By COLlive reporter
As the former chief of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Joseph Lhota has gotten used to the screeching sounds of the New York Subway and the engines of the buses.
It is no wonder then that he was all smiles when the shofar was blown for him during his campaign stop in Crown Heights on Tuesday.
Lhota, running for New York City Mayor in the Republican Primary on September 10, came to the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC) to learn about community concerns and to ask for support.
He was greeted by the council’s executives: Chairman Zaki Tamir, Treasurer Fishel Brownstein, liaison for Governmental Affairs Chanina Sperlin and Executive Director Eli Cohen.
Lhota mentioned his extensive experience in the administration of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, serving as Finance Commissioner, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and finally as Deputy Mayor for Operations.
FLOWING TRAFFIC
An investment banker, Lhota told his hosts that he plans to preserve many of the “management achievements” of the Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg Administrations, but he also promised to address the high taxes and water bills caused by a bloated City budget.
He spoke of the need to find more ways to assist families of private and parochial school children with high tuition payments and the need to create more affordable housing and improve traffic flow for cars.
The highlight of the low-profile visit –contrasting the crowds that came for Democrats like Bill Thompson and Eliot Spitzer— was perhaps his reconnection with his Jewish roots.
Lhota was raised Catholic and identifies as a Christian. His maternal grandmother, Ita Steinberg, was born in the U.S. to a Russian Jewish family but married a Roman Catholic. LHota is Jewish according to halacha.
While standing on Kingston Avenue, his hosts blew the shofar as customary during the month of Elul. At the urging of Sperlin, he agreed to put on Tefillin and say the blessings.
A blessing couldn’t hurt come election day…
This is abolutely sick. The rich landlords are getting ridiculously richer… every nook and cranny is filled with renters, you can literally see their toes sticking out the window of some Montgomery basement l’moshul… Affordable renting, more jobs, more state companies ought to move into Crown Heights and get things stirred up. It’s not enough that the only benefitters of tourism is FOOD FOOD FOOD and MORE ICEA CREAM!!! My gosh, my brother!!!!
Reb Chanina Sperlin:
My son was stopped Erev Shabbos for a traffic infraction,
He was being pulled into central booking….
You spent TWO HOURS on the phone and he was home before licht bension,
THANK YOU.
For everything there is money, FRESSING IN THE RESAURANTS, SUMMER HOMES, VACATIONS…..
Except for: Tuition and rent !!!!!
BS”D
his stand on safety and support of stop and frisk, for that alone he should be elected ,otherwise head for the hills. Safety effects everyone
A couple that is just married cant afford $1350 rent a month thats the most urgent matter facing CH. Thats what why we need to lobby politicians. Didnt we support bloomberg 3x have we got anything for that other photo-ops and him coming to simchas beis hashoeva?
Name something substantial, not like HEAP registration. How about affordable housng for the community? Programs to increase literacy? Help for our Seniors? Everyone I know goes to Williamsburg to get help because they are quick, competent & have all the right connections. And look at the buildings the Chassidim there have. They may not be perfect but they have Section 8. How many Section 8 appartments are there here?
Take a cold shower and then a deep breath…
I care and so do many others.
There are many, many things done for the betterment of the area and shchuna.
Things are happening in CH , besides BBQ’s and team baseball games.
To the FAMILIER FACES we say , “ksiva V’casima Tova”.
Every candidate descends on CH, the usual photo ops with the usual faces & what will they do for us if elected….same as always NOTHING. Why?
Because we can’t deliver bloc votes like in Williamsburg or BP. Because there isn’t any achdus and every faction fights with every other one. Because whatever money does make its way here never seems to do anything to help the people who need it.
Go home & take your groupies with you & leave us alone. I personally don’t care who wins, like Tevye the milkman my life won’t be any different.
THE KING IS IN THE FIELD AND THE MITZVAHS ARE HAPPENING ON KINGSTON. VERY PROUD OF THE KIDDISH HASHEM! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A BAR MITZVAH ON KINGSTON AVENUE WITHOUT THE BAR!!!! WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE IF OTHERS WILL TAKE THE CUE AND KEEP THE COSTS DOWN IN THE FUTURE TOO!!!!!! MAZEL TOV TO THE WHOLE MISHPACHA