 1:22 pm
Dav from Bushwick says:
Not to get too repetitive, but I do not work for Evan Thies. Isn’t it possible that there are people who care about issues and are not on a payroll? As for the suggestions in one of the earlier posts, I’ve already done/am doing all that: knocking on doors, analyzing issues, etc.
Regarding the bile and vitriol, perhaps you’re referring to another post – I don’t know. My posts are about the Schumer endorsement, and are not intended to be a policy referendum. I’m just detailing the contacts between the politicians, using easily found information. I don’t malign Steve’s character, simply point out his lack of experience in most of the 33rd District and his non-attendance at debates. His own campaign literature tells us what Steve will fight for and not what he has done. This race is about the future of our neighborhoods in very difficult circumstances. My posts are fact-based. If you want political discourse to be all saccaharine sweetness, walk on over to Montague Street. You’ll have a choice between Haagen-Dazs and Hallmark.
Regarding the bile and vitriol, perhaps you’re referring to another post – I don’t know. My posts are about the Schumer endorsement, and are not intended to be a policy referendum. I’m just detailing the contacts between the politicians, using easily found information. I don’t malign Steve’s character, simply point out his lack of experience in most of the 33rd District and his non-attendance at debates. His own campaign literature tells us what Steve will fight for and not what he has done. This race is about the future of our neighborhoods in very difficult circumstances. My posts are fact-based. If you want political discourse to be all saccaharine sweetness, walk on over to Montague Street. You’ll have a choice between Haagen-Dazs and Hallmark.
Aug. 9, 2009, 1:24 pm
Lou from Greenpoint says:
Yassky is a backstabber for not endorsing Thies.
Aug. 9, 2009, 1:26 pm
Yankel Kahan from Nut Cracker says: says:
Low-pez, since you are not showing up to almost 27% of the hearings that you have to be in Albany,
and this little kid of yours has not shown up to almost 40% of the debates, what a great student, take a long vacation and have this kid carry your luggage.
and this little kid of yours has not shown up to almost 40% of the debates, what a great student, take a long vacation and have this kid carry your luggage.
Aug. 9, 2009, 1:27 pm
Doug Biviano from Brooklyn Heights says:
Ironically, I am a working family. I have three kids, two in P.S. 8, and worked as both a professional (Civil & Environmental Engineer) and a laborer. The last nine years in Brooklyn I worked two jobs, one as a building superintendent, to support my family so my wife could raise our children full time.
When someone on the Working Families panel asked me during the endorsement interview if I supported sick days for short term workers I responded how I almost lost my job last year because I took my first sick day after 7 years on the job, so of course I gave a resounding yes because I was living their policy concern. And keep in mind as a superintendent you lose your housing, health care and job in one fell swoop.
I also explained how I am now actually losing my job (and the health care and housing that comes with it) as superintendent after nine years of dedicated service because the coop/corporation is cutting costs, among other reasons, and one of the biggest being my family's health care. I told the panel I saw the memo comparing my "status quo" FAMILY PLAN health care premium of $14,700 per year to that of replacing me with a single person with a premium of $4,100. This is the kind of family discrimination and incentive that cannot remain legal with our existing health care system in the laps of employers because it is destructive to families, jobs, our economy and communities everywhere! So here we have a candidate exposing and experiencing how families are being targeted and driven out of the community and they chose a kid fresh out of college without a family who carpetbagged it into the district about the time I almost got fired with my family two Februaries ago!
I finished the interview speaking of aspirational opportunities for youth of families of all income levels as put forth in my PeaceNYC proposals from two years ago. I got a standing ovation from a panel yawning from an all day Saturday of interviews. Yet, I got a pass and they found their working family guy Levin.
It doesn't make sense, but when you understand the corruption and backroom politics it absolutely does. Levin is Vito Lopez's Bagman and what better way is there to cuddle up to ALBANY corruption and power than to pick Levin. And that's why I call out "Schumer for Popping Albany Pills" when he could instead be spending that time and support for Levin fighting for our communities for single payer health care! A problem that is a local crisis as 400,000 Brooklynites and growing don't have health care. It's life and death for many. In conjunction with affordable housing, I call it a hidden Katrina. In fact, I don't recall Schumer ever showing up for the LICH closings last fall, a real life and death matter considering emergency response increases of up to a half hour during rush hour for pediatric emergencies. Schumer could have actually spent the time representing his constituents for something that mattered and showed up for health care.
But you can see how I will call out the dirty back room deals for personal gain that comes at the expense our communities. You can be sure I will stand up and fight for YOU, the people and families in our Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Thank you,
Doug Biviano
Candidate in Brooklyn's 33rd
When someone on the Working Families panel asked me during the endorsement interview if I supported sick days for short term workers I responded how I almost lost my job last year because I took my first sick day after 7 years on the job, so of course I gave a resounding yes because I was living their policy concern. And keep in mind as a superintendent you lose your housing, health care and job in one fell swoop.
I also explained how I am now actually losing my job (and the health care and housing that comes with it) as superintendent after nine years of dedicated service because the coop/corporation is cutting costs, among other reasons, and one of the biggest being my family's health care. I told the panel I saw the memo comparing my "status quo" FAMILY PLAN health care premium of $14,700 per year to that of replacing me with a single person with a premium of $4,100. This is the kind of family discrimination and incentive that cannot remain legal with our existing health care system in the laps of employers because it is destructive to families, jobs, our economy and communities everywhere! So here we have a candidate exposing and experiencing how families are being targeted and driven out of the community and they chose a kid fresh out of college without a family who carpetbagged it into the district about the time I almost got fired with my family two Februaries ago!
I finished the interview speaking of aspirational opportunities for youth of families of all income levels as put forth in my PeaceNYC proposals from two years ago. I got a standing ovation from a panel yawning from an all day Saturday of interviews. Yet, I got a pass and they found their working family guy Levin.
It doesn't make sense, but when you understand the corruption and backroom politics it absolutely does. Levin is Vito Lopez's Bagman and what better way is there to cuddle up to ALBANY corruption and power than to pick Levin. And that's why I call out "Schumer for Popping Albany Pills" when he could instead be spending that time and support for Levin fighting for our communities for single payer health care! A problem that is a local crisis as 400,000 Brooklynites and growing don't have health care. It's life and death for many. In conjunction with affordable housing, I call it a hidden Katrina. In fact, I don't recall Schumer ever showing up for the LICH closings last fall, a real life and death matter considering emergency response increases of up to a half hour during rush hour for pediatric emergencies. Schumer could have actually spent the time representing his constituents for something that mattered and showed up for health care.
But you can see how I will call out the dirty back room deals for personal gain that comes at the expense our communities. You can be sure I will stand up and fight for YOU, the people and families in our Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Thank you,
Doug Biviano
Candidate in Brooklyn's 33rd
Aug. 9, 2009, 2:09 pm
Ken from Bushweek says:
I am very surprise Doug Biviano is a very sharp person we needed in office! He will properly doing a very job and being a watchdog especially city hall corruption. We all say keep up the good job!! Ha Ha Hoh Hoh Vito-Lopaz got to go!!!!!
Aug. 9, 2009, 3:05 pm
Bill from Park Slope says:
Wow. Talk about self-fulfilling prophesy. Here comes the mud. Bagman? Mr. Biviano, do you know you just said that Stephen Levin collects bribes for Assemblyman Lopez? Don’t you think that it is unseemly, if not outright libelous, to say that about someone without any evidence to support it, and in fact when you know that it isn't true? You sir have lowered the bar to a whole new level.
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. After screeching at Joann Simon about failing to stop the Williamsburg re-zoning when she is a District Leader, a position with no more authority over zoning issues than you have as a private citizen, and one whose district is nowhere near Williamsburg for that matter, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised about this. Mad dog on the loose!
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. After screeching at Joann Simon about failing to stop the Williamsburg re-zoning when she is a District Leader, a position with no more authority over zoning issues than you have as a private citizen, and one whose district is nowhere near Williamsburg for that matter, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised about this. Mad dog on the loose!
Aug. 9, 2009, 5:58 pm
Charles from PS says:
Steve Levin? Never heard of him.
Aug. 9, 2009, 5:58 pm
jeffrey from williamsburg says:
we need revolution against corruption and vito is the first one
Aug. 10, 2009, 8:47 pm
Peter Johnson from Park Slope says:
.New news in Brooklyn politics, Jerry O’Brian is still trying to get Community leader, a man who is speaking on behalf of the people Candidate for the City Council District 39 George Smith off the board “this man just won’t give up, he won’t let the people down, I see him keep on trying”, It was old hand Jerry O’Brian vs. George Smith in Court today. Let’s guess who won, George Smith won. George Smith. I don’t know why people keep on trying to get him off; I feel park slope needs Change, someone who will speak for the people. Why not have a person who has organized 100’s of City events and dozens of charity events for a ton of different causes around NY area represent the great people of his district. Why not have a person who was born and raised in the district represent it.
Aug. 10, 2009, 11:31 pm
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