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Official BHB Reader Endorsement Poll: The Herd for the 33rd

By on August 27, 2009 11:14 am in Brooklyn Heights, Election09

The Democratic primary for the 33rd NYC Council District is September 15. On September 14, we will announce the BHB Reader’s Candidate based upon the results of this poll. This is a new poll, so if you voted in our previous “unofficial” one, you’ll need to vote one more time.

BHB, the Brooklyn Bugle and Cobble Hill Blog’s editorial board never endorses candidates. Sure we may stir the pot a little but the act of endorsing a candidate is the sole domain of you, our readers. Vote away! Continue Reading →

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Marty Backs Lopez’s Levin for 33rd

By on August 27, 2009 10:23 am in Election09

Brooklyn Beep Marty Markowitz endorsed Vito Lopez staffer Steve Levin as his pick of the Herd for the 33rd yesterday:

Brooklyn Paper: In thinly veiled language, Markowitz made it clear that he endorsed Levin because he is the only candidate who supports the city’s plan for the Broadway Triangle, which opponents say is flawed because the city gave a no-bid contract to two Lopez-linked non-profits.

“I know Steve’s opponents think process is more important than results … but he understands that results are the most important thing,” said Markowitz.

How does this make “the people” feel?  Well there’s only one guy who can sum up what some folks in Brooklyn are feeling – Atlantic Yards Report’s Norman Oder:

Atlantic Yards Report: One of the enduring (and simplified) debates regarding the legacies of urbanist Jane Jacobs and master builder/power broker Robert Moses is the balance between results and process.

You can’t make an omelet, Moses liked to say, without breaking eggs, and Moses was notably callous about the impact of his major projects on the people living in the way. On the other hand, neighborhood activists invoking Jacobs have used process to gum up any change, even when it might be wise and even though Jacobs did believe in certain big projects, like public transit.

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Yassky’s New Spotsky with Marty

By on August 26, 2009 11:41 am in Election09

Watch this new Yassky for Comptroller spot.  The Brooklyn Heights resident’s campaign has gone Catskills on us… we think.

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Biviano and Simon Spar Over Real Estate Contributions

By on August 24, 2009 5:03 pm in Election09, Government

The Doug Biviano campaign today questioned fellow 33rd District City Council candidate Jo Anne Simon’s connections to developers and real estate interests.

At last week’s debate for candidates for the council seat, Simon said that she “[hasn’t] accepted any contributions from real estate interests” in response to a question about her resistance to taking a position on the Gowanus Superfund site.

An examination of the New York City campaign finance board’s database, however, shows campaign contributions totaling $10,498 from individuals who list “real estate” in their occupation title. Continue Reading →

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NY Timesky Backskies Yassky

By on August 24, 2009 2:44 pm in Election09
BHB Photo by Marc Hermann

BHB Photo by Marc Hermann

Our man in the NYC Council/Brooklyn Heights resident David Yassky has earned the backing of the NY Times in his bid for NYC Comptroller.  In an editorial published today, the paper says, “Mr. Yassky makes the best case for making better use of the powerful tools handed a city comptroller. He promises to use the audit powers — including new ones overseeing the city’s education contracts — to increase productivity and efficiency.”

Yassky commented this morning via Twitter: “I am EXTRAORDINARILY PROUD to have the endorsement of the NY Times in this election Thank you to all for support. We can do it!”

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Daily Gotham Deconstructs Doug Biviano

By on August 23, 2009 11:31 am in Election09

Daily Gotham’s “Mole 333″ has a beef with Brooklyn Heights resident/ NYC Council D-33 candidate Doug Biviano:

Daily Gotham: I first met Biviano at an IND meeting before IND imploded and I took a possibly permanent leave of absense from their board. Doug was very earnest, thoughtful and seemed very honest and decent. Past times I wrote about Biviano I emphasized that he has little chance, but that I wanted to see him stay in local politics and that he may well have a good future. Now he is starting to use smear tactics and lies that could actually alienate some of the people he might like to have on his side in later years.

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The Red Socks Debate for the 33rd CD

By on August 18, 2009 5:09 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election09


Brooklyn Independent Television and the Community Newspaper Group have posted video of  last week’s NYC Council D33 debate.  In addition to the Herd for the 33rd, the Brooklyn Paper’s Gersh Kuntzman and CNG’s Aaron “Red Socks” Short moderate. (Hint: fast forward to 2:45 mins into the video, that’s when the action starts)

Also, anyone else see candidate Ken “Other Ken” Baer on the High Street platform this morning?

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Candidate’s Montague Street HQ featured in The Real Deal

By on August 13, 2009 2:16 pm in Commercial Real Estate, Election09

BHB’s Sarah Portlock writes about Brooklyn Heights resident/City Council D33 candidate Doug Biviano’s Montague Street headquarters in the latest issue of The Real Deal:

The Real Deal: When political newcomer Doug Biviano wanted to increase his visibility as a City Council candidate, he looked no further than one of the most prime retail strips in his Brooklyn Heights district: Montague Street.

While in more flush times a new political candidate’s war chest might not have had enough cash to pay for such a premier, high-traffic location, Biviano took advantage of the strip’s nearly 10 vacant storefronts and the area’s dropping retail rents.

And he is not alone.

With the New York City primary elections next month, and the general elections this November, candidates for mayor, City Council and other citywide offices all need space for their campaign headquarters.

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Biviano Retakes Lead in BHB Poll on Herd for the 33rd

By on August 11, 2009 10:10 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election09, News

As of 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, our BHB poll on the Herd for the 33rd City Council District continues to be a closely-fought battle between Brooklyn Heights resident Doug “Biv Against the Machine” Biviano and “machine” candidate Steve Levin, with Biviano holding the narrow lead he retook after last night’s debate. Update: As of 1:00 P.M. Sunday, Biv’s lead has widened to 25 votes (146-121) over Levin, with 436 votes cast so far.
If you haven’t cast a vote yet, do so now! Continue Reading →

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The Herd for the 33rd Debate – Live Blogging!

By on August 11, 2009 5:36 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election09, Fun

The Herd for the 33rd NYC Council District faced off in a Citizen’s Union sponsored debate Tuesday night at St. Francis College. And now, please enjoy our live blog from that event. Continue Reading →

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Yassky’s TV Spotsky

By on August 11, 2009 11:20 am in Election09

We caught this TV spot for Brooklyn Heights resident/our man in the City Council David Yassky’s bid for NYC comptroller on Good Morning America today.

What do we learn here – David is left handed, will “watch every penny” of the NYC budget and that he enjoys sunsets.

Doesn’t the opening line of “you don’t know me” remind you of the old American Express TV campaign?

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Levin’s Boss: Fighting Against Abuse Victims?

By on August 10, 2009 3:32 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election09

33rd District City Council candidate Steve Levin’s boss, State Assemblyman/Brooklyn Kingmaker Vito Lopez has fought tooth and nail against proposed state legislation that would give victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to file a claim against their abuser. Continue Reading →

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Full Video: Chuck Backs Steve at Borough Hall in the Herd for the 33rd

By on August 7, 2009 12:44 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election09


U.S. Senator and Brooklynite Charles Schumer announced his support for Vito Lopez staffer Steve Levin in the race for the NYC Council’s 33rd District in a press conference at Brooklyn Borough Hall this morning.

No local television stations were on hand, so BHB is the only place you’ll be able to see the full press conference and Sen. Schumer and Levin’s remarks on health care, the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Sotamayor and more.

In a statement to the press today, challenger and Brooklyn Heights resident Doug Biviano accuses Schumer of “popping Albany pills”, adding:

The reason Levin continues to pile up these farce endorsements is because he is politically connected through his name (his father is the cousin of Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich) and his position as Vito Lopez’s chief henchman. Because of who he knows, and the smoke-filled backrooms he has access to, he’s been able to skate along as a presumed frontrunner in this race despite a complete lack of accountability in the media. The people of the 33rd District deserve better. They deserve a City Councilor that will openly and honestly stand up for their interests – someone who doesn’t see the City Council as fodder for his resume, but will instead fight tooth and nail to protect our communities and our families.

We caught up with Levin after the press conference.  He addresses some of these issues in this exclusive video:

Brooklyn Bugle Media’s the New Homer Fink Show will be broadcasting live tomorrow at 11am from Biviano HQ at 89 Montague Street.  The public (that’s you!) is welcome to attend and to ask questions. Detail here.

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Chuck Joins the Machine and Backs Levin in Council Race

By on August 6, 2009 2:27 pm in Election09

The Brooklyn Paper reports that Senator Chuck Schumer will be announcing his support for 33rd City Council district candidate Steve “the Machine” Levin this Friday at Borough Hall.

“This is a very big deal,” said Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-Bushwick), who is not only the Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman, but also employs Levin has his chief of staff.

That relationship has encouraged Levin’s rivals to paint him as the “machine candidate,” but Lopez called The Brooklyn Paper on Thursday to challenge that.

“He’s his own man, which, I know, coming from me, on a call like this, doesn’t sound, you know…,” Lopez said. “But if you look at his endorsements, there are a lot of groups and people on his list that don’t like me.”

Brooklyn Heights resident and long-shot candidate Doug Biviano  has characterized  opponents including Levin and former Yassky staffer Evan Thies as members of the “Democratic machine”.

Join us this Saturday at 11am at Biviano campaign HQ for a live podcast of the New Homer Fink Show.   The public is invited to watch and to ask questions.  Details here.

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City Council Candidate Starts Drive for P.S. 8 Playground

By on July 8, 2009 7:32 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election09

herdDemocratic NYC Council candidate (D33)/ Brooklyn Heights resident Doug Biviano  announced today that he is starting a petition to provide a temporary playground for P.S 8 kids.  They’ll be losing their current school yard due to an expansion project announced earlier this year.
And as election year attention getting ploys go, this one doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.  In an email sent out today, Biviano writes:

The children at PS 8 in Brooklyn Heights are set to lose their school yard to construction this coming fall for two years, while nearby Squibb Park remains unused. As a PS 8 parent, I know this is unacceptable, so I drafted a petition asking the city to make Squibb Park safe and available for PS 8 students to use as an interim school yard for outdoor recess and phys. ed. space.

Biviano has posted a petition on his website and is asking anyone supporting his idea to sign it.

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