By Yehuda Ceitlin, COLlive Editor
Crown Heights was a political battleground Tuesday night, as New York’s mayoral rivals courted the Chassidic residents of the Brooklyn neighborhood.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was greeted by the communal leadership, while his Democratic challenger William Thompson Jr. took to the streets.
“Do people of the world know who is the mayor of Paris or Rome? No!” Bloomberg’s host, real estate mogul Sholom Ber Drizin, said in his remarks.
“But everyone knows who is the Mayor of New York,” Drizin flattered the billionaire who has spent $65 million on his campaign for a third term. (Disclosure: Bloomberg for Mayor 2009 Inc. advertises on COLlive.com)
The Mayor was at ease in Drizin’s large Sukkah on Eastern Parkway, eagerly stretching his hand to the popcorn bowl – his “greatest extravagance.”
Indeed, local leaders know him well as Eliyahu Cohen, Executive Director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, pointed out during the reception.
“We were the first community that stood behind Mr. Bloomberg when our Vice Chairman Chanina Sperlin endorsed him in 2001,” Cohen said.
Crown Heights Political Action Committee officially endorsed the mayor this round, but that didn’t stop the cash-strapped Thompson from coming to Kingston Avenue.
As thousands of men and women from all over Brooklyn were participating in the Simchas Beis Hashoeiva, the city’s former comptroller made his rounds.
“Wow, the size of this stage has grown since my last visit here,” Thompson told the crowd at the celebration funded by the Community Council – though none of its members were present.
Back at Drizin’s Sukkah, Bloomberg knew which buttons to press when he spoke about his parents and their appreciation for Yiddishkeit.
The richest man in town then whipped out his wallet and showed the cash he had: a single dollar bill from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
maybe they should also write the list of people that were present? and the list of people that were outside?
Rabbi Schwei is seen good and well in the picture. If they wanted to hide him they would delete the photo
grow up
why is shegalov taking credit?
You omitted (?) the presence of Rabbi Schwei the moro deasro and that he spoke first and gave the mayor a blessing!!!
For the past 8 years the mayor has been extremely responsive to the needs of Crown Heights, if someone had trouble with any city agency, chanina can get someone on the phone even at midnight and problems get resolved. Chanina Sperlin is a majic word at City Hall that opens doors, and that’s why he was able to arrange the gathering. Four more years of that level of reponsiveness will be very good for Crown Heights – and if Moshiach comes sooner, Mordechai Bloomberg will be with us then too. Gut Mo’ed
Did you see your father in these photos?.
I might not like everything about Thompson but I know enough to vote for him and let bloomy enjoy his retirement
Useless politicians being wined and dined by our useless “communal leadership”…
Nothing new here
Bloomberg’s reps are in Crown Heights every week and when needed, he has not been a stranger and has answered our needs at every request. Speak to anyone that has any leadership role and no matter where they stand. Speak to the new board of old board, they will all agree that Bloomberg’s office has always been responsive and here in the community. seems that the other guy is just surrounded by politcal hacks and no leaders from CH
Come once every election year for a photo op, and not step foot into ch for the interim. Somebody tell this man the story of the 71st precint and us.
It seems from the photos that Thompson’s support in Crown Heights is very weak; but, so it goes…
What a great Kiddush HaShem was made at the New home of Reb. Drizen. We at the CHJCC are proud of Rabbi Shagalov for putting this together.
Thank the Vaad Hakohol!
It seems that you put this event together. Great work, and I’m sure that it will bring much needed funding for Crown Heights.
why didnt bloomberg come to kingston? the thousand hard working people in the community is worth nothing to him???