Tag Archives | martin connor

Marty (Markowitz) Names Marty (Connor) to Brooklyn Bridge Park Board

By on July 21, 2010 6:11 pm in brooklyn bridge park, Government

The Mayor’s Office today announced appointments to the governing board of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, a new entity established to plan for the future of the Park and to oversee construction and maintenance. Regina Myer, President of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, will serve as president of BBPC. The BBPC’s board consists of seventeen members, nine named by the Mayor, four by the Governor, and one each by the Speaker of the City Council (presently Christine Quinn), the 52nd District State Assembly Member (presently Joan Millman), the 25th District State Senator (presently Daniel Squadron), and the Brooklyn Borough President (presently Marty Markowitz). The Borough President made as his choice former State Senator Martin Connor, whose lengthy incumbency ended two years ago after he was defeated in the Democratic primary by now Senator Squadron. Continue Reading →

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Marty Connor, the Comeback Kid?

By on June 23, 2009 3:45 pm in Government
NY Daily Newsphoto

NY Daily News photo

Our former man in the NYS Senate, Martin “Marty” Connor has been spotted on the senate floor according to the NY Daily News.   As the manchildren (and womenchildren) in that august body try to straighten up and act like adults, Marty was on the scene to lend some advice:

NY Daily News: A short while ago, there was a little confab in the middle of the chamber floor between Shelly Mayer, counsel to the Senate Democrats, Sen. Malcolm Smith and former Minority Leader Marty Connor (he’s the one in the tan suit, if you don’t recognize him).

There’s something really ironic about the fact that one deposed minority leader (recall that Connor was ousted in a 2002 coup by none other than David Paterson himself) advising an all-but deposed majority leader (Smith) on how to hold on to power.

Thanks to “bornhere” for the link

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Marty Connor Is Gunning for Bloomie

By on March 31, 2009 7:35 pm in Brooklyn Heights

The New York Daily News reports that former NYS Senator Martin “Marty” Connor (SD-25) is “poring over” Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s campaign finance report in an attempt to find something to “use against” him in this year’s election.  Marty tells the paper he hasn’t found anything… yet.

NY Daily News: Connor has a big axe to grind with the mayor, whose support of Dan Squadron (along with a little help his friends sent to the WFP on Squadron’s behalf) helped the Brooklyn Democrat oust Connor in last year’s primary. But while Connor admits he has his sights trained on the mayor, he also insists his motives are pure.

“I want to see a Democratic mayor,” the former Senate minority leader said. “I think the mayor has used his money to dominate this city, and I don’t agree with that.”

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Kings County Dems: It’s Parliamentary

By on September 16, 2008 11:28 am in Election08, News

The invite to the Kings County Democratic Committee held last night at St. Francis College dictated NO PRESS. But that didn’t stop NY Times CityRoom scribe Sewell “Don’t Call Me Woodward and/or Bernstein Yet” Chan from getting the scoop.  The headline: City Councilman Charles Barron thinks the state-mandated gathering of the Democratic tribe is too “scripted”:

NY Times City Room: Barron Calls…: The first hint that there it was not to be a business-as-usual gathering came shortly after the pledge of allegiance (that was to become virtually the only part of the meeting that went according to plan), after the group voted to accept the five members who would serve on the party’s credentials committee. Mr. Barron hopped to his feet and asked if he could be the sixth member.

The chairman of the proceedings, State Senator Martin Connor, said that it would require an addition action of the body to increase the size of the committee. Eventually, Mr. Barron was added.

Then came the motion to adopt the rules of the committee, usually a per forma action that defines the bylaws under which the party to operates. Mr. Barron insisted that he had never seen the rules and that they should have been made public long before last night’s meeting.

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Thank You, Marty

By on September 10, 2008 7:45 am in Election08

loho10002 photoSen. Martin Connor served our neighborhood for 30 years during some of the darkest times to be a New York State Democrat.  Say what you will about his record, the fact remains that he served faithfully as our man in Albany for a generation.  For that we are grateful.   And while Martin Connor won’t be our State Senator come January, he will still be Marty, our Brooklyn Heights friend and neighbor.

Connor tells the Brooklyn Paper, “I’ve enjoyed represening the people for nearly 30 years, but I look forward to having a life where I get to take off weekends and take vacations.”

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The Bid for the 25th: BHB Reader Choice Squadron Beats Marty

By on September 9, 2008 9:31 pm in Brooklyn Heights

The Associated Press is projecting BHB Reader Choice Daniel Squadron as the winner of the NYS SD-25 Democratic Primary defeating incumbent Martin Connor.

With 100% of the vote in,  results in the Democratic NYS SD-25 primary are:
Squadron 12,912 54%
Connor 10,980 46%

Stay tuned…

*As a point of reference here’s what Connor’s margin of victory in 2006 looked like:
Connor 11,459 55%
Diamondstone 9,238 45%

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That’s Mohel Folks!

By on September 9, 2008 3:58 pm in Election08

The NY Daily News reports the United Jewish Organization “robocalled” residents of Williamsburg on Sunday reportedly urging them not to attend a rally for NYS Senate candidate Daniel Squadron and to vote for incumbent Sen. Martin Connor.  Why?  Squadron’s alleged opposition to the ritual circumcision practice known as  Metzitza B’Peh, which resulted in three infants becoming infected with neonatal herpes in 2004.  One of the babies died.  How can that happen?  The Jewish Ledger describes the practice:

In metzitzah b’peh, a mohel orally sucks blood from the site of the genital cut he makes during the circumcision procedure. Not all haredi groups mandate the practice, but several haredi sects insist that it is required by Jewish law.

The NYC Board of Health opposes the practice.  Mayor Bloomberg has promised to find “common ground” on the issue with Haisidic leaders.  Connor tells the NY Daily News “I didn’t get involved in that, to tell you the truth … It’s a difficult situation. Bloomberg’s administration was handling it. I don’t know enough about it.”

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The Bid for the 25th Goes Down Today

By on September 9, 2008 9:05 am in Election08

It’s Daniel “The Kid” Squadron versus Sen. Martin “Marty” Connor in today’s 25th State Senate District Democratic primary.  Details here.

Last week, we announced that BHB Readers have endorsed Squadron in this race.

Some folks on the BHA’s mailing list report receiving an email from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation’s Joanne Witty supporting Connor today (Update: The BHA emailed us to say that they never share their contact information).  The incumbent squeaked by in the 2006 primary against Ken Diamondstone by less than 2000 votes.  Text of Witty’s email after the jump. Continue Reading →

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Martin Connor’s 1990s’ Apartment Purchases: Too Good Of A Deal?

By on September 6, 2008 12:57 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election08, Government, News, Real Estate

The Daily News reports NY State Senator Martin Connor bought two apartments for what appears to be less than their worth: one in 1994 for $12,500 and one in 1997 for $50,000:

Connor, in a telephone interview, rejected Squadron’s allegations as “nonsense,” insisting he received no special treatment in the purchases. BPC, he insisted, only manages the property and was not involved in the sale of the units.

Connor said he moved to the Brooklyn Heights building in 1977, taking a four-room, rent-stabilized apartment. Years later, he said, the building’s owners decided to convert it to a co-op.

Connor said he didn’t originally want to buy the apartment, but changed his mind a few years after the co-op market collapsed and prices came down. Three years later, he bought the second apartment.

Coincidentally, they were managed by BPC Management, a company with close ties to Martin Connor. How close? Well:

Connor said Doug Rosenberg, who runs BPC, is a friend and lets his campaign use a desk “in the corner” of one of his offices. The space is listed as an “in-kind” contribution on Connor’s financial disclosure statement.

A property management company could possibly be involved in the sale of a property if they were sponsored units. So the question is: Did Martin Connor really get that sweet of a deal for that time period? Can any long-time Brooklyn Heights residents out there speak to this?

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Marty: I’m Not a Kicker Off’er

By on September 4, 2008 4:45 pm in Election08

During last night’s State Senate debate, Connor sidetracked during time allotted for a state budget conversation to discuss allegations that as an election lawyer his basic task is to kick people off the ballot (fast forward to about 1:12 in this clip):

This myth that election lawyers all we do is kick people off the ballot.  Most of my cases have been defending someone and keeping them on the ballot defending them against someone the rules, particularly the old rules that were oppressive… Most of the work i do includes ballot recounts, defending candidates who someone is trying to kick off the ballot.

While Connor’s statement is fairly accurate regarding his work for others,  Ken Diamondstone, Connor’s 2006 opponent for the Democratic nomination and current City Council candidate would disagree as evidenced in this press release from August ’06: Continue Reading →

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Marty and The Kid in Living Color

By on September 4, 2008 1:46 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election08

What happens when you take a 30 year State Senate veteran and an upstart protege of a U.S. Senator and put them on stage together?  They stop being polite and start getting real.  Gotham Gazette’s video of last night’s Connor/Squadron debate after the jump: Continue Reading →

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Squadron-Connor Debate Liveblogging 2

By on September 3, 2008 8:27 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Election08, News

8:26pm: Connor to Squadron: Trustafarian!

8:29pm: moderator bitchslaps connor for getting too personal. and I mean, really too personal. the audience started booing and hissing.

8:29pm: Connor to Squadron: Open your books! Who’s funding your existence?

8:32pm: Squadron not getting personal with Connor, won’t ask him about his Jeep Grand Cherokee paid for by campaign funds.

8:35pm: Connor supporters getting cranky, want Squadron off their lawn

8:37pm: Connor: I’m a maverick

8:38pm: Connor doesn’t kowtow to the tobacco industry. he wants everyone to know that.

8:40pm: Audience questions!
clearly, the audience is mostly Squadron supporters now. Connor supporters went home to watch rudy giuliani speak at the republican convention.

8:44pm: uh oh. someone asked squadron about eminent domain in atlantic yards. He doesn’t think it was used appropriately.

8:46pm: Connor looks tired. I think all that venom spewing earlier on really tuckered him out

8:49pm: whenever Squadron speaks, an old person starts to leak….sounds like hissing…

8:50pm: congestion pricing again…connor shows letter from april thanking him for supporting it yet no postmark,,,hmmm

8:54pm: Squadron: I am for congestion pricing, I was always for congestion pricing, and I always will be for congestion pricing

8:57pm: both Squadron and Connor love gay and lesbian people

8:59pm: Closing statements! finally…
Squadron: Change! Change! Change!
Connor: Experience! Experience! Experience! Can I go to the bathroom now?

9:05pm: Connor really, really hates Schumer.

9:07pm: Its over! wow, that was long

Update: Brookyn Paper recap of debate

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Liveblogging The Squadron-Connor Debate

By on September 3, 2008 6:51 pm in Brooklyn Heights, News

BHB is here at the St. Francis College Auditorium, awaiting what is sure to be a most riveting display of oratorical prowess.

So far, the auditorium is PACKED…with empty seats. Come on down!

6:59pm: auditorium filling up nicely. Note to St. Francis College: Free your WiFi, Free Your Mind

7:05pm: and the debate is on! your moderator, Dick Dady.

7:09pm: there will be audience participation! You can ask a question, but you must write it on a piece a paper, presumably in crayon.

7:14pm: Connor’s opening remarks. Trip down “memory lane”. Joe Franklin nowhere in sight. Blaming his record on Republican domination of the senate.

7:18pm: Squadron’s opening remarks. He’s young! He’s motivated! He sounds a bit like Kermit!

7:33pm: Connor brought his people tonight. Audience seems to be in favor of him. One Connor supporter is knitting her way through the issues.

Connor talking about what he knows best: election law and ballot access

7:35pm: Squadron just gave connor some chin music

7:37pm: Connor: I am shocked, SHOCKED you would think I kicked anyone off the ballot as an election lawyer

7:42pm: Wow, Connor on the defensive. Getting angry over voting against the smoking ban. Breathe, connor, breathe.
and he’s completely ignoring the question about voting against commuter tax.

7:47pm: Connor blaming commuter tax demise on Giuliani

7:52pm: Squadron defending his brooklyn bridge park position. Doesn’t want to stop the park, just the condos. And the crowd goes wild!

7:56pm: Connor: I got the funds for the park, me, me,me! And the crowd goes wild!

7:51pm: knitting lady update: she’s almost done. I think its a scarf.

8:05pm: talking about education. Really, these guys are on the same side. Connor taking shots at Squadron.

8:09pm: Oh, this is rich…Connor accusing Squadron of using too many posters and leaving around too much trash

Connor to Squadron: get off my lawn!

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Martin Connor Used Campaign Funds For A Brand New Car, Parking?

By on September 3, 2008 9:05 am in Brooklyn Heights, Election08, Government, News

This may be old news, but it was news to me: According to a 2006 Report compiled by the nonprofit Common Cause organization on NY State campaign funds misuse, State Senator Martin Connor spent over $70,000 on “other” expenses, including a brand new car (a Jeep Grand Cherokee) and a parking space in Brooklyn Heights, during a time when he faced no opposition (2003-2004).

The report, which investigates the muddy world of New York State campaign financing, highlighted Senator Martin Connor for stretching “the definition of ‘campaign expense’ beyond any reasonable limit”:

The single largest expense was the car itself, purchased for $34,582.08. The Senator also spent a total of $11,966 to park his car at a garage located over two miles from his district office in Manhattan but just one block from his Brooklyn residence. The third largest expense was car insurance from Allstate, costing a total of $11,763. Connor also spent $8,558 on repairs and maintenance, including a $5,422 repair in July 2004, just one year from the purchase date. Rounding out the carrelated expense list was $2,773 for miscellaneous “car expense” reimbursements made directly to the Senator; $1,999 spent on gasoline reimbursements; $150 to register the car; and $45 for a AAA membership.

This represented 35% of his campaign expenses during a time period where he had no opponents in the primary or the general election.

Mr. Connor is no stranger to such “creative accounting” it seems: In the late 80s he was under investigation for payroll abuses, including “no-show” jobs and using employees for full-time campaign work.

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Marty and the Kid Square Off Tonight in Brooklyn Heights

By on September 3, 2008 8:35 am in Election08, Events, News

Reminder this is tonight:

Sen. Martin Connor and Daniel Squadron, candidates in the September 9 Democratic primary in the race for the 25th State Senate District will debate on tonight (September 3). Citizens Union, publishers of the Gotham Gazette, will host the event from 7pm – 9pm at St. Francis College’s Founders Hall [180 Remsen Street].

Unlike our colleagues in print who regularly endorse candidates and wield their subjective power via Op-Ed pages, BHB’s publisher and editorial staff will not.  Rather, we will announce our BHB Reader’s Endorsement in this race tomorrow.   Therefore, we encourage you to vote now in our reader poll as the result of that survey will determine our BHB Reader Endorsement in the State Senate Democratic Primary.

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