Doug Biviano
Ask State Assembly Candidate Doug Biviano about himself, and the first thing he’ll say is he’s a P.S. 8 parent who was born and raised in Brooklyn. Then, almost as if to prove it, he’ll ask the waitress at Heights Café to bring him a Brooklyn Brewery beer.
A Cornell grad, civil engineer, husband, and father of three, Biviano, 41, made a brief sojourn out to Colorado before settling down ten years ago in Brooklyn Heights. Now the superintendent at 169 Columbia Heights, Biviano, whose preppy good looks seem well-suited for a career in politics, recalled fondly his campaign for city council last year.
“It was exhausting, it was exhilarating, it was intense,” he said between sips of beer and bites of pizza. “The highs were really high, the lows were super low. Every mistake you make is amplified.”
Though he lost that primary race to Stephen Levin, who went on to win the general election, Biviano made a name for himself in the neighborhood, and even secured an endorsement from Rep. Dennis Kucinich. He’s hoping to capitalize on that reputation by running again for office, this time on the statewide level as he challenges the popular Assemblywoman Joan Millman for the Democratic nomination.
“The fix is in—they’ve perfected a system,” Biviano said, voicing the common complaint that 98 percent of incumbents seeking reelection return to Albany each election cycle. Not only does this “system” protect the incumbents, but in Biv’s view, it also hurts the people.
As an example, he pointed to a recent debate between himself and Millman, where Millman, who ascended to the Assembly in a 1997 special election, defended a colleague who had failed to disclose additional income he makes as an attorney.
“She should be defending us,” Biviano observed.
Biviano with "Millman"
Another glaring flaw in his adversary: Millman, a former educator, is not only “double-dipping” he claims by receiving both her teacher’s pension and a salary for her position in the Legislature. He also believes she lied in the debate by claiming she could not defer the pension payments, when in fact she can.
“Instead of Joan Millman setting an example, setting the bar…she’s at the core of what’s wrong with Albany,” said Biviano.
He’s garnered some attention of late for releasing a video complaining about the lack of media attention given those challenging “the bums” in Albany, as Biviano likes to call them. In fact, he noted that the Brooklyn Heights Blog was the only outlet to approach him for an extended interview.
With negligence like that, Biviano argued, “How do they expect anybody to throw the bums out?”
Though he’s quick to drop the names of local pols done wrong (Millman, Pedro Espada, Jr, Sheldon Silver), Biviano admires relative newcomer Daniel Squadron, the State Senator who fought off longtime incumbent Marty Connor in the 2008 Democratic primary.
“How do you effect change? I think he’s struggling with that,” Biv said of Squadron. “He could potentially become a target because I think he truly wants to reform Albany. I’d like to work with him.”
In Biviano’s opinion, the biggest problems facing the 52nd Assembly District he hopes to represent are the economy; the MTA’s budget cuts; the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park; and the lack of middle school options in the region. He favors term limits for local politicians (“Eight to ten years seems reasonable,” he said), and is open to the idea of residential parking permits.
Biviano with Kucinich in 2009
On his website, Biviano lays out his plan to fix the MTA by refinancing its long-term debt and saving more than $700 million a year in interest. He also pledges to eliminate corruption in Albany by way of “active representation of the people,” and by forcing all elected New York State and New York City elected officials to fully disclose their income.
Admittedly apolitical prior to 9/11, Biviano was stirred to attention by what he realized was “a systematic failure of leadership we have in our governments.” He believes everybody needs a good dose of civics, and that getting involved in the political process can be empowering.
Having secured his spot on the primary ballot on September 14, Biviano promised he’d be a politician people could trust. “I am beholden to nobody,” he said. “I can go up there with complete independence.”
And this might be his last shot; Biviano has no plans to run for public office again. “Not if my wife has any say,” he added, leaving the door open, of course, as any good politician should.
It’s sad and pathetic that he has no record of community involvement yet believes that he should represent us.
Is he still breaking NYS Election Law by not filing his campaign finance disclosure reports? We have enough lawbreakers in Albany (Joan Millman is NOT one.) We don’t need any more.
Why can’t he understand what double-dipping really is? It means retiring from a job, getting a pension and then getting rehired and paid to do the same job.
Residential Permit Parking? That is Joan Millman’s bill. She drafted that legislation.
Fighting MTA budget cuts? Joan Millman introduced the bill to force the MTA to use Federal stimulus dollars for its operating budget.
MIddle school? Joan’s been fighting for that and the reason why PS 8 is such a good school is because of the work of Joan and then superintendent Carmen Farina, who hired the brilliant principal, Seth.
Brooklyn Bridge Park? Thanks to Joan we have this wonderful park.
I like the “9/11″ reference. Note to Doug: that was 9 years ago. What have you done for this community between then and now?
I can answer that: NOTHING. Absolutely nothing.
That’s why the media doesn’t care about you.
Dunno why, but I’m getting the feeling that “Sad”, “Dougie wants to be like Joan”, and “John Thomas Longo” (see comment thread under “Squeezing Out Sparks”) are the same person.
BTW, the name “John Thomas Longo” would get lots of laughs in the U.K.: http://tinyurl.com/2flvsto
Claude, I’m glad my name amuses you (it’s in honor of my grandfather and father, but you are more interested in juvenile antics).
But your imaturity doesn’t change the fact that Doug Biviano talks a good game, but that’s all he does. Talk. Incredibly, this self-proclaimed reformer continues to evade the state election law requirements for disclosing campaign donations and expenses. That’s right, for the past two weeks Biviano has had better things to do than comply with state law by failing to file the 32-day pre-priamry public disclosure reports due back on August 13th. See for yourself, by clicking here http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A75539
What does he have to hide? How long will he try to get away with hiding his campaign donors and vendors? Will he also ignore the next round of disclosure statements due on Friday? Next time you see him, ask him why he chooses to be a deadbeat and avoid public disclosure of his campaign spending.
The BHB has a long history of shilling for Biviano. This “profile” puff piece (anti-Millman tract) is just the latest in that long string.
Publius – We’re not shilling. Thanks for your support.
Mr. Longo: I once had dealings with a London solicitor named John Thomas. Obviously, his parents named him before the publication of Lady Chatterley’s Lover led to his name becoming an unfortunate slang term. Knowing that bit of Brit slang made me guess that yours was a clever pseudonym. I regret having guessed wrong.
My observation that comments critical of Biviano, made under three different names, seemed to be coming from the same person was prompted by their having come in rapid succession and all being, as blog comments go, quite well written. I was not defending Biviano, or attacking Millman, for that matter. I was simply observing that a bit of astroturfing seemed to be going on.
Apology accepted.
I speak for myself. That others see the truth as well only speaks to the power of the message.
Millman has been a fixture in the extremely corrupt Albany politics far too long! Time for change.
@ John: Going to your link, the filings for Millman and Biviano are for the same time period. I am not sure what you are saying by Biviano didnt file. If he didnt it looks to me like Millman didnt file either.
XYZ:
If you go to the NYS elections website through the “front door” rather than through the link, you can see all of the filings for a particular candidate. Millman has filed 32 day disclosure report, Biviano hasn’t.
Not a good thing from a holier than thou reform candidate.
If you’re not shilling for Biviano, you need to improve your writing. “Another glaring flaw in his adversary: Millman, a former educator, is not only ‘double-dipping’ by receiving both her teacher’s pension and a salary for her position in the Legislature….” That is written as a statement of fact, as opposed to a record of Biviano’s rhetorical gambit. It is not a fact; it is an interpretation and an incorrect one at that. Here’s a fresh analogy:
If you are elected to the assembly, are you ‘double-dipping’ if you take IRA distributions or receive a check from Social Security? Only 13 more days of this nonsense. I am available with whatever help Mrs. Biviano needs to prevent her husband from running for office again.
@ Reggie I’ll take that as an offer to contribute to BHB and serve as our copy editor.
I am a strong supporter of term limits, and I believe it is time for new blood and a change in Albany. Joan has flip-flopped positions on Atlantic Yards, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. She has been too supportive of the local (selfish) real estate interests, and is too entrenched in the corrupt system in Albany. It is time for a change. Thank you Joan for your service, but it is time to retire. Let change happen.
Millman has been in the assembly quite long enough. New blood is wanted and since Biviano appears to be an intelligent liberal democrat, why on earth wouldn’t you vote for him unless you’re unwilling to take a chance on someone new. The Republic, I imagine, will survive the loss of Joan Millman.
Biv for Brooklyn!
I am a bit incensed over his accusation of “double dipping”. Joan Millman worked for 27 years as a teacher and CONTRIBUTED to her pension – it’s hers – honestly and legally. If she is lucky to get another job, then good for her. Biviano has to oppose her on some other principal.
I would like to see an explanation of all salaries and perks that all members of our state gov’t gets. Then we can see why those jobs are fiercely held onto.
XYZ,
I re-checked the links and as of this writing Biviano has NOT filed his 32-day pre-primary campaign finance disclosure:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A75539
It was due August 13th, making it now 20 days overdue and counting.
Even if Biviano decides to stop evading the law and file a late report, he has not explained why he thought it was right to evade the law on the one hand while sending out — in his words — an urgent appeal for more campaign donations, saying that his raising $4,000 immediately “matters more than anything else right now.”
Biviano has a warped sense of priorities. I would have thought he’d want to comply with the campaign disclosure law first.
As far as Joan Millman, her report was filed timely and is online:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A06295
I’ve had enough of Millman and hope enough other people have as well.
What is the old saying, “I it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” Just because someone has served for several terms doesn’t mean that she should retire. And I am disappointed that the BHB has decided to give space for one candidate and not another. Is the BHB becoming a political rag?
I think both Millman and Biviano have serious flaws so I have no dog in this fight, but anyone who thinks Albany falls into the “If it’s not broken” metaphor needs to wake up.
Dear Cranberry,
I never wrote that Albany wasn’t broken. I was referring to our current assemblywoman.
Why are most of those who submit comments so mean and nasty to each other?
Has anyone actually read Biviano’s transportation proposal? I read it carefully yesterday and wondered what others are thinking.
Homer, that sounds like fun but I’ve got my own writing to do.
If I can quibble further without it being misinterpreted as a job query, the phrase, “…he lost that primary race to Stephen Levin,” makes it sound like a two-man contest where our man Biv’ came up short. He finished sixth in a seven-candidate field.
“Intelligent liberal democrat”…that is reason enough for me not to vote for him, thank you very much. My taxes are high enough as it is. And no, for the record, I am not a Republican.
Albany is a cesspool and every last one should be thrown out, starting with Sheldon Silver. Getting back to Millman, unless actual law is broken by accepting a pension while working, (and I believe that there is a monetary amount that is supposed to cap at $30,00 for retirees, if they work at another governmental agency) that shouldn’t be the issue. What have you done for us lately? Not much, it seems. But who will do better?
Doug Biviano looks like a good and decent politico to me. If Dennis Kucinich endorsed him, than he is the most Progressive candidate, and that is what this very Progressive District needs. He stands for issues we care about here in Brooklyn Heights. He has my vote. I stand for Kucinich as our most decent politician on The Hill and if he’s for Biviano, that is good enough for me. Kucinich may be a little guy, but he is nobody’s crony and he would actually have made our best president ever if he had the TV appeal of Obama. Obama is trying, but Kucinich would have been better against the Republican right wing which is nothing but a crony of the corporate state. AND THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH, so don’t bother telling me differently, because I have studied the situation for years and I know I’m correct about it. Anyone who Markiwitz endorses is for OVER development of Brooklyn and we are already suffering the ill effects of OVER population here in this densely populated borough, the highest density of population in the world next to Tokyo. The problem for Brooklyn Heights is TOO MUCH OVER DEVELOPMENT since I moved here forty years ago, more and more condominiums and high rises are ruining our human sized brownstone neighborhood and Montague St. is over crowded with tourists and overly peopled with high-rise condos and coops. Parking is worse then ever, etc. Our neighborhood is being destroyed by OVER development. The one thing I do not like about Markowitz and Bloomberg is their penchant for OVER development as if that is the ONLY good thing one can do for the economy. They are wrong when it comes to the environment and quality of life issues for that reason.
Doug Biviano has been a very active member of the Brooklyn Heights community. He has taken a stand on the Brooklyn Heights Park to protect children among others. He is available to the community, He is very capable, He has good energy, and is very enthusiastic about this office. I think we should give him a chance to join Daniel Squadron in helping to change things in this government. People are very quick to judge and condemn but here is a guy who can be a tremendous asset to our community if we support him. I urge those of you who are skeptical to rethink your position and give Doug Biviano a chance to prove himself.
Nancy, if you’re not a Republican, then why would Biviano’s being an “intelligent liberal democrat” put you off? Liberal democrats as opposed to – what? – are no more likely to raise your taxes than any other party.
Nancy sounds like a Tea Party bore. One man cannot raise taxes, my dear.
I find this site’s endless promotion of Doug Biviano to be terrible. I honestly stopped coming to the BHB for almost a year out of anger that by promoting Biviano instead of a viable candidate for the city council we ended up with Levin, the essence of Brooklyn machine.
Last fall I got excited enough about Biviano from BHB that I actually planned on voting for him. Then, since he was out at one of the summer streets I tried to engage him in a conversation. First I asked him about bike lanes. Since I didn’t lead the question with my own opinion he didn’t know how to respond and told me that the bike lanes have problems that need to be fixed for commercial vehicles. Once I revealed that I actually supported bike lanes he proudly told me that he biked to his office. Since he lives on Grace Court and his office was on Montague St. I wasn’t impressed. The rest of the conversation was his rattling great ideas. Lower taxes. Free health care. Not plans, nothing hard, no consequence, just the easy part. Free ice cream for everyone.
Now, suddenly, Biviano is compelled to run against Millman mainly because she holds an elected office that Biviano wants. And once again BHB comes out to support his candidacy. Repeating Biviano’s main complaint against Millman, that she “double dips” by collecting her pension in addition to the $92,000 she gets paid by the assembly. Seriously, a rich Brooklyn Heights resident complains that an assemblywoman living in Brooklyn might need the help of the pension she earned from being a teacher to get by and BHB just tows the line. Has Biviano promised to live only on his $92,000 assembly salary and not use any other sources of income or assets? He probably can’t afford his maintenance on $92,000 a year.
Again people are trumpeting the fact that he is endorsed by Dennis Kucinich. But does anyone wonder why Dennis Kucinich would care who won a city council seat in New York City enough to travel to Brooklyn to endorse him? Could Biviano be a major donor who Kucinich owed a favor? Or do you think Kucinich scours all of the local town and city council races around the country in order to make endorsements?
Meanwhile Millman is fighting against Vito Lopez/Steve Levin’s attempt to stuff the Democratic State Committee. An issue ignored by both Biviano and the BHB.
I’m sure I will be accused of being a Millman shill and of being the same person as the other anti-Biviano comments since I don’t partake in the daily navel-gazing of AEB and nabeguy and the like. I’m not but of course I can’t prove it. So I will make two unsubstantiated claims of my own: 1. The BHB gets money from Biviano to support his candidacy (actually this one is pretty easy to prove) and 2. BHB gets money from Vito Lopez to ignore the real political corruption in the area and focus on Biviano’s ridiculous campaign against Millman.
In the meantime I sincerely hope that everyone seeks out Doug Biviano for a conversation on the issues. I think they would find it as illuminating as I did.
OK. Prove it.
We haven’t endorsed Biviano. Indeed, we make it our practice not to endorse candidates. We have given Biviano more coverage than other media, simply because we’re the Brooklyn Heights Blog, and he is a Brooklyn Heights resident. We’ve also given Ms. Millman plenty of coverage: see here, here, here and here. If we were shilling for Biviano, we’d be doing a lousy job of it; our straw poll of readers (as of a few minutes ago, when I last checked) shows Millman with 60% of the votes. So, if Biviano or Lopez were giving us money, they’d be wasting it. (I leave it to Homer to deny the money allegation, as I’m confident he can. My work is all on the editorial side.)
Update: looking at the site again, I see we do have an ad for Biviano, for which I presume he paid us something. We probably should put “paid political ad” above or below it.
Thanks, Claude. Our coverage of Doug is based upon the fact primarily that he lives in Brooklyn Heights.
Assemblymember Millman has agreed to talk to our Julie Kanfer and that profile will run next week.
As far as advertising, it’s real simple to buy an ad on BHB and Millman or anyone else for that matter is welcome to do so. It helps us pay our hosting costs, some of our writers and keeps this neighborhood resource going.
This thread is very interesting keep it going. and while you’re at it check out these links:
http://bit.ly/90HP59
http://bit.ly/duySgW
Maybe the truth… is …out…there….
@Not John Thomas (and where did last hear that name? Oh, yes, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” read many moons ago): I have no navel.
Luck of the draw, I’d say.
We have no idea how Biviano has been spending the money donated to him because as of this writing he’s failed to file two campaign finance disclosure statements. The first Biviano blew-off was the 32-day pre-primary disclosure. And now today the 11-day disclosure is due.
But no reports from Biviano http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A75539
But Biviano continues to appeal for donations, saying it “matters more than anything else right now” while thumbing his nose at the state law and the voters he’s asking to put their trust in him. If he can’t take the time to comply with the law now, he doesn’t deserve our vote.
It’s long past time for Biviano to explain to the voters why he has purposely evaded the law on campaign finances.
The simplistic belief that a single, newly elected assembly person could successfully challenge “intrenched interests” and “clean up Albany” amazes me. This newly elected person would have to occupy the throne of an autocrat and ignore the legions of Assembly members and Senators with whom compromises must be made.
Do you know the process of how bills are co-sponsored and how they get into a committee? Do you know that even in the City Council the Speaker determines which bills get debated?
Am I the only Republican in Brooklyn Heights? Is there a club I can join where we cry in our beer?
Willow: Homer loves to point out that I am a Republican (although disgruntled). There is a club called the Brownstone Republican Club. Unfortunately, they were more conservative than my liking and I drifted away. You can find them at:
http://brownstonerepublicanclub.com/
Like anything else, change happens one step at a time. “slowly I turn, step by step”. No steps, no change. We need a big change in Albany, one step at a time.
William: by fortunate coincidence, one of my Facebook friends posted this today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJBhzMWJCc
Since John Thomas Longo is clearly an actual person I feel bad being Not John Thomas Longo, plus it’s not a very descriptive name, most of us are not John Thomas Longo. Since these are all political posts, I’ll go as Publius.
@Claude Scales:
- re, no endorsement: Although you don’t make any actual endorsements you do play favorites. Unless you really want to claim that your coverage of the Marty Connor/Daniel Squadron race was marked by dispassionate journalism. You guys were pulling for Sqaudron and we are all better off that you did. You should be proud. Also, it’s hard to claim you don’t play favorites if you entitle the post about Biviano running against Millman “Run Biv Run!” http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/12540
- re, no influence: Again you sell yourselves short. Biviano won your 2009 straw poll only to come in 8th in the actual election. Certainly some of the discrepency can be attributed to your positive reporting of his candidacy.
I don’t actually think you are on Lopez’s payroll but am upset that you’ve ignored the Democratic State Committee race and Lopez’s attemptd power grab. It’s hard to have missed it since Lopez/Levin have managed to get their candidates posters in most of the storefronts on Henry Street and Montague Street. They even managed to get to Fascati before it closed for vacation.
@AEB: I’m sorry you have no navel, that’s terrible although your survival in the womb is remarkable. And I am sorry to have accused you of navel gazing. I only included that line to ensure a response. I mean, you don’t want to wite a ridiculously long comment on one of your favorite websites and then be greeted with silence until someone posts trying to sell viagra two years from now.
If you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Daniel Squadron is part of the solution in Albany. Joan Millman isn’t.
@ Publius (f/k/a Not JTL),
Who cares if they are playing favorites, It’s just a blog?
“[J]ust a blog?” Arch, you’ve cut me to the quick.
BHB is allowed to biased if it wants to be. In fact it can hold itself out to have the same journalistic standards as Sarah Palin’s facebook page if it wants. It was Claude Scales who said the page didn’t endorse candidates. No matter what position the BHB takes on its own bias, I would still point out the bias in the comments section and ask them to defend it.
By the way, did anyone actually look at the details of Biv’s “plan” to save the MTA $700 million a year by refinancing its debt before reporting about it? He proposes getting a 0.5% loan from the Federal government and using it to refinance the MTA’s existing debt. The problem is that the federal government doesn’t actually offer loans at 0.5% to municipal governments or the MTA. So his plan reminds me a bit of Steve Martin’s old bit about how to be a millionaire and not pay any taxes: 1. Get a million dollars 2. Don’t pay taxes. And that’s before going into whether the MTA’s existing debt can be prepaid.
The “Run Biv Run!” post was Homer’s, not mine, but I’ll venture to say that his motive was to encourage a spirited campaign. Are we completely objective? Of course not; no one is. Homer and I are both Mets fans, which reveals a liking for underdogs. (I won’t go so far as Homer and root for West Ham simply because they finished at the bottom of the Premier League last season.)
This, of course, ignores the substantive questions: who is more qualified and has a better plan for dealing with issues? We have views on these matters (Homer’s may be different than mine; I haven’t asked him) which we haven’t expressed in our posts. (At least, I haven’t–I’ve tried to be scrupulous about reporting candidates’ positions as theirs, not mine.) Where our bias does show is in giving exposure to those who may be underexposed by more establishment or broader-based media, and in encouraging competition in the electoral arena.
Publius, why are you comparing a blog to journalism? That’s like comparing Fox news to sanity.
Claude is correct in his saying we do these things to encourage a “spirited campaign”. Every time a Democratic incumbent runs unchallenged democracy suffers. Say what you will about the quality of the challengers but if they’re crazy enough to run we’ll cover them — especially if they live in BROOKLYN HEIGHTS.
We don’t endorse candidates “editorially” like newspapers do (although one newspaper publisher has counseled me to do so so), we let our readers endorse candidates. Ultimately it’s up to you the reader to make up your mind.
That said, if your’e here criticizing whatever it is we’re doing, that means you care enough to say something. That’s a good thing — and you should continue to be a regular contributor to this site either by commenting or becoming one of our writers. That’s what this thing is all about.
Nabeguy: ouch!
Yeah, he’s mean.
It’s more like comparing the local playground to Wall St.
Claude, no offense intended. The sanity part of my equation was in reference to this blog, which is a far more (small d)emocratic platform than most “unbiased” news outlets. I cited Fox only because they’re one of the best at stating opinion as fact, but I could have just as easily said the NY Times. What makes this blog so valuable is that it is driven by multiple opinions that allow its posters to call out whatever bias they may detect. God bless the First Amendment.
Nabeguy: well put.
@Not John Thomas Longo, navel gazing can be productive. The last time I engaged in it, I not only found a fair amount of lint, but a good deal of Millman’s initiatives.
The last 2 years — have been the worst in New York State history for both ‘houses’ in Albany. Oddly, its actually been reported on… across each week, and in full view of all of us. So, this year — there is NO excuse. Yet? We still hold into to false-beliefs that “our” local pols aren’t part of the problem? What HAVE our local-elected’s actually DONE apart from scant talk of using the catch-phrase of ‘reform’ or ‘transparency’ to get heads nodding? Blame-games, buck-passing doesn’t change who hides behind powerful players in Albany — although its up to us and our media to point this out (and we don’t).
When will be hold office-holders to higher standards?