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Cuomo Elected Governor, Local Incumbents Squadron and Millman Prevail

By on November 3, 2010 12:02 am in Election 10

Democrat and former state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has been elected New York’s 56th Governor. While the outcome isn’t surprising, the ease of his victory, projected within minutes of the polls’ closing, is. In local races, there appear to be no surprises. Soon to be no longer freshman State Senator Daniel Squadron is the projected winner over his Republican opponent, Joseph Nardiello. Although no projection has yet been made in the race between incumbent Assembly Member Joan Millman and Republican/Conservative challenger John Jasilli, with 38 of 132 precincts reporting Millman has 87 percent of the vote. Both of Brooklyn Heights’ members of the U.S. House of Representatives (their districts border each other along Henry and Pierrepont Streets), Edolphus Towns (11th District, Democrat) and Nydia Velazquez (12th District, also a Democrat) were re-elected overwhelmingly, each getting over 90 percent of the vote. In the nearby 10th District, incumbent Democrat Yvette Clark was also re-elected. Both of New York State’s incumbent U.S. Senators, Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, also were victorious.

Two citywide referenda, one to return term limits for city offices to two instead of three and the other to make administrative reforms to city government, both appear to be passing overwhelmingly.

Two statewide races, for Attorney General and Comptroller, remain in doubt. In the AG race, with 54 percent of the precincts reporting, Democrat Eric Schneiderman appears to have a comfortable lead over Republican Dan Donovan. With 57 percent of the precincts in, the Comptroller race between incumbent Democrat Tom DiNapoli and Republican challenger Harry Wilson is very tight, with DiNapoli holding a slight lead.

Update: Millman, DiNapoli and Schneiderman are now all winners.

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Heavy Voter Turnout Reported in Brooklyn Heights

By on November 2, 2010 2:25 pm in Election 10

Photo: T.K. Small


Voters visiting urban polling places, including here in Brooklyn Heights, are reporting heavy turnout by voters early in the day.

The Huffington Post: By 9:00 a.m., there were already 132 voters at a polling place in north Brooklyn near Borough Hall, which Politico’s Maggie Haberman calls “an impressively high number that early in the morning for a midterm race.” HuffPost reader Tim B. in Brooklyn Heights also reported that when he voted at 10:30 a.m., it was “more crowded than I have ever seen it. … It’s gonna be crazy tonight!”

HuffPo also reports some difficulties with the new voting system, as described by a reader from Williamsburg. Reports from Erie, Pennsylvania and Chicago also tell of higher than expected turnout. If this pattern holds nationwide, it could bode well for Democrats.

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Area Woman: Too Dangerous Not to Vote Tuesday

By on October 30, 2010 4:54 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election 10

The New York Times reports on the importance of this Tuesday’s election to gay voters and a local resident is quoted:

NY Times: Recent hate crimes, the same-sex marriage debate and anti-gay statements from gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino have galvanized lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual voters in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill — as well as straight voters who support them — to go to the polls on Tuesday, and to cast their ballots for Andrew Cuomo.

“This election, I consider so dangerous,” said Dierdre Ann, a lesbian from Brooklyn Heights. “It’s far too dangerous not to vote.”

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St. Francis to Host “Tea Party” Debate

By on October 15, 2010 11:27 pm in Election 10, Events

On Thursday, October 28, St. Francis College will present a discussion of the “Tea Party” phenomenon that has affected American politics this election year, including New York with Carl Paladino’s capture of the Republican nomination for governor.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: With Tea Party victories across the country during recent primaries, St. Francis College and the Manhattan Institute come together for a special event on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. for a debate between Steve Malanga of the Manhattan Institute and Jacob Weisberg, editor-in-chief of the Slate Group, on the topic: “Are The Tea Parties Good For New York?”

Malanga, a senior fellow of the conservative Manhattan Institute and editor of the City Journal, will presumably argue for the affirmative of this proposition while Weisberg, editor-in-chief of Slate, the on-line magazine founded by Microsoft and now a unit of the Washington Post, will take the negative side. The event is free. St. Francis is located at 180 Remsen Street, between Clinton and Court.

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Times: Vito Lopez Said to be Under Federal and City Investigation

By on September 23, 2010 4:59 pm in Election 10, Government

Despite his continuing dominance of the Kings County Democratic Committee, State Assembly Member Vito Lopez faces some major challenges:

The New York Times: Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, a long-serving Brooklyn Democratic leader who is widely viewed as the borough’s patronage king, is at the center of two separate federal investigations, according to several people briefed on the matter. A third inquiry, by the city’s Department of Investigation, those people said, is focused on a network of nonprofit groups Mr. Lopez controls.

All three investigations focus to some extent on the nexus of politics, nonprofit groups and real estate developers in Brooklyn, the people familiar with the inquiries said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

Continue Reading →

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Millman’s Bill to Improve Election Process Becomes Law

By on September 21, 2010 4:34 pm in Election 10, Government

This in from Assembly Member Joan Millman’s office:

Last week, the Governor signed into law a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman. The bill, A. 8692 (in the Senate, S. 5447), gives local boards of election the authority to ensure poll sites have an adequate amount of voting machines, poll workers, and other resources. As the new voting machines can tabulate multiple official ballots and print out separate and distinct election totals, this law allows individual boards of election to create, consolidate, divide or alter election districts as needed. The law requires any such adjustment must provide sufficient resources for the poll site, based on the number of registered voters.

Ms. Millman noted that the introduction of the new, electronic voting machines, used for the first time in the primary elections this month, made this reform “especially relevant”. “While there were reports of some problems on election day,” she said, “I am confident these problems can be solved.” She will testify concerning the implementation of the new machines on October 4 before the City Council’s Committee on Governmental Operations.

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New Kings Democrats Demonstrate Against Vito, but Get Crushed in Committee

By on September 21, 2010 1:28 am in Election 10, Government


As previously announced, the New Kings Democrats held a rally early this evening, prior to the meeting of the Kings County Democratic Committee, on the steps of Borough Hall. In the clip above, NKD President Matt Cowherd introduces Lincoln Restler, candidate for male district leader in the 50th Assembly District (ballots are still being counted in that election; as of Monday evening,, Restler led the Vito Lopez backed candidate by 85 votes), who speaks about NKD’s goals at the Committee meeting. Standing behind Restler are the district leaders for the 52nd Assembly District, Chris Owens and Jo Anne Simon. Another video and more text after the jump. Continue Reading →

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New Kings Democrats Plan Anti-Vito Protest This Evening

By on September 20, 2010 11:07 am in Election 10, Events, Government

This in from New Kings Democrats:

Immediately prior to the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s biennial meeting, elected officials, good government advocates, members of New Kings Democrats, and dozens of protesters will lay out their 3 point platform for reform in Brooklyn’s Democratic Party on the steps of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall. Members will then walk over to St. Francis College and present it to the Party.

WHERE: Brooklyn Borough Hall Steps
WHEN: TONIGHT @ 6:30pm

For more information on New Kings Democrats, see their website.

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The NY Post Unmasks Darth Vito

By on September 19, 2010 12:40 pm in Election 10

The NY Post runs a scathing piece today about Assemblymember/ Kings County Democratic boss Vito Lopez,  based on a 2005 recording of a meeting with “eight little old ladies.”   This report comes one day before he faces a challenge from the New Kings Democrats at the Kings County Democratic Committee meeting at St. Francis College.  Of particular interest in the article — in light of  Lopez minions Reichbach and Willamson claiming to have played a part in the relocation of  a North Heights polling place last Tuesday —  is the Boss’ riff on poll workers: Continue Reading →

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District Leader Race Results or Now I am 22

By on September 15, 2010 11:44 am in Brooklyn Heights, Election 10

Update district leader final results from the Brooklyn Eagle:

In the district leadership race in the 52nd AD, incumbent Democratic District Leader Jo Ann Simon soundly beat out Hope Reichbach with 2,645 votes to 1,657. In the same district, Chris Owens (son of former Congressman Major Owens) won the male leadership spot by 2,154 votes over 1,361 cast for Jesse Strauss and 771 for Stephen Williamson.

The Brooklyn Paper sums up yesterday’s election, including our district leader race in the 52nd AD.

Brooklyn Paper: Voters in Brownstone Brooklyn responded strongly to Simon’s message of experience and reform, choosing to back the woman who has served as the district’s state committeewoman since 2004.

But Reichbach’s polling of 37 percent was a strong showing for the first-time candidate whose family, including her father, judge Gus Reichbach, remains well-respected in Downtown, and even Simon conceded that Reichbach has a bright future in politics.

Reichbach, for her part, vowed to carry on.

“You know, I’m 22 and I got more votes than I thought I would need,” said Reichbach. “I’m not upset right now. I’m going out with my friends right now on Smith Street and I don’t have to wear a suit. I’m happy with that.”

Why does that quote get us thinking about Iggy and the Stooges?

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Chris Owens Works It Out or Elvin Tibideaux is His Brother?!

Chris Owens Works It Out or Elvin Tibideaux is His Brother?!

By on September 15, 2010 11:16 am in Election 10

Sure newly elected 52nd AD (male) district leader Chris Owens went to Harvard and Princeton, is a songwriter,  is known for work in the community, is a radio host, is sorta David Yassky’s personal “Newman“, but who knew his brother was Elvin Tibideaux from The Cosby Show?!  Even cooler – his actor brother Geoffrey was also in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  Well not just an episode the original GREENMAN episode.

Meet your new (male) district leader in a YouTube video after the jump. Continue Reading →

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Millman Easy Winner in Assembly Race

By on September 15, 2010 1:09 am in Election 10, Government

Incumbent Assembly Member Joan Millman easily withstood a challenge from Heights resident Doug Biviano to win the Democratic nomination for the 52nd Assembly District. With all precincts reporting, according to NY1, Millman has 6,828 votes, or 73.59% of the total, to Biviano’s 2,450, or 26.41%. In other significant local races, PolitickerNY reports that incumbent female district leader Jo Anne Simon appears to have won her race against challenger Hope Reichbach, and, in the three way race for male district leader, the winner appears to be Chris Owens. If these results hold, in both instances candidates backed by Kings County Democratic Party leader Vito Lopez–Reichbach and Stephen Williamson–lost.

Update: PolitickerNY (follow link above) now says it has confirmed Simon’s and Owens’ victories. Results of statewide races follow the jump. Continue Reading →

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Voting Today – Is That Type Too Small?

By on September 14, 2010 2:14 pm in Election 10

BHB tipster/voter “Chris” send us this photo of the new paper ballots now being used in New York and comments:

Voted at 7:30 this morning with very light turnout (voter #7).  Staff seems to know the new process, but one of the ballot scanners was malfunctioning.  New ballot printed in VERY small type; wonder if Senior Citizens will have problems, even with the magnifying sheet.

Which gives us a great excuse to shoehorn in this totally unrelated video: Continue Reading →

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BHB Readers Endorse Joan Millman in 52nd AD Dem Primary

By on September 13, 2010 10:29 pm in Election 10

Millman with Parks Commissioner Adrian Benpe and Mr. Met

The results of our BHB poll in the 52nd AD Democratic primary are in and our readers have endorsed incumbent Joan Millman against challenger/Brooklyn Heights resident Doug Biviano.

Here’s the breakdown:
Joan Millman 354 58.22%
Doug Biviano 254 41.78%

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Tuesday’s Primary – R8NY’s Gatemouth Explains It All

By on September 13, 2010 10:21 pm in Election 10

Room Eight’s Gatemouth weighs in on Tuesday’s primary from the Millman vs. Biviano contest to the race for district leader.   It’s a long piece and worth reading for some deep background:

R8NY: I like Hope Reichbach, I might even vote for her for something someday. But not in this race.

The Brooklyn Democrat’s Executive Committee needs at least a few members to raise questions and fusses, to keep the boys honest, and to, when necessary, raise a public stink when private ones don’t work.

This is what this District wants and expects from its District Leader. Jo Anne Simon can say honestly she has fulfilled that role and will continue to do so. The best Hope Reichbach can do on that score is to put out misleading literature which implies she will do the same.

But Hope Reichbach won’t do the same; at least not under this County Leader, and we should assume that this County Leader will remain such for the foreseeable future.

Moreover, if there is a leadership fight, we already know where Hope will be, no matter what the at the time circumstances may justify.

The only thing we don’t know is the answer to the question of when the time comes that Vito again decides to endorse someone other than a Democrat, will Hope violate her fiduciary duty as well? But given she works for Levin, and Levin worked against Councilwoman Diana Reyna even after Reyna won the Democratic nomination last year, I think we can assume what the answer will be.

In addition, Jo Anne Simon has been an outstanding civic activist for decades, pro bono. By contrast, Hope has been a decent civic activist for about a year, for a salary.

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