By COLlive reporter
Photos by Levi Percia
It was the march of the candidates.
Incumbent and hopeful political New York City candidates lined the wooden sukkah of Chanina Sperlin in Crown Heights on Sunday, in what has become a tradition for public officials.
This year’s Sukkos party was no exception, with members of the State Senate and Assembly, and from all levels of local government coming to the temporary home of the prominent Crown Heights activist.
But this was more than a photo opportunity. It was a celebration of sorts for the candidates who won the backing of the Crown Heights Political Action Committee in the Democratic primary race.
Chief among them was Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who won over former governor Elliot Spitzer to be the Democratic candidate for NYC comptroller, after both courted the Crown Heights vote.
Another primary winner attending was Laurie Cumbo, now the candidate to represent Crown Heights and the 35th district in New York City Council. She was joined by Councilman Mathieu Eugene of the 40th district.
All smiles, although he did not receive Crown Heights official backing, was Ken Thompson who defeated the veteran and controversial Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes in the primary. Sources say Hynes might run on the Republican ticket.
Another candidate who wasn’t endorsed, because he didn’t need it, was New York State Senator Eric Adams who was lucky enough to run unopposed to be the Democratic nominee for Brooklyn Borough President and replacing the outgoing Marty Markowitz.
Speaker after speaker extolled the unique character of the neighborhood as a diverse community, where people from all ethnic backgrounds, faiths and nationalities live together.
Assemblyman Karim Camara reminded participants of a comment “the grand Rebbe” made that Crown Heights is not two communities living side by side, but one community living together.
They described the importance of Crown Heights way beyond its size as a trend setter for inter-group and neighborly relations.
Present were also New York State Senator Daniel Squadron running for Public Advocate, Assemblyman Walter Mosley and District leaders Jesse Hamilton and Renee Collymore, as well as 71st Precinct chief John Lewis.
Jewish activists from Crown Heights, Williamsburg and other areas addressed the issues of concern to the frum community, such as public safety and housing. Among them were legislative assistants Eli Slavin for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Reuven Lipkind for Eric Adams and Arna Lipkind for Council member Darlene Mealy.
“Especially now, when change appears to be coming to city government, the improvements of the past 20 years should not be taken for granted even as adjustments will be made,” said Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the local Jewish Community Council.
One of the people of that possible change was NYPD Chief of Department Philip Banks III, who is rumored to be Democrat mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio‘s favorite to become the next NYPD Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner.
Outgoing Bloomberg administration official Fred Kreizman was there to receive an award from the community and publicly thanked by Crown Heights Community Council Chairman Zaki Tamir for his “dedicated assistance to the community.”
And so, with an upcoming general election in mind, the politicians headed to Kingston Avenue to meet the masses.
this is so tribal
100% agreed- DeBlazio may be more extreme than Dinkins!
You forgot to mention that yankel berman community activist participated as well.
Yp nc
we are on the way to go back to the 70’s