Studies show that for all its diversity, NYC has one of the most segregated public school systems in the country.  Almost two academic years after the re-zoning of P.S. 8 and P.S. 307, the District 13 Community Education Council will hold an important forum on Tuesday evening (May 16th) as part of its scheduled calendar meeting.

Desegregation: Where We Are Now & Envisioning a Path to the Future will feature panelists Councilmembers Laurie Cumbo and Steve Levin,  New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones and WNYC reporter Yasmeen Khan. The event takes place 6:30 – 8:30 pm at P.S. 307, Daniel Hale Williams, 209 York Street in Brooklyh.

It’s Participatory Budgeting (or PB) time again and City Councilmember Steve Levin has “dedicated 1.5 million dollars to capital projects [in District 33] suggested and developed by community volunteers and you can help decide which ones get funded.”  Of the many proposals up for a vote are lockers for thirteen classrooms at M.S. 8 for a cost of $115,000.  The middle school currently has no lockers for the 6th through 8th students’ books and belongings.

Others proposed projects include repair of a Williamsburg toddler playground ($500,000), technology upgrades for two special needs schools ($250,000) in Bed-Stuy and Downtown Brooklyn and and STEAM and STEM labs for two schools in Williamsburg ($218,000 and $250,000 respectively) among others.  The full list can be found HERE.

District 33 residents 14 and over are able to vote online starting midnight on Saturday March 25th. Ballots may also be cast in person at several Brooklyn Heights sites (below) and others across the district found HERE.

P.S. 8 Robert Fulton School
37 Hicks Street
Monday, March 27th and Friday, March 31st
8:00AM – 10:00AM

Brooklyn Heights Library
109 Remsen Street
Tuesday March 28th
1:00PM – 3:00PM
Saturday, April 1st
11:00AM-2:00PM

Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street, Borough Hall Plaza
Monday, March 27th – Friday, March 31st
9:00AM – 5:00PM

Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket
209 Joralemon Street, Borough Hall Plaza
Tuesday, March 28th and Thursday, March 30th
8:00AM – 10:00AM

Want to volunteer to help with the process? Have questions? Contact Benjamin Solotaire at 718 875 5200 or bsolotaire@council.nyv.gov.

EDIT: The cost of the MS8 lockers has been corrected from $150,000 to $115,000.

Stroll the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and you can hear it day and night: the constant thwapping of tourist helicopters.  Flights take off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH) located just south of the Seaport and is operated by Saker Aviation Services.  According to the Stop the Chop NY NJ,  “these tours are allowed to operate 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  They fly for 10 hours a day six days a week (Mon – Sat 9:00 am to 7:00 pm) and 8 hours a day on Sundays (9:00 am – 5:00 pm).”

“It’s an issue that goes as far back as the 70’s,” explains Judy Stanton, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Heights Association.  But, she points out that the noise has escalated since 2010 when tourist helicopters were banned from using helipads in the East 30’s and West 30’s. “Everything was concentrated at the DMH…I think it was 28,000 flights a year were added to the DMH. And, the DMH then added a barge to create more helipad space.”

LEGISLATION SEEKS TO BAN TOURIST HELICOPTERS

Relief may be on the way in the form of a bill introduced this past Thursday sponsored by City Councilmembers Carlos Menchaca (Red Hook), Margaret Chin (Lower Manhattan, Governor’s Island) and Helen Rosenthal (Upper West Side). The bill seeks to ban sightseeing helicopters that do not comply a specific range of noise levels as determined by the Federal Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990.  It does not include helicopters utilized by the military, media, emergency services (fire, police, coast guard, etc) private or chartered helicopters.

John Dellaportas, Vice President of Stop the Chop had this to say, “[The ban] will substantially curtail the tourist helicopters.  We think it’s a great start.  Frankly we don’t think it goes far enough.  Our organization supports an outright ban of all tourist helicopters over the skies of New York, NY Harbour and all the surrounding waterways.  But, it’s a step in the right direction.”

Supporters from Stop the Chop NY NJ flank Councilmembers Margaret Chin and Helen Rosenthal on the Steps of City Hall.

At a press conference held on the steps of City Hall, elected officials representing Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island along with grass roots activists and fed-up residents from the Upper West Side to Downtown Brooklyn alike decried the scourge of noise and environmental pollution they attribute to helicopter tourism.  Councilmember Helen Rosenthal began, “We are here to stop the noise that is completely ruining the lives of so many New Yorkers…We look forward to working with the de Blasio administration to pass this legislation.”  Councilmember Chin pleaded, “stop these helicopters that are disrupting the quality of life!”  Chin added, “we welcome tourists to NYC…if they want a beautiful view they can go up to the [observation deck of] World Trade Center,” drawing chants of “Stop the Chop!” from rally attendees.

State Senator Liz Kreuger shared Councilmember Chin’s sentiment, “We can show you other ways to look at NYC.  [It is a] ridiculous argument that tourists will decline [because of this legislation].” Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon was “delighted to support the ban” saying the situation has reached a “crisis point” with Brooklyn Bridge Park in the “direct line” of the helicopters.  She adding her constituents suffer from “disrupted sleep, fumes” and children cannot study or practice music.  Councilman Levin said, “This is something that is long overdue.  I hear from constituents every day in spring, summer and autumn…we’ve spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Brooklyn Bridge Park.  You can’t enjoy the scenery [or] relaxation…because of the intense noise from this virtually unregulated industry.”

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon addressing the press.

Murray Fisher, Founder of the New York Harbor School on Governor’s Island where being outside and near the water is a central element to the curriculum, said the helicopter flights “makes teaching and learning virtually impossible in an outdoor environment.” Paul Reickhoff, Founder and CEO of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a veteran himself exclaimed, “I hear more helicopters over my house than I ever did in Baghdad.  It’s a quality of life issue..it’s a security issue…[and] it doesn’t help our veterans [who are] battling PTSD. Stop this menace!” A representative from Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s office lamented, “We are only lucky that we have not had more accidents.”

MENACE OR ECONOMIC BENEFIT?

Joining the chorus of electeds and citizens supporting the ban is long-time Brooklyn Heights resident and self proclaimed “noise veteran,” Roberto Gautier.  He lives at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and has endured the ongoing construction and BQE traffic.  “The kind of fuel [helicopters use] is the dirtiest fuel that you can get.  So not only do you have noise but you have air pollution…there are hundreds of flights and they are all giving [off] emissions.”

Chapin Fay Esq, VP of Mercury, a PR agency that bills itself as “a high-stakes public strategy firm,” who represents Helicopters Matter, told the Brooklyn Heights blog that 300 full time jobs would be lost at the heliport and that this legislation is “banning not just helicopters but banning the industry.”  The organization’s flyer claims helicopters provide over thirty million dollars in revenue which the city uses to “fund schools, hospitals, firefighters and other fundamental government services.”

But supporters of the bill say the revenue generated is exaggerated.  Judy Stanton shared, “The numbers that are quoted, that the Bloomberg Administration [used], I’m seeing with the current Administration. They are just believing everything that EDC (Economic Development Corporation) claims is the benefit from helicopter tours.”  Stanton explained the formula employed by the city incorporates hotel stays, meals and theater tickets, “all of that gets glommed together,” along with the cost of a helicopter flight (Chapin Fay quoted approximately $150 per flight) and is then multiplied by the number of flights per day and 365 days per year.  This is then added to “the small amount that the company that leases the heliport contributes or pays for their lease.  And then they say it’s so many millions of dollars a year for New York City.  But it’s a false number.  The actual lease amount, is something like 4 million annually for a lease.  That’s nothing.”

Helicopters Matters, who call the bill “disgraceful” maintains that less than 1% of noise complaints to 311 are due to helicopters.  Chapin Fay said that some concessions could be made including ensuring flights are not over land, cutting hours of operation and enlarging helicopter tail numbers for easier identification.  Chapin said, “We’d be willing to look at that again.”

Cover Photo Credit: Stop the Chop NY NJ

Numerous elected officials, the District 13 CEC, current and prospective parents from P.S. 8 and P.S. 307 convened in the auditorium of P.S. 287 this past Wednesday evening to hear the presentation by WeArePS8Too.  The parent group represents the fifty children wait-listed for Kindergarten at P.S. 8 and advocates for the restoration of the 6th section for the 2015-16 academic year in addition to medium and long-term solutions to overcrowding in District 13. P.S. 8 received over 200 applications for Kindergarten for 2015, 30 more than last year.  The school made 150 offers for 125 seats.  At present, enrollment stands at 125 leaving at least fifty children on a wait-list that is not likely to benefit from substantial attrition or movement.

CEC President, David Goldsmith began the meeting with highlights of the CEC’s mission and introductions of elected officials, joking the DOE should “face the music.”  State Senator Daniel Squadron, Council Member Steve Levin, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon and members of their staff Zeeshan Ott, Casey Adams and Ptahra Jeppe, respectively were present.  Comptroller, Scott Stringer made an appearance. Also in attendance were Jeff Lowell from the office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Dan Wiley from Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s office and a representative of District 35 Councilmember Laurie Cumbo.  Executive Director of Space Planning Thomas Taratko and District 13 Superintendent Barbara Freeman represented the DOE.  A member of the DOE’s Office of Enrollment was not present.  Audience members of note were Executive Director of the Brooklyn Heights Association Judy Stanton, P.S. 8 PTA Co-Presidents, Kim Glickman and Ansley Samson and Christopher Young of Downtown Brooklyn School Solutions whose group advocates for new school construction and sharing education options available to parents.

Michael Colby Jones, a parent of children who received placement at P.S. 8 began the presentation by painting a picture of families, friends and neighbors passionately invested in the success of their zoned school and dedicated to medium and long-term solutions to overcrowding.  “The moment that my wife and I knew that we were going to have kids, we would wander down to the [P.S. 8] fair every year and we would support it, because our children would be going there…I can’t tell you how many other parents who didn’t get in had the same thought.”  He continued by talking through a timeline of events leading up to the decision to cut the sixth section-a decision Jones insisted excluded their engagement.

Parent of a wait-listed child, David Margalit put forth the group’s reasoning behind their position.  Namely, the DOE violated their own Chancellor’s Regulations, which dictate non-essential programs may be “reduced or eliminated” to accommodate zoned students.   Their class size projection with the sixth section would still allow for the use of one cluster room, a model under which the school has operated sporadically in previous years.  Additionally, the DOE’s decision to cut the class in March 2015 vs. November 2014 (when the PTA Town Hall Meeting took place) was well after deadlines for other viable options had passed.   Lastly, the decision haphazardly separated children from their friends and community. Margalit’s choked up as he lamented, “It breaks my heart, when I hear my son say ‘next year I’m going to go to school with [my friends]’ who he has spent all this time with, growing up with them the last couple of years.  And we haven’t told him yet…we hope to never have to tell him [that he didn’t get into P.S. 8].”

Thomas Taratko responded to the group’s assertions explaining, “I’m not here to wave a magic wand and ‘say 6 sections, go ahead.’ I’m here to explain some of the thought process behind the decision-making.”  Taratko refuted the section cut violated the regulations, citing the elimination of pre-k the following year was the last non-essential program that could be cut.  He disputed their timeline and claims of wide gaps of communication from the DOE citing his meeting with the P.S. 8 PTA in February or March.  This sent murmurs through the crowd and prompted a shout out, “that’s wasn’t us!”

Taratko called the amount of development in Downtown Brooklyn “absurd” and said, “If I came to you in an apologetic tone, the apology would be that we didn’t step up to the plate a couple of years ago and re-zone the area around P.S. 8. It’s a huge zone.”  Yet, he downplayed any urgency for the School Construction Authority to build new schools in District 13.  “We have excess capacity in this area. A couple of hundred seats at P.S. 307, a couple of hundred seats at where we are here. So the building option is not the first one that we would do…this area is not the number one priority in the city.”

Councilman Levin took the floor and recalled the 2004 commercial re-zoning of Downtown Brooklyn that also gave developers the option to build residential properties.  “What do we see there today?…Exclusively residential development. The City of New York neglected to have elementary seats as part of that re-zoning…There needs to be new seats in District 13, today.”  Downtown Brooklyn School Solutions’ 2013 article, “The Problem with P.S. 8,” clearly lays out the challenges District 13 faces posed by over-development and predicts, “the contentious re-zoning of P.S. 8.”

Senator Daniel Squadron added, “I do disagree respectfully and professionally, but very strongly with what [Tom Taratko] said that the only mistake here was with re-zoning.”  He cited his frustration with the DOE’s lack of communication.  “Nobody has any faith that the DOE is going to come up with a good reasonable plan…so the short -term, medium-term and long-term are actually one problem.”

ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Q&A period drew inquiries from predominantly parents of wait-listed children. The first burning question: who made the decision to cut the Kindergarten section and why?  Tom Taratko explained that while he was included in the conversation, the decision was made by committee involving the recommendation of P.S. 8 Principal Seth Phillips, the Office of Enrollment and the Space Planning analytics team.  He maintained, “I respect the instructional people’s point of view of what they can teach in the building…I would not impose upon [Seth Phillips] or make the recommendation to keep a sixth section. So for that I am responsible.”  Superintendent Barbara Freeman added that schools receive projections for the number of classes each year. And, despite having added a sixth section for the past two years, projections for P.S. 8 have never included a sixth Kindergarten section.

Taratko continued, “I do not believe that there will be a 6^th section added [for 2015-16]. I don’t have the authority here to tell you that there will be a 6^th section added. But I am here to write down everyone’s questions, concerns, see where the perceptions of our failures are, where our failures were and try to correct those.”  Again, this sparked shout outs from the audience of “Who makes the final decision?!”  Ultimately, he conceded the final word belongs to School Chancellor, Carmen Farina.

In response, a parent, directed a heartfelt plea to Tom Taratko pointing out the disconnect between information prospective parents received at community meetings and tours of P.S. 8 compared to the actual events.  “This wait-list is a devastation. There’s a difference between Seth [Phillips] telling us in January that about 5% of families may or may not get in and that usually by fall we’ll figure it out.’ There’s a HUGE difference between 5% and 40-50%!”

Comptroller, Scott Stringer

At this time, Comptroller, Scott Stringer briefly introduced his office’s audit titled “Department of Education Efforts to Alleviate Overcrowding in School Buildings.”  He also demonstrated solidarity with parents as a father whose child is zoned for an overcrowded school on the Upper West Side. “I just wanted to stop by tonight to say ‘I feel it, I know how scary it is,’ but I also want to pledge to work with Councilman Levin, Assemblymember Simon and Senator Squadron. We will work together, we will give you data, we will work with the parents association and the CEC and the DOE.”

RE-ZONING:
Once the Q&A continued, others expressed their skepticism and lack of faith in the DOE’s ability to deliver a suitable plan for re-zoning to the CEC. David Goldsmith stressed that any re-zoning plan presented by the DOE must be ready for a CEC vote by November 2015.  Goldsmith is working in conjunction with Councilman Levin on the formation of a taskforce created specifically to address the overcrowding in District 13’s public schools.  He added optimistically, “When people roll their sleeves up to get something done because it HAS to be done, because it’s our children, it WILL be done. And we’ll need your help.”   The mother of a 2016 ascending Kindergartner questioned whether re-zoning would even solve the problem and further challenged, “Why on earth is there no regulation that says if there are ‘x number of residential units built in a zone that x number of school seats have to accommodate them!’”

COMMUNITY:
The final questions of the night brought to light the downsides of ill-planned infrastructure.  A member of the P.S. 307 School Leadership Team, provided her perspective, “I would like to posit I’ve heard lots of talk about YOUR school, YOUR  community, YOUR kids…BUT, when you fight to stay in your school. Please do not disparage our school and our kids. Because…we read the things that you write about our kids and our schools.” The mother of a child attending P.S. 8 in the fall asked Tom Taratko to deliver a personal message to Carmen Farina, “Ask [her] how she would feel if it were her grandchild living in this zone?  She needs to put a face on this.”  Senator Squadron closed the meeting by saying that “Sometimes when governments really screw up, communities can turn on each other.  Those that got in, those that didn’t get in, existing P.S. 8 parents, existing P.S. 307 parents, prospective P.S. 307 parents are all in this together. We all have the same interests. What’s happening now is not good for 307 as it grows and does everything it can for its kids. It’s not good for P.S. 8, it’s not good for the parents here.”

NEXT STEPS:
As he did after the Town Hall meeting in November, Senator Squadron challenged Tom Taratko to a follow up meeting that would deliver answers for wait-listed parents.  David Goldsmith re-enforced the important work of the upcoming District 13 Taskforce. “The Task Force clearly understands what happens in one school has a very big effect completely across the district. And all planning has to be done in concert with planning for all students across the district. Let’s get busy folks, we’ve got a lot of work to do!”  The first Taskforce meeting is tentatively scheduled for the end of May.

Disclosure:  The author has been active in the parent group that created the ‘WeArePS8Too’ petition and continues to advocate toward solutions for P.S. 8 and District 13.

As previously reported, a Community Engagement meeting with the NYC Department of Education is taking place tonight.

The meeting is being held by the District 13 CEC in conjunction with State Senator Daniel Squadron, Councilmember Steve Levin and Assemblyperson Jo Anne Simon.  The gathering is scheduled for 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm in the Library of P.S. 287, 50 Navy Street in Brooklyn.

Members from the group WeArePS8Too are expected to give a presentation.

Our elected officials helped organize tonight’s meeting with the DOE as a spinoff of the November Town Hall overcrowding meeting.  For those with children born in 2010, it is an opportunity to ask the DOE questions about how to navigate the Kindergarten application process.  (Kindergarten registration is open through February 13th).  The meeting will take place at the PS8 Lower School Auditorium at 6:00pm.  The DOE has not yet made any decisions about how to address PS8 overcrowding. This is also a chance to push the DOE to come up with short-, medium-, and long-term solutions.

Earlier this week, Stephen Levin, representative for the 33rd District of the New York City Council, spoke with BHB in a leisurely 45-minute phone interview while he was returning from a vacation on the West Coast. Council Member Levin, whose district includes Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill, Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus, and Park Slope, spoke at length about the unexpected appearance of white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge, the Tillary/Adams Street Area Reconstruction, the Brooklyn Heights library branch, public schools in Brooklyn Heights and housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Excerpts follow:

Michael Randazzo, Brooklyn Heights Blog (BHB): Your thoughts about white flags on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Council Member Stephen Levin: Honestly, [this is] the first I’m hearing of it. I was in Omaha this morning, and I checked the New York Times, and I didn’t hear that. It’s concerning obviously because of the security breach. You always want to make sure the Brooklyn Bridge is secure.

BHB: The Brooklyn Bridge Gateway: Tillary/Adams Street Area Reconstruction?

CM Levin: For over a year we’ve been in talks with DOT and the leadership of Concord Village about a lot of these issues from a process standpoint in terms of the timing and in terms of the scale of construction. This is a big project…. All of Tillary Street needs to be safer. It’s an incredibly dangerous, highly trafficked area, so I’m all for safety improvements…. I walk on it, I drive on it, so I think in general a lot of the proposed reconstruction and reforms there are very positive. I think the details need to be worked out…. What they’re proposing in a lot of ways is very positive. There’s a lot of streetscaping, new trees, [it’s] a lot more pedestrian-friendly….

BHB: The concept that the cost of the public good often falls heavily on a specific few?

CM Levin: I think that everyone agrees that Tillary Street is an extremely dangerous intersection. I think it’s good that the city is looking to get a significant amount of federal dollars—they’re using federal resources on a problem stretch in the middle of downtown Brooklyn. What’s the right mitigation measures and the right design that is accommodating to the needs of the neighbors—Concord Village is right next door—for everybody it can be a win, win, win. But it means that everybody has a real seat at the table. I’m confident that that will be the case and I look forward to working with DOT and folks at Concord Village to make sure that happens.

BHB: Affordable Housing Proposal for Pier 6.

CM Levin: I’ve been outspoken about housing in the park for the last five years now. I’m a member of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation board, and I’ve voted against housing in the park at every opportunity…. I think the issues brought up in the lawsuit…around environmental impact are significant because…all of Brooklyn Heights is zoned for one elementary school.… [A]ctually, in this case, it’s a couple of neighborhoods because you have Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO both served by PS 8.

[T]he school is overcrowded. Dock Street is being built now, and they’re building a middle school there, but there’s no elementary school—those kids are zoned for PS 8. They’re building Pier 1 right now—those kids are zoned for PS 8. They’re eventually going to build John Street —those kids are zoned for PS 8. There’s development going on in Brooklyn Heights that’s zoned for PS 8. And then Pier 6, we’re told, is zoned for PS 8….

[T]he number one impact…what they’re [BBP board] seeking to do, is go around the city land use procedure to get approval for Pier 6, because it’s approved by the Brooklyn Bridge Corporation board, of which I’m a member, instead of through the regular land use process, which is called ULURP.

Because …the park is part of a “general project” plan, it’s a different process. General project plans are used for large-scale projects that involve base usage. Barclays Center was a general project that circumvented ULURP, but the majority of land use goes through ULURP…. And issues like “Where are you going to build a school”—those are issues that are addressed in the ULURP process.

Since we started Brooklyn Heights Blog, our policy has been to not endorse candidates. We, of course, reserve the right to be bloggers – insightful and sometimes snarky – but not to unilaterally decide which candidates deserve the backing of the BHB community. That’s up to you!

While some have decided to NOT endorse anyone in this race (we’re looking at you New Kings Democrats!), BHB readers will be backing either Levin or Pierson when all is said and done.

Poll closes on 8/31/13 at 11:59pm.
Update: We’ve extended voting until 9/2 at midnight.
Read more – StevieWonders: D33 Democratic Primary Archive

Political ads are not exactly known for their subtleness, accuracy or artistic quality. Sure, you communications majors will shoutback – GOLDWATER DAISY AD MAAAN!

RELATED: Stevie Wonders: Tale Of The Tweets From The NYC Council D 33 Democratic Debate

While some of you may utter the phrase “in your heart you know he’s right” while watching this “viral” video for NYC Council D33 Democratic candidate Stephen Pierson, you have to agree that it’s pretty darn wacky.

No word on if this clip is officially sanctioned by Pierson’s campaign.

Update: Michael Ambler, field director for Pierson’s campaign, tells BHB “This is the first time we’ve seen this… whatever it is. While none of us are sure what we just saw, we can appreciate the enthusiasm.”

Watch video of Levin and Pierson’s debate here.

Steve Levin used to work for Vito Lopez. In light of recent events, Vito Lopez is not such an awesome dude. What with the scandals which have basically changed his name to “The Disgraced” Vito Lopez. So this would make Steve Levin, who has represented NYC Council District 33 for the last 4 years, totally not an awesome dude as well. At least that’s what Democratic rival/Brooklyn Heights resident Stephen Pierson’s entire campaign has been based upon in this year’s primary.

BHB FLASHBACK: Election 2009 ‘The Herd for the 33rd’

This week, residents of the district, which includes Brooklyn Heights, received what could have been considered a great anti-Levin mailer four years ago. It shows Levin as a “Council Member with Strings Attached”. GET IT? The strings are DARTH VITO!

In mid-July, the press (which includes us… go figure) received dispatches from Pierson’s campaign manager Diana Gonzalez stating that, “Evidently, Steve Levin is asking the Super PAC that REBNY is funding for a $100-$150K mail program run by the Parkside Group.”

We received that email on July 18. You know what was happening in the district on that day? This:

SUNY is creating a healthcare crisis in Brooklyn. Abide by the law, #SaveLICH! pic.twitter.com/IgcwtupwQl

— Stephen Levin (@StephenLevin33) July 18, 2013

So naturally, we asked Ms. Gonzalez for the candidate’s statement on developments that week at LICH. We’re still waiting for her response. (Note: Pierson did issue a presser in June about LICH here. And this week he released his transportation policy.)

As for the assertion that Levin is up to some hookey doo with developers —

Politicker: “The accusation made … by the Pierson campaign is totally false and utterly reprehensible,” Mr. Levin said in an email to Politicker. “I have not asked for the support of Jobs for New York PAC, I would not accept their support, and I respectfully ask that Jobs for New York PAC stay out of the 33rd District Council race.”

A source with the PAC backed up Mr. Levin and said the allegation that Mr. Levin reached out to them was false.

As for the latest Lopez linking salvo from the Pierson camp, Levin tells Politicker, “I call on Mr. Pierson to disavow such tactics immediately, to cease employing them, and begin talking about the issues that matter to the residents of the 33rd District.”

Was just asked why @SteveLevin2013's Vito ties matter. Five letters: RBSCC. Levin sends millions out of district to Vito's charity each year

— stephen pierson (@pierson4council) August 1, 2013

Levin and Pierson are reportedly scheduled to debate 3 times before the September 10 primary.

Steve Levin is trying to knock Brooklyn Heights resident/candidate for NYC Council D-33 Stephen Pierson off of September’s primary ballot. At least that’s what a statement released over the weekend from Pierson advisor Chris Owens alleges.

While Levin spent last week protesting the planned closure of LICH, Owens says that the councilmember’s minions were filing paperwork to knock his candidate off the ballot.

Levin responds and tells BHB in a written statement, “Contrary to my opponent’s assertions, I have not sued to take his name off the ballot nor do I intend to do so. General objections are a common campaign procedure meant to give staff extra time to review a candidate’s signatures. This process is transparent, public and helps keep our candidates and politicians honest. The review is now complete and we found no basis to file a formal challenge. I look forward to a spirited campaign and the chance to have a much needed dialogue about the issues facing voters in the 33rd district.”

Update:In his own written statement, Pierson tells BHB, “Filing a general objection to an opponent’s petitions is standard practice only in the corrupt world of insider Brooklyn politics. The fact that Levin thinks these Vito-Lopez-style tactics are normal shows how out of touch he is with the people of the 33rd District. I’m glad my opponent has backed down in the face of public outcry over this clearly undemocratic move, and I hope he’ll avoid similar tactics in the future.”

Getting arrested > losing LICH and the vital healthcare it provides Brooklyn communities pic.twitter.com/jIHSKAtiKz

— Stephen Levin (@StephenLevin33) July 10, 2013

Steve Levin is suing to knock me off the ballot, taking a page straight from the Vito Lopez playbook. pic.twitter.com/AGZ9eX3VK9

— stephen pierson (@pierson4council) July 15, 2013

RELATED: Will Brooklyn Heights Resident Stephen Pierson Take Out Steve Levin?

BHB has asked Owens for a statement from the Pierson camp on the latest LICH developments. We have not received a response as of press time. (There is, however, a brief statement on his website about the matter.)

#StephenPierson – Brooklyn machine politics in action. Levin Tries To Knock Pierson Off Ballot. FOR IMMEDIATE… http://t.co/1P4KvSSR5H

— Chris Owens (@ChrisOwens4U) July 14, 2013

Here’s the full presser for your review:

Brooklyn, NY – Steve Levin, a member of the City Council who served for several years as Chief of Staff to disgraced Democratic County boss Vito Lopez, has challenged the nominating petition signatures collected by the campaign of Democratic reform candidate Stephen Pierson.

Levin’s campaign filed “general objections” against Pierson’s filing of 1,600 signatures. The minimum number of valid signatures required to get on the ballot for City Council this year is 450.

“I was not surprised to learn that Steve Levin fears an opponent so much that he is resorting to the same old machine political tactics as Vito Lopez,” said Stephen Pierson, a non-profit founder and administrator. “Steve Levin’s actions show that he continues to put politics before people. My campaign filed hundreds of valid signatures, we will be on the ballot, we are eligible for nearly the maximum amount of matching funds, and our volunteer base grows daily.”

“Levin has never had to face an election like this one – and he is panicking,” said Democratic State Committee member and Pierson consultant Chris Owens. “Stephen Pierson has the money, the volunteers, the campaign team, the determination to win this election and become the next City Council member from the 33rd District.”

“We expect the Levin campaign to utilize Lopez-like tactics, such as petition challenges, throughout the campaign,” said Campaign Manager Diana Gonzalez. “Attempting to deny voters a choice is Levin’s first misstep and we will be ready for any other mischief he chooses to perpetrate.”

Democratic voters in the 33rd City Council District will select either Pierson or Levin as their nominee on Tuesday, September 10 in the Primary Election.

Update: The potential closing (and rebuilding or sale) of the Brooklyn Heights Library is another hot button issue in this election. These YouTube videos offer a glimpse into each candidate’s position:

(Fast forward to about 11 minutes in for Levin’s comments regarding the Brooklyn Heights library)

At PS8’s benefit auction last Friday at Plymouth Church, the Brooklyn Heights public school acknowledged the generous gift from the Brooklyn Heights Association last spring to help launch PS8’s new middle school. In fact, BHA offered PS8 a greater contribution than DOE.

The event included a presentation from Councilman Steve Levin. In the photo: Jane McGroarty, BHA President; Cristina Soto, PS 8 PTA Co-President; Judy Stanton of the BHA; Liz Pitofsky, PS 8 PTA Co-President; and Levin.

Not so fast… Brooklyn Bridge Park’s request for proposals to develop a waterfront residential complex along a 9,600sf vacant lot on DUMBO’s John Street—now owned by ConEd and being bought by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corp.—has already met with formidable opposition.

Local politicos and community members are raising concerns about flooding, according to the New York Daily News. The lot and much of the park were submerged under 4 feet of water following Hurricane Sandy. While a 13-story apartment building would be designed with flood protection, including a raised ground level, mechanicals on an upper floor and retail and parking on the ground level, Council Member Steve Levin notes, “We now know what a big bad storm can do to DUMBO, and it ain’t pretty. We need to re-evaluate how we build along the water and this would be a great place to start.”

Brooklyn Bridge Park president Regina Myer disagrees, saying any chosen developer would be mindful of a structure that is protected from flooding: “There’s all sorts of things people have done that have really helped buildings withstand the storm we had a month ago with minimal damage.” (Photo: NY Daily News)

The MTA reported Wednesday morning that G train service has returned, albeit with “with extended waits between trains due to ongoing signal repairs,” according to Curbed. The train will have eight cars, up from its usual four, so it’s actually the size of a regular train. It’s running between Court Square and Church Avenue. The New York Times reports here.

City Council Member Steve Levin, whose district includes Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Park Slope, raised sand Monday that G and L subway service had not yet returned following Hurricane Sandy. He told The New York Observer, “Commuters along the G-train deserve the same service and respect that other lines get. And the same goes for the L-train.”

City Council Member Steve Levin, whose district includes Brooklyn Heights, is fuming that MTA has not yet restored G and L subway service following Hurricane Sandy. He tells The New York Observer, “Commuters along the G-train deserve the same service and respect that other lines get. And the same goes for the L-train.”

MTA has responded that fixing those lines is “our highest priority,” although it does not expect to restore service until some time this coming week, making these the last lines to resume even partial service.

“What I expect them to do is provide the fullest service possible,” Levin adds. “I expect that my constituents are treated the same as subway riders in every other neighborhood. It is a critical part of the city’s economy.” Levin represents Greenpoint and parts of the waterfront stretching from Williamsburg to Brooklyn Heights and into Park Slope. He is calling for shuttle bus service to help replace the absent trains.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz does not fully agree with Levin’s viewpoint. He says in the story, “The MTA has done a remarkable job of restoring more than 80% of the system under very difficult conditions, and making sure Brooklynites have as many transportation options to and from Manhattan, such as the bus bridge,” according to spokesman Mark Zustovich said. “Additionally, while we understand that the L line is heavily used, restoration of the J train provides at least some service close to Williamsburg and other areas served by the L.”

See more from the Observer story here.

Apparently, Macy’s has finally realized that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. For much of the past year, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Brooklyn Heights state Sen. Daniel Squadron have been rallying for the annual 4th of July fireworks extravaganza to return to the East River, including public rallies, petitions and a non-stop tirade of phone calls.

Since 2009, Macy’s has hosted its annual holiday blowout from the Hudson River. The original move there four years ago was said to acknowledge the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s journey up the river. But the fireworks have remained there since, despite an onslaught of protests that aiming them toward New Jersey spites the spirit of the event, stealing views from residents of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan’s East Side, where they had been for 32 years previous.

Now, the New York Daily News reports that Macy’s is “considering a return” to the East River: “Bending to outer-borough pressure, Macy’s execs and top people in its fireworks operations have agreed to meet with pols to discuss” bringing the show home. A source told the Daily News, “Macy’s has expressed willingness to move to the East River. Macy’s has been receptive to sitting down and discussing solutions. We’re optimistic that soon there will be good news.”

The sit-down will be local elected officials first face-to-face discussion about the fireworks with Macy’s execs. De Blasio stressed, “The fireworks belong in the East River. Outer-borough New Yorkers deserve to be part of the city’s Fourth of July celebration too.” Squadron added that their return to the East River “would allow millions of New Yorkers to join the celebration and provide communities and businesses with the economic spark they need.”

City Councilman Steve Levin, who represents Brooklyn Heights and has also been a persistent advocate for the fireworks’ return home, said, “They couldn’t come back soon enough, and we will welcome them with open arms. I’m from New Jersey. I’ve got nothing but love for New Jersey, but the fact of the matter is there is nothing quite as spectacular as Fourth of July fireworks over New York Harbor.”

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is also invited to the imminent sit-down, where pols will present a petition that now has 3,100 signatures urging that the show return to its original locale.

All the same, Macy’s has not determined where the 2013 4th of July setting will be. Spokesman Orlando Veras repeated what he’s been saying for the past three years: “Macy’s fireworks will take place in and around all accessible New York City waterways and will not be a permanent fixture at any one location.”

(Photo: New York Daily News)

They’re not giving up. At the beginning of April, State Senator Daniel Squadron and City Council Member Steve Levin led a rally to return the annual Macy’s 4th of July fireworks to the East River. Since 2009, the historic annual display has been based along the Hudson, stealing views from residents of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan’s East Side, instead aiming them toward New Jersey.

Now Squadron, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and BP Marty Markowitz have launched an online petition “urging Macy’s not to leave Brooklyn and Queens in the dark. Bring the fireworks back to the East River so everyone can enjoy the show.”

At a press conference Thursday, the pols declared that they are again trying to convince Macy’s to bring the fireworks home, where they were based for 32 years before moving four years ago. As BHB previously reported, Macy’s has maintained that the move was temporary to celebrate Henry Hudson’s voyage up the river. But this “temporary” is beginning to smell a lot more like “long term.”

Meanwhile, poor Hoboken, N.J., put a warning on its community webbie warning of potential gridlock as “tens of thousands” are expected to flood the locale. Apparently, the community doesn’t have the moxie of Brooklyn, eh?

NYC Mayor Bloomberg, meanwhile, was unusually demure when asked about the location of fireworks: “It’s up to Macy’s. They’re paying for it. You know, I’d love to see it move back and forth… but in the end, it’s their call.”

If you’re in favor of bringing one of the greatest free shows of the summer back to Brooklyn please sign that petition here.

(Photo: Squadron & de Blasio/Gothamist)

The L Magazine goes hog wild with snark today, joking that Democratic upstart (with Brooklyn Heights roots) Lincoln Restler was somehow involved in NYC councilmember Steve Levin’s crime filled weekend. Cops say the car theft and office break-in suffered by Mr. Levin do not appear to be connected to each other. The L also ponders whether these shenanigans have something to do with Levin’s association with controversial assemblymember Vito Lopez.

The L Magazine: Last summer, in a major upset covered extensively by the L, fresh-faced Lincoln Restler defeated Lopez’s preferred candidate in a District Leader election. Since then, Restler hasn’t been shy about lobbing verbal grenades at Lopez, in these pages and elsewhere.

So, did someone steal Steve Levin’s car to “send a message” that he could no longer depend upon his political mentor to ensure his easy passage through the cutthroat world of Brooklyn politics? It’s literally impossible to believe otherwise.

Asked by email whether he stole Steve Levin’s car, Lincoln Restler told us, “Truth be told I don’t even have a driver’s license. I’d be happy to give Steve a ride to work on my bike though.” Which, though it has the whiff of non-denial denial about it, ought to settle the issue of the car theft, if not Vito Lopez’s evidently waning influence.

Our man in the NYC Council, Steve Levin fires off this missive regarding the city’s “poor response” to the Blizzard of 2010 in Brooklyn Heights:

Councilmember Levin expresses his disappointment and outrage over the city’s poor response to yesterday’s snow storm.

“I am outraged at the lack of response in the neighborhoods which I represent-Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg.  It is unacceptable that, a full day after the storm, major avenues throughout my district have yet to see a snow plow.  I commend all the DSNY, FDNY, and NYPD workers giving their all out in the snow today, and we are all grateful for their work, but they have not been given enough resources.  Clearly, City Hall and the leadership at the Sanitation Department were entirely unprepared for a storm of this magnitude, and we are all paying the price for that now,” said Councilmember Levin.

“Nobody expects that every side street will be plowed within a day-we are all realistic.  However, from Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint to 4th Avenue in Park Slope, major arteries are impassable.  This is not only an inconvenience for residents, but it is downright dangerous if emergency vehicles cannot even get down a major avenue.  Simply put, this isn’t the worst storm we’ve ever had, but it seems to be the worst response to any major storm in recent memory.”

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:

NY Post: Lopez uses strong-arm tactics, repeatedly mentioning two upcoming taxpayer-funded trips he hosts, suggesting only supporters can go.

“I want to take people on the trip who really don’t like me?” he says. “I mean, that’s stupid, right? That’s what I’m trying to say.”

Lopez then hints to one of the women, who had worked as a $225-a-day poll worker, that only Velasquez supporters will get the coveted gigs on Election Day. Poll workers are legally prohibited from trying to influence voters.

“If I put people in the polls to be poll watchers and the candidate that [Lopez’s political] club backs is not backed by those people, how can I do that?” he says.

Later, he says, “Either people are with the club or not with the club.”

At one point, Lopez suggests that if the votes for Velasquez fall short at PS 19, the polling site nearest the women, he will punish the entire neighborhood.

"Controversial" photo from Reichbach's campaign website

The race for the Democratic 52nd Assembly district leader just got a little more interesting.

Crain’s NY Insider reports that a formal complaint has been filed against Supreme Court Judge Gus Reichbach claiming that he has “participated” in his daughter Hope Reichbach’s campaign against incumbent Jo Anne Simon.

Steve and Vito: Hope's Home Team/Aaron Short photo

Crain’s notes that the confidential complaint was filed by Simon supporter Alan Fleishman (a current District leader not seeking re-election). The paper adds that the complaint “gratuitiously notes that [Vito] Lopez backs Reichbach.”    Ms. Reichbach is currently a staffer for NYC Councilmember/ Lopez protégé & former chief of staff Steve Levin.

Fleishman’s filing alleges that Judge Reichbach “seriously violated judicial ethics [by] actively campaigning for his daughter.” The complaint says that the judge permitted his name and likeness to be used in a Hope Reichbach campaign mailing, on her campaign website in addition to attending an endorsement press conference. It adds that the judge, who was part of the 1968 student uprising at Columbia University, wore a Hope Reichbach campaign button, too.

Judge Reichbach tells Crain’s that he never wore a campaign button. As for the presser, he says he did not participate and that he has received an opinion from the Advisory Commission on Judicial Ethics allowing his likeness to be used in his daughter’s campaign. He tells the paper he was surprised by the complaint, adding, “These things are supposed to be confidential, so it’s interesting that the complaint was filed with the press.”

Our new guy in the NYC Council (D-33), Steve Levin,  has launched a website according to  the  hot press release just received by BHB:

“I am excited to announce my new website, stephenlevind33.wordpress.com. I have launched this website so that all residents of the 33rd Council District can easily contact me, share information, and find out about events throughout this district. As Councilmember, my number one priority is my constituents and this website will be an excellent resource for residents of Brooklyn,” Levin says in the presser.

Brooklyn Eagle: Freshman Councilman Levin knew from the first day he took office that helicopter noise would be an issue. He and Squadron were in Brooklyn Bridge Park this past holiday weekend, and both said that a helicopter flew over the park “once every minute.” “People cannot actually enjoy [the park] because of all the noise,” said Levin.

The Brooklyn Heights Blog has started a petition suggesting a quiet period of four hours per day with no night flights, in addition to any existing regulations. The petition already has 70 signatures.

Tracy, a resident of Brooklyn Heights, was also in the park this weekend, enjoying the beautiful weather. Because of the continual vibrations from the flights directly overhead, “my egg salad was falling out of my sandwich,” she lamented. But she does applaud the Brooklyn Heights Blog’s efforts towards some kind of solution, not just a continuing stream of complaints.

The Brooklyn Paper has not written about the press conference and we can’t find anything online about the current bout with choppers on their website.  Their Murdoch media cousin, the NY Post, was there but we haven’t seen a story online yet. .. guess we’ll have to get the actual newspaper to see. A teeny story ran in the paper today and online.

What’s up with that?  Did we miss it?

In a letter to State Senator Daniel Squadron, City Councilmember Steve Levin and others, Burchenal says, “The helicopters zoom right overhead like a scene out of Apocalypse Now. This community has worked for 20 years to get that park going and Mayor Bloomberg, with the help of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, ruined the whole atmosphere with the stroke of a pen.”

He also created a YouTube video of the crazy helicopter traffic to bolster his case. Read his full letter and see the video after the jump.

On April 1st, 2010 Liberty Tours started operating all their Helicopter Tours from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport (DMH). The impact was immediately apparent in Brooklyn. The skies above us turned into something out of a war film. You can often see 4-5 helicopters in the air, and another 5-6 idling on the pad. On a recent trip to the waterfront I observed helicopters descending and ascending at a rate of 1 every 45 seconds. Take a look at this video to see what I mean…

Every chopper in the area affects the historic Brooklyn Promenade. The tourist choppers are the worst because they fly up and down the waterfront and leave on such a regular basis. Their incessant roar makes conversation on the Promenade unbearable. Things are even worse at the newly opened Brooklyn Bridge Park. The helicopters zoom right overhead like a scene out of Apocalypse Now. This community has worked for 20 years to get that park going and Mayor Bloomberg, with the help of the NYC Economic Development Corporation, ruined the whole atmosphere with the stroke of a pen.

The narrowness of the river, between two densely packed landmasses, is an acoustic nightmare. The sound reverberates off the tall buildings in that tight corridor and can be heard throughout Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. The roar from these choppers arrives long before you see them and stays long after they disappear. The orientation of the heliport means pilots approach low and idle low over Brooklyn. The only way they can take off is to head straight at the promenade or the park. In short, the decision to move the flights here from Chelsea was misguided.

We’ve been told by Patricia Ornst at the EDC that the tax revenue is more important than our quality of life. I hope you value our well being more than that, and can find a solution. I urge you to ask Mayor Bloomberg to reinstate Mayor Giuliani’s Ban on Chopper Tours. We all know that tourists will come and spend money in this city with or without helicopter tours. If that is off the table, then reduce the flights to a small window during the day. The bottom line is this, no flight path along that East River corridor is acceptable. As long as tourist tours land at DMH, there are going to be noise issues in Brooklyn Heights, in Dumbo, on The Promenade, and at the new park. The only solution to the noise problem is a reduction in the number of flights.

Earlier this month, Steve Levin began work as the new City Council member for the 33rd District. BHB caught up with Levin to see how he was enjoying his new gig.

How was your first week?
It’s been great. My days have been busy with various constituent groups. We’re facing a lot of progress on a number of issues.

How’s the office? Have you decorated yet?
Just for this month we’re in the former council member Yassky’s office on Court Street, so were keeping the decorations to a minimum.

What’s the first thing you want to get done?
There are a lot of issues rapidly approaching, but what’s important is addressing community issues. We’re working on the traffic issue in Brooklyn Heights. One issue is I see cars circling looking for parking, so we’re working on a residential parking permit program.

Other issues I’m looking to address early on include Brooklyn Bridge Park and keeping the progress going. I’m also involved in the issue of helicopter tours over Brooklyn Heights. We’re looking at ways to limit that.

How available will you be to your constituents?
Well, that has always been a priority for me. The most essential function of a city council member is to serve the needs of the community. For my office, we’re looking at a storefront space [on Atlantic Avenue] where people can come in any time. And, I obviously have a great staff with lots of experience with constituent issues.

Any surprises so far?
I’m pleased with how busy we are. My days have been filled with meetings.

Democrat Steve Levin completed his journey to coronation in the 33rd NYC Council District with a landslide win over his “competitor” in yesterday’s election.

The Vito Lopez protege won 91% of the vote against Conservative Party candidate Elizabeth Tretter’s 9% (who we’re not sure even knew she was running… really… seriously… anyone hear anything about her?).

This also marks the end of the Yassky era in D-33.  Godsky speedsky David and good lucksky to Mr. Levin.

City Hall reports on “40 Under 40: The Next Political Leaders of New York” in its latest issue.  Among them our new man in the NYC Council, 28 year old Steve Levin.  Sure, the election isn’t until November but his “opponent” – we think it’s Conservative Party candidate Elizabeth Tretter –  is nowhere to be found.

And as they say from the mouths of babes…:

City Hall: When asked how he was able to muscle out a bunch of challengers in a competitive Council race to fill David Yassky’s Council seat, Steve Levin gives one answer.
“My friend and mentor Vito Lopez,” he says. “I would not have been elected if it were not for him.”

Indeed, the former chief-of-staff for the Assembly Housing chair and Brooklyn Democratic leader says that his old boss has given him lots of advice over the years, but that he led more by example.

“He is a tireless worker and he always does everything he can for the people he represents,” Levin said. “It comes from the heart.”

But when the Brown University graduate was deciding whether or not to make a run for the Council, he did not only get heart-to-hearts from local political big wigs. His father’s first cousins, Michigan Senator Carl Levin and his brother, Rep. Sandy Levin, weighed in as well.

“They both encouraged me to go for it,” he said. “They said work hard, be true to yourself, and always try to do the right thing.”

But, he added, the real motivation came from within.

“I’ve always wanted to serve people and to make people’s lives better,” he said. “That’s been the goal all along.”

How did your past jobs get you to where you are today? My past jobs were as a community organizer and chief of staff to Vito Lopez, and there has always been a commitment to serving people and serving their needs.

If you were not working in politics, what would you be doing: Public interest law

Five years from now, what will it say on your business card: Councilmember for the 33rd district

Who would play you in the movie? Harry Connick, Jr.

Marc Hermann/BHB

He may have lost the Democratic primary in 33rd NYC Council District, but Doug Biviano’s campaign is still getting attention.  The New York Observer weighs in on the Brooklyn Heights resident’s outsider campaign this week where Biviano draws praise from an unlikely source:

New York Observer:  “I would say that Doug ran a very energetic campaign,” said Steve Levin, who on Sept. 15 was elected to replace David Yassky as the councilman for District 33, which includes Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill.

“He brought a lot of passion, and when he entered the race, he helped shape the debate,” said Mr. Levin. In particular, he said Biv made other candidates address the issue of health care, and what can be done at the local level. In the final stretch, Biv rolled up his sleeves and turned his fight-the-power fist into a pointed you-dirty-bastard forefinger: He accused Mr. Levin of being a nursemaid to his “notorious” boss Assemblyman and Brooklyn Democratic Party overlord, Vito Lopez.

While Biviano is currently dealing with finding his next career opportunity, his name has popped up as a potential opponent for  Assembly Member Joan Millman in next year’s election  along with Brooklyn Bridge Park Defense Fund president Judi Francis.

Brooklyn Paper: Levin, the hand-picked candidate of the county Democratic Party leader Vito Lopez, spoke to our reporter Ben Muessig outside Lopez’s clubhouse, the Bushwick Council of the Knights of Columbus at Wyckoff Avenue and Grove Street — a location that is not even in the 33rd District that Levin hopes to represent.

The clubhouse is actually in the 34th District, which Lopez-backed candidate Maritza Davila appears to have narrowly lost to former Lopez-staffer Diana Reyna (D-Williamsburg).

With 100% of the vote in, BHB projects Steve Levin as is the winner of the Democratic primary in NYC Council District 33.

BHB Reader’s Choice Doug Biviano is running a distant 6th.

The final results are as follows:

Levin, Stephen Dem 5,199 34%
Simon, Jo Anne Dem 3,109 20%
Abraham, Isaac Dem 1,937 13%
Thies, Evan Dem 1,915 12%
Diamondstone, Ken Dem 1,324 9%
Biviano, Doug Dem 1,127 7%
Baer, Kenneth Dem 811 5%