Longtime Assemblyman Felix Ortiz is facing his first well-organized challenger in almost 20 years in this year’s Democratic Primary, which will be held September 9. Caesar Zuniga is an education professional specializing in programs for the very young. He has been a member of Community Board 7 (Sunset Park) for the past five years, and this year has mounted a […]
Politics
Nydia is in Felix’s corner
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez has telling people that she is endorsing incumbent Felix Ortiz for the 51st district Assembly seat. He is being challenged by Community Board 7 member Cesar Zuniga. Up until today, Velazquez’s endorsement was simply oral. Today, she gave Ortiz a written statement that he can use in the campaign. Today, they met in Sunset Park and Nydia […]
Politics: Marks Corner, by Mark Shames
I have been offered and accepted an opportunity to continue writing about the political scene in Brownstone Brooklyn, even though I will be stepping aside as the president of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats while I remain a general and executive board come September. In New York City politics it is close to impossible to unseat an incumbent elected office holder […]
News from the Independent Neighborhood Democrats, by Mark Shames, President
The Independent Neighborhood Democrats do not typically meet during the summer months, so it will in one sense be quiet until September. However, individual members will be actively promoting their candidates by door knocking, hosting meet and greets and fundraisers. Petitioning has ended and petitions have either been submitted or are in the process of being bound into volumes for […]
Tell us in person, Mr. de Blasio
The Red Hook Star-Revue invites Mayor Bill de Blasio to a community forum to tell us in person how he has saved healthcare in South Brooklyn. This newspaper began publishing in 2010. By that time, Brad Lander had already succeeded de Blasio in the city council. We did not get to know him as councilman. We did finally meet de Blasio […]
The Arrogance of the Parks Department, by George Fiala
By now, most people who live or work in Red Hook know that Coffey Park, which CB 6 District Manager Craig Hammerman has called an important village square, has been closed to the public since the middle of April. Fenced off for an announced renovation, the park has remained quiet, with no renovation work apparent except for some tree pruning. […]
The Crazy World of Politics, by George Fiala
It’s March and the 2014 races are getting closer. Word is that a Mexican American is looking to do to Assemblyman Felix Ortiz what Carlos Menchaca did to Sara Gonzalez in the city council. Nydia’s 10th two year Congressional term is up at the end of the year, and despite all her off year work for City Council candidates, there […]
Councilmembers Lander and Levin guests at February Gowanus CAG meeting, by George Fiala
The Gowanus Community Advisory Group (CAG) meets monthly to discuss issues pertaining to the Canal Superfund cleanup. At its February 25 meeting, local councilmen Steve Levin and Brad Lander appeared by invitation. The CAG consists of sixty members, many of them representing local groups, such as the Red Hook East and West Tenants, the Red Hook Civic Association, the Cobble […]
Black History month celebrated with new Borough President at Historical Society, by Kimberly Gail Price
Black History Month originally began as “Negro History Week” the second week of February in 1926 because it coincided with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln, (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14.)Both historic men had been celebrated for their contributions to the black community since the late 19th century. Historian, Carter G. Woodson announced the initiative, saying, “If a […]
Carlos Menchaca’s sophisticated sweep to power, by George Fiala
Carlos Menchaca accomplished a rare political feat on September 10 – he defeated an incumbent, Sara Gonzalez. He won by over 1200 votes out of a total of a bit more than 7,000. He won not only Red Hook and Windsor Terrace, two neighborhoods with which he has close ties, but Sunset Park, Gonzalez’s home turf. Menchaca’s resounding victory surprised […]