Brooklyn, NY – It has become something of a ritual in recent weeks. Every few days, State Senator Kevin S. Parker announces that another prominent elected official has endorsed him, often doing so at a press conference in front of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall.
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Mr. Parker, a Democrat who was an aide to H. Carl McCall, a former state comptroller, has been trying to showcase his support among leaders throughout Brooklyn. And these leaders say Mr. Parker needs all the support he can get because he is regarded as being in the fight of his short career.
Two City Council members are challenging Mr. Parker: Kendall Stewart and Simcha Felder. The winner of Tuesday’s primary is virtually guaranteed to win in the November election in the 21st District, which is overwhelmingly Democratic.
Senator Parker insists that his opponents are driven more by their looming joblessness than a desire to serve the district: under the city’s term-limit laws, both councilmen are barred from running for re-election next year.
But within the district, which includes Flatbush and East Flatbush, many view the race as a referendum on whether Mr. Parker has lived up to expectations. When he was first elected in 2002, he was celebrated as representing the best of the new generation of the borough’s politicians.
But Mr. Parker has had a sometimes turbulent tenure in a district where his hold on the electorate has been seen as tenuous. His opponents — and more than a few of his supporters — accuse him of arrogance and of an inability to control his temper.
Four years ago, he survived a challenge in the Democratic primary by former City Councilman Noach Dear, who spent heavily and came within a few hundred votes of an upset victory.
The following year, the senator was arrested, the police said, after he punched a traffic agent in the face as the agent was writing a summons for the senator’s double-parked car. While the charges were dropped, the episode has not been forgotten.
“My main issue is that he has been causing a lot of embarrassment in our district because of his anger issues and his record of not being involved,” Councilman Stewart said. “He’s largely been absent in the district and in Albany.”
Mr. Felder put it similarly. “There are three primary roles any official has: To help constituents with their problems, to pass legislation and to bring home the bacon, or if you’re kosher, the pastrami. And he’s been missing in action on all three.”
Incumbent state senators typically enjoy huge advantages, like name recognition and a greater ability to raise campaign funds. But both of Mr. Parker’s challengers are public officials who have proven popular with voters and adept at raising money. Mr. Felder has raised more than $1 million and has benefited from fund-raisers hosted by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, his most prominent supporter. (Mr. Parker has raised about $400,000 and Mr. Stewart has raised less than $100,000.)
Mr. Parker defended his Senate record, saying he has helped the Legislature achieve on-time budgets in four consecutive years and has steered more state spending for public education.
“I launched an H.I.V. and AIDS task force for the district,” Mr. Parker said. “My record has been solid.”
This year’s primary has had an undercurrent of ethnic politics. In the last census, the district was about 60 percent black, 20 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic and 5 percent Asian. (The remainder was multiracial or other.) The black population is largely of Caribbean descent, and Mr. Stewart, who was born in St. Vincent, has been highlighting his West Indian roots. Mr. Parker is African-American.
Should Mr. Parker and Mr. Stewart split the black vote, that could work to the advantage of Mr. Felder, who is white and Jewish and is expected to do well among the district’s sizeable Jewish electorate.
In addressing Mr. Parker’s chances, Michael Gaspard, a political consultant who has worked in several Democratic campaigns in Brooklyn, said, “It’s a very tough race for him.
“It’s tough because he’s going up against two other incumbents, which is very rare in politics,” Mr. Gaspard added. “They each have political bases, and Simcha Felder has Bloomberg’s money — and that makes it tough.”
Although the recent flurry of endorsement announcements — including Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo and Representative Yvette D. Clarke — may suggest that Mr. Parker is worried about his re-election prospects, the senator insists he is not.
“The people of my district understand the work that I’ve done in the last few years,” Mr. Parker said on Friday. “They know that I have two opponents who are simply looking for jobs and that they are not interested in doing a good job.”
Wow from the Libarel NY Times, They admit that we could make a difference.
Yiden we should show the State, City, Elected Officials our voice and go out this Tuesday and Vote. It takes 5 minutes and we all could make a big difference on how elected officials will treat us.
Vote Felder this Tuesday Sept 9.
Polls are open 6am to 9pm.
I had high expectations when Parker was first elected, but have been disappointed with both his constituent service and his staff. He has ben nearly invisible, except for his taxpayer funded newsletters which have been devoid of any serious content. I’m voting for Felder despite all of the requests I’ve received from Parker and his staff asking for my support.
And what did Felder deliver????????????????????
Are there traffic lights on all Boro Park streets?
Are the streets in Boro Park cleaner?
Where are our school choice vouchers?
Are there more cops on the beat in Boro Park?
He’s just a self serving politician………….
We CAN afford to lose Simcha……………
Karen G. Welcome to Boro Park as I understand you might lose your job if Felder or Stewart wins. I’m sure you will find another one.
Regarding your 4 questions
1) Yes we have more light now then we used to have thanx to Councilman Simcha Felder. We don’t need on every block.
2) Streets are cleaner as you know since Councilmans Felder changed the hours that Sanitation is allowed to give tickets NYC is cleaner and less tickets were given out, Check the Daily News and ask CB12 District Manager.
3) He is for tution tax credit but it was stopped in Albany by the Assembley and the Senate.
4) Yes there is more cops out there walking the beat.
So next time before attacking check the facts and take a stroll in Boro Park. By the way Have Kevin come a little to the area we never see him here.
“I launched an H.I.V. and AIDS task force for the community Mr. Parker said.” NY TIMES QUOTE
If Parker invented medicine he would have peoples vote but launching HIV?
THIS SHOULD SCARE THE HELL OUT OF US.
VOTE FELDER!!
Felder is the most popular choice of the three. whether we like him or not, we have nothing better at this time.
And what did Felder deliver????????????????????
FELDER HAS HELPED EVERYONE REGARDLESS IF YOU WERE IN HIS DITRICT OR NOT. I KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND.
Are there traffic lights on all Boro Park streets?
YES BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO DRIVE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS. MAYBE IF YOU WOULD OBEY SPEED LIMITS WE WOULD NOT NEED ALL THE STOP SIGNS, SPEED BUMPS, A TRAFFIC LIGHTS, RED LIGHT CAMERAS. EVEN WITH ALL THIS STUFF AND HIGH ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE STILL DRIVE LIKE IDIOTS.
Are the streets in Boro Park cleaner?
YES. ACCORDING TO THE NY DAILY NEWS STATS SHOW THAT SINCE SIMCHA FELDERS LAW PASSED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL THE STREETS HAVE BEEN CLEANER AND 98% CLEAN RATE.
Where are our school choice vouchers?
ASK ALBANY. ALBANY VOTED THIS DOWN NOT SIMCHA FELDER. THIS IS WHY VOTING IS IMPORTANT. STOP VOTING THE SAME MORONS THAT KEEP ON PROMISING OUR COMMUNITIES EVERYTHING WE WANT TO HEAR ELECTION TIME BUT DO NOT DELIVER ON THEIR PROMISES. VOTE ON TUESDAY. ANYONE WHO COMPLAINS ABOUT POLITICIANS BUT DO NOT VOTE HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THE POLITICAL WORLD.
Are there more cops on the beat in Boro Park?
YES. 66PCT HAS JUST ADDED MORE ADDTIONAL OFFICERS. I DO NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS AN ADDTIONAL 30 OFFICERS AND EXTRA PATROL CARS AND POLICE BICYCLES.
He’s just a self serving politician………….
THIS IS NOT TRUE AND INSTEAD OF MAKING FUN OF SOMEONE THAT DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY WHY NOT GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE AND RUN FOR OFFICE IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER.
We CAN NOT afford to lose Simcha.
Yes there are sgnificantly more traffic lights in Boro Park, the streets ARE cleaner, he assist his constituents in navigating gov’t issues, and there are 15% more cops on the beat. Our community organizations have benefited from his communtiy handouts. Hatzolah received a lot for a new building, chaveirim received money for equipment, and others received as well.
He was at the forefront of fighting the Sanitation dept, and he led the drive to revamp ECB. He scrapped the old Section 8 rolls, allowing many eligible families finally start benefiting.
When there were riots in BP, it was Felder that forced the investigation into the police’s handling thereof. It was Felder that had the 18th ave park remodeled as well as the McDonald park – where he had the drug dealers removed. It was Felder that had the sanitation schedule changed to benefit our community, and arranged for pre pesach accomodations.
He led the drive vs. the health dept’s proposed tampering of Bris Milah, and their attempt to put heavy rules on our yeshivos.
As for vouchers, Simcha has said from day one that it is a state not a city issue, and he is therefore powerless to do anything about it.
Felder has an almost perfect attendance record in the city council. He takes his job seriously.
He has succesfully built relationships with other politicians and has used those for the community’s benefit.
The issue where he angered many is his vote for congestion pricing. In private he revealed his reason for doing so was since he knew it wasn’t going to pass anyway, he wanted to win favor with Bloomberg. Our community has benefited to the tune of millions of dollars, because of that intelligent political maneuvering.
SO IF YOU ASK HAS FELDER DELIVERED, THE ANSWER IS AN OVERWHELMING YES!!
We never heard of Felder untill this Year……
His name on Yellow Signs
Karen G. You are off……..
1) Street Lights? Yes Yagdil Torah wanted one on 18 and 51 and got it. Most of 14 Ave have street lights and next to the schools have traffic lights. Why does 10th Avenue need street lights? what’s wrong with the all way stop signs? and FYI: 10th Avenue speak to your beloved Councilman DeBlasio that serves that area. That is not Felder’s Council District.
2)Streets Cleaner? YES Call CB12 and find out our rating, it went up big time. Now if in front of your house its dirty, do your job and clean up.
3) Vouchers? That’s a State Issue not a City issue. So lets think who are our State elected officials, DOV HIKIND, KEVIN PARKER, DIANE SAVINO, SHELLY SILVER, MARTY GOLDEN, Yes these are the ones you should ask. Let’s not forget that when Pataki wanted Yeshiva Tax Credit Shell & Dov voted against it. The Assembley, due too pressure from the teachers union they removed it from the budget.
4) Police? Don’t know where you live but I see police next to my bais medrush and wealking down 13th Avenue every day. Hope you are not blind.
I’m voting Felder. I think as a Boro Parker Yid he did a lot for us. Not that I agree with everything, but overall he did very good for the community.
Simcha I wish you good luck and Mazel & Bracha
Unfortunately for Felder, many Yidden won’t vote for him because of his vote on the housing project on 19th and 50th.
All the Gerrer living in that area have stated that they will vote against Felder. I spoke this week with a Gerrer acctivist and he said that he knows of 200 people that signed up to vote this year just so that they can vote against Felder.
I guess that these Gerrer need Parker because he “launched an H.I.V. and AIDS task force for the community”
I don’t know what he did for b.p.!!!!!! but for willi. (where he does’nt belong) he realy did it….. (bad) …..so don’t vote him …..let him learn a lesson not to hurt an org. (U.J.O.) with such a great background , only beacouse the other party promised him ……….. the candidtte also promised… and we’ll not vote fou you .S.F.
shame on felder!
im staying home not voting at all, i see felder in the same way as parker! full of crap! i see no difference at all, id rather have parker than felder, felder hurt us! parker kept away.
my opinion STAY HOME DON’T VOTE
This is what felder accomplished in the city.
1)18% tax increase on property
2)Doubling the price of tickets
3)Adding more ticket police (meter maids)
4)11% water price hike
5)In favor of the congestion pricing
6)Supported the building project on 19th ave.
7)Endorsed Obama in the primary.
Can you imagine what life would be without Simcha?
He did not hurt the UJO, he also supported UJCare. Between the two orgs there was a significant increase so Williamsburg was greatly helped. If UJO helped everyone, and not just their people, there never would be a UJCare.
As for 19/50, just because you may not agree, would you rather a politician that delivered a HIV and AIDS task force? He has Gerrer yeshivos plenty, and throwing him to the ground like that is disgusting. After reading this, I have lost a lot of respect for Ger. I am sure if the Rebbe was asked, he would say to vote Felder. Rather stay home and don’t vote, than vote against Felder.
EMES u r very right
And now he thertens if Simcha loses we all lose what a joke!
emes: did he hurt UJO or just helped their oppenent?
We all know that you are speaking revenge not emes. The emes is, it does not hurt Willi to have two powerful orgs; unless your a Zali that thinks the Satmar politics is Lshem Shomayim. So therefore UjO is also fighting lshem shomayim.
Shimcha is what we need. He has a clear vision on what the community needs. And also understands that Two orgs is a great benefit to the community.
Simcha’s claim is wrong! Parker delivered. He delivered frequent newsletters about his supposed accomplishments and lots of invitations to forums he hosted on stupid subjects. As far as I know, that’s all he delivered.
FELDER = BLOOMBERG PUPPET
I live in Boro Park and I could’nt help noticing all the posters for Simcha Felder stuck on every light and utility pole on 13th ave. If he expects people to vote for him, he should at least obey the law of defacing public property. His slogan is “If I lose, we all lose”… what kind of a slogan is that???
he helped ujcare? why didn’t help ujo they shouldn’t lose money if he’s not one sided? & for for those who say that ujo is only helping zalis are the bigest leiars in history LETS DROP ALL JEWISH POLITICANS
felder also voted to raise property taxes 18% and he voted for the congestive driving plan.how about his approval to build high rise atDAHILL road against the wishes of the community did he receive apayment of 35000 dollars from the developers did he really care about the middle class taxpayer like me whose real estate taxes are constantly raised? he is just ahack for Blumberg
Sick…..
Love the way you write the main thing for you DAHILL RD PROJECT. You know the truth that its not a high rise and no shopping malls and that every car will have a parking space.
But why not lets spread lies
i agree that all signs throughout boro park are felder signs.
they are illegal and he is supposed to be fined for each one of them
VOTE ONLY FOR SIMCHA FELDER ON SEPTEMBER 9TH!!
The prbolem is that the wydra group have a history already. In williansburg they have developed real estate that has gone against ALL local rabanim, The have made empty promises but have never come through. Their williamsburg developement has all sort of legaility issues and the company has been under inmvestigation.
So why is Simcha taking sides with thsi rogue group of developers. THEY do not have the good of our community in mind. And THEY will be the ones executing the developement.