We thought it would be interesting to compile a list of 10 people who live or work in Brooklyn Heights who we think made an impact on our neighborhood, our city, our country or the world. We asked for your input as well and the list reflects that.
None of those named in the BHB Ten were notified ahead of time regarding their selection. If you’re on the list (or if you didn’t make it!) we welcome your comments.
And now, the first ever BHB Ten:
1. Daniel Squadron
In defeating 30 year incumbent NYS Senator Martin Connor, NYS Senator-elect Daniel Squadron provided Brooklyn Heights (and the NYS SD-25) with its own face of change. While the 28 year old protege of Senator Chuck Schumer enters one of the most dysfunctional legislative bodies in the Free World this week with no seniority, he’s already keeping his promise to voters that he’d “work hard” if elected.
2. Paul Giamatti
With his Emmy Award winning portrayal of President John Adams, Paul Giamatti helped feed America’s renewed interest in Presidential politics. We’re looking forward to his performance in the upcoming sequel to BubbaHotep.
3. Tim Oltmans
Honored by the BHA in 2007, we applaud Jack the Horse Chef/Owner Tim Oltmans for keeping to his own high standards, rising above the culinary debacles unfolding a block away at the Corner of Cranberry, and continuing to excel at bringing great food, innovative cocktails and an amazing vibe to the (hopefully) burgeoning North Heights food scene.
4. Alan Fishman
While Alan Fishman made an estimated $60K an hour and a $7.5 million signing bonus in the few weeks he spent at the helm of the doomed WaMu Bank, he kindasorta redeemed himself a tiny bit when it was announced that he would refuse a reported $11.6 million severance package.
5. James Grant
BHB’s Claude Scales gets to the point, ” James Grant [had] the prescience to see the omens of the current financial crisis.” He published his fifth book, Mr. Market Miscalculates: The Bubble Years and Beyond in 2008.
6. TK Small
We hadn’t planned to be self-indulgent and name one of our own to the BHB Ten. However, the efforts by TK Small in 2008 to save LICH, fight for voter accessibility and his countless insightful comments and blog posts here earned him a spot on the list.
7. David Yassky
Whether he’s fighting for parking permits or casting a controversial vote on term limits, our man in the City Council David Yassky seems to be at the center of everything. The next year is a pivotal one for the Brooklyn Heights resident, he’s got stiff competition should he decide to run again for his council seat (provided term limits are really “readjusted”). If he doesn’t do that, he’ll face uncertain challenges in the race for City Comptroller.
8. Greg Clayman
A local boy and St. Ann’s alum who made good. As one of the foot soldiers of Web 1.0 companies, Greg Clayman co-founded Upoc a mobile social networking company that pre-dated Twitter by almost a decade. Now as EVP, Digital Distribution & Business Development at MTV Networks, Clayman is one of the innovators who are laying the track for the entertainment and music industry’s future.
9. Simon Rich
Son of NY Times columnist Frank Rich, Simon Rich had the distinction of being a writer this year during the most watched and talked about season of Saturday Night Live in two decades. At 24, he’s the youngest writer ever at the show. His second book Free Range Chickens was released in 2008. He is currently working on a third book.
The author of 16 books for children, Brooklyn Heights resident Melanie Hope Greenberg released her ode to Coney Island, Mermaids on Parade, in 2008. Her work keeps art alive in kids’ homes and classrooms everywhere.
