Borough Park, NY – With an upcoming vote on extending current term limits leaving New York City Council Members, including Councilman Simcha Felder, uncertain about their political futures, community activist Joe Lazar has chosen to run for the seat that Felder may or may not vacate—creating a possible Felder vs. Lazar scenario that has many community members scratching their heads.
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A story today in the NY Sun reports that Mr. Lazar who has the Strong support of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, says he will stay in the race regardless of term limits, VIN News reached out to Mr. Lazar for clarification.
In the interview Mr. Lazar said: “The reason I said I will stay in the race is because many people have asked me to run and have entrusted me and have raised funds for my campaign. It would be a betrayal to turn around and say I’m not running now, unless the same people who asked me to run and raised funds for it will tell me its best for the community that I not run, [in which case] I will not. Some politicians are very good at raising funds and then not honoring their constituency. I am not like that.” said Mr. Lazar.
New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, one of Joe Lazar’s front-running staunch supporters, explained his current position to VIN News in a phone conversation.
“There should be no doubt that Simcha Felder has done a tremendous amount of good for our community,” Hikind pointed out. “Simcha is a committed public servant.”
While Hikind supports Lazar with a term-limit scenario for Felder, he offered that if term limits are redrawn, and a third term is possible for Felder, “You have an effective, dedicated incumbent in office; the voters know that.”
The other candidate David Greenfield who has the support of Simcha, told VIN News “Councilman Simcha Felder has done an outstanding job as our representative in the city council. I don’t believe that term limits will be extended and I am therefore running with Simcha’s support for his council seat. However, if term limits are extended I will do everything I can to ensure that Simcha is re-elected.”
and the plot thickens…
Mr Felder start working we will vote for you again
you said you helped yeshivas, I don’t see my schar limud or bus transportation getting cheaper, if you gave money for some moisdes please let us know, so far I don’t see that you did something
Parker is good for Jews
my heart goes out to simcha I met him this shabbos I don’t think he would run
keep those term limits.
city council… and most importantly the MAYOR
Personally, I am opposed to term limits. I think that people should have the right to vote for whomever they like (provided, of course, that they are eligible). If the electorate is stupid enough to vote in the same bad people year after year, then they get the government they deserve.
That said, however, I am opposed to the City Council voting on the termination of term limits. The reason is because New Yorkers went to the polls and voted twice, by referendum, to have term limits. Despite my personal objection, term limits is something that the people of New York City clearly want. Having been voted for twice by referendum by the people, I feel the only way it should be repealed is by the same method — public referendum.
The Wolf
whether someone has been doing a good job or not has nothing to do with the fact that the people have voiced their beliefs on the issue.
simcha is a great guy, but if he votes to overturn the public opinion for that of mayor mike’s he is falling right in line with what our community has been accusing him of (turning his back on the community & embacing the mayor)
Reading the Sun Article I am ashamed of being a Jew. All the others interviewed said they are not or don’t know yet if they are running and the only one who has say I don’t care is a Jew.
Chilul hashem nora veoyum
it is before Rosh Hashanah, what will Hashem say when we beg for Mechila and this is what he sees us doing, causing a chilul hashem, yiden fighting.
Joe if Felder runs back away for 4 more years. Those people that want you to run, but hashem and torah comes first. The money you raised you will use IY”H in 2012 for your race for the seat.
doesnt pay to lift term limits if well be stuck with bloomberg again even if simcha has to collect unemployment
its time for Felder to realize that he’s got to go once and for all after voting for the highest property tax hike in NYC history and constantly being a ye$ boy for mayor mike he has lost the communit’ys trust and also turned his back in us while helping himself and oh yeah he passed sone silly legislation to come off as a community advocate.
democracy fan if term limits come to a vote and all members of the council vote for it why is Simcha wrong on voting for it? He served us for 8 years and why shouldn’t he get to serve us another 4 years.
I don’t agree with everything he voted for or did, but if you ask me overall what mark I will give him for his years in service I would give a 90+.
Listen he needs a job and I don’t see that this is embracing the Mayor. We should let the Mayor turn over the term limits and we will vote for Simcha and vote Bloomberg out of office. this will be the best message for Bloomberg.
Well that is one of Simchas problim he is more devoted to the Mayer then to the people who elected him.
Mr Felder start working we will vote for you again
you said you helped yeshivas, I don’t see my schar limud or bus transportation getting cheaper, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You sound like a dumb democrat blaiming Simcha Felder for your lack of schar limud and transportation. If you lost money in the stock market would you also blame Mr. Felder?
Oh, I am sorry. You first blame Bush and then Felder?
People didn’t come out and vote for him last time, why would they now?
People make up terms for ‘Chilul Hashem’ of everything they personally do not agree with.. can you please explain me what’s the ‘Chilul Hahsem’ in this.. its a free country anyone can run.. its rather a real Chilul Hashem if Jews do not have their freedom to decide what ever is in their ‘Bechirah’
Do u say to your grocery store you shop at “hey Chilul Hesham across a street is another Jew having a shop.. your out of your mind.
just say goodbye
I truely feel bad for him he’s a good man who made some desprate mistake
hope to have another chance to vote against felder
Anonymous Says:
People make up terms for ‘Chilul Hashem’ of everything they personally do not agree with.. can you please explain me what’s the ‘Chilul Hahsem’ in this.. its a free country anyone can run.. its rather a real Chilul Hashem if Jews do not have their freedom to decide what ever is in their ‘Bechirah’
09-23-2008 – 3:57 PM
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“A council candidate running to succeed Mr. Koppell in representing the Bronx, Helen Morik, said the renewed discussion of legislation to extend term limits has forced her to rethink her campaign.”
“Some candidates say they would likely abandon their campaigns rather than face incumbents.”
“I’ve done a lot of work with the incumbent, and he is someone who I respect and admire,” a candidate to succeed Council Member Bill de Blasio in Brooklyn, Brad Lander, said yesterday in an interview. “I think it’s unlikely I would run if the seat is not open.”
A candidate running to succeed Council Member Simcha Felder in Brooklyn, Joseph Lazar, said yesterday that he would run no matter what,”
Now do you understand where the Chilul Hashem comes in? Everyone steps aside except who? a JEW. Why can’t he wait 4 more years like everyone else? Needs to cause a race and spend yiddish gelt for nothing? Even Greenfield understands that he will have to wait 4 more years.
I hope that Simcha runs for a third term against Lazar and loses, maybe then he’ll realize it’s time for him to retire.
It was not because low turnout that he lost the senate seat, people are not happy with having a Blooberg as Mayor and as a Council member. We want someone to stand up for us, no excuses.
Chilul Hashem? Someone should go back to yeshiva and learn what a chilul Hashem really is.
I dont understand why Felder should object to Joe running against him. It happens all the time in Israel. Let the best candidate win. It’s the competition that makes things work better for the clients which in this case is us the people of BP.
Felder has nothing to fear if he really did do so much for the community.
david grienfeld please get back in the race because you know why simcah lost, it was because of conjested pricing so he has no chance of making it .david greenfeld & rabbi david niederman of the ujo of williamsburg was the won who was behind the no child left behind allso david was trying to pass a law that the state should allow people who send their children to private schools and pay tution allow them to deduct it from their from tax return. theirfore i am for greenfeld 09 council .
WolfishMusings Says:
Personally, I am opposed to term limits. I think that people should have the right to vote for whomever they like (provided, of course, that they are eligible).
Excuse me,Wolf, How does removing term limits take away your right to vote? You can still vote for whomever you wish, incumbent or challenger!
This sounds like sour grapes just because you lose doesn’t mean that you can change the rules of the game to your advantage. That’s life the voters have voiced their opinion alas you win some and you lose some.
If shelly silver is supporting Mr. Lazar it is a no-brainer that Mr. Lazar (and for that matter Mr. Hikind) should be defeated at all costs.
FELDER and BALOONBERG…
What a Great Team…
They Should Both Get Out Of Town!!!!!
Lock & Load
I also agree with Anonymous that WE DONT WANT BLOOMBERG FOR 4 MORE YEARS.
Thats not fair! I would of liked to see Noach Dear still in office. He did a lot more then all these other clowns!
Joe is agreat guy, a mensch I know him personally, everyone that knows him will say the same thing. He will make a real Kiddish HASHEM.
GO JOE GO! TELECH MEYCHOYIL L”CHOYIL. Dont listen to all these hoilche ruchil who make lushon hura against you.
It would be great if term limits would be abolished and the voters would be able to decide.
It would also allow Councilman James Gennarro to
stay in office and continue to represent the entire Queens community. He is a most dedicated
and committed public servant. We’d hate to lose him
when rudy was mayor we didnt want term limits but got it anyway this time around evryboby wants bloombrg out accept the politicians but we will end up having term limits removed.what a shame
Joe has a lot more experience than Simcha. He worked in government for over forty years. Simcha’s only been there for 20. He’s 65 years old. Simcha’s not even 50. Joe is the candidate with experience!
Just wondering how this well read and opinionated group feels about our Governor David paterson on how he is doing as governor and should we re-elect him for another term in 2 years…