What makes the issue rather pointed this year is that the candidate running against Ms. Hochul, Timothy Wu, has been conducting a campaign stressing his independence from entrenched Albany players, promising to use the office of lieutenant governor as a bully pulpit to support issues he believes in and turn it into a de facto public advocate office that would be available as a resource to disgruntled citizens.
Robert Duffy is Gov. Cuomo’s current lieutenant governor, having been picked by Mr. Cuomo in 2010. However, Mr. Duffy declined to run this time around, reportedly because he was unhappy about having spent the past four years advocating for Gov. Cuomo’s agenda.
But that is precisely the point of a lieutenant governor, isn’t it? And that is precisely why we see the challenge to Ms. Hochul, should it succeed, as a prescription for dysfunction, disruption, and chaos.
State Assembly
45th Assembly District, Brooklyn (Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Midwood)
We endorse Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz for reelection. An important advocate for the Jewish community, he is a staunch supporter of Jewish social service organizations that provide legal and financial services and help feed the hungry. He played a leading role in legislation requiring insurance companies to provide the same coverage for prescription fertility drugs purchased in local pharmacies as those purchased via mail order. He also fought hard to increase state support for yeshivas, including door-to-door transportation for students. The son of survivors, Mr. Cymbrowitz has been a leader in educating children about the horrors of the Holocaust and has been a great friend to survivors and their families.
71st Assembly District, Manhattan (West Harlem, Inwood, Washington Heights)
In the 71st AD our choice is Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell Jr. He has been a longtime champion of his Northern Manhattan community, fighting for tenants’ rights, helping to make improvements in Riverside Park, and winning increases in funding for public and private schools. He helped pass legislation creating street-hail taxi service in Northern Manhattan, expanding transportation options for local residents. As chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Farrell has great influence over the state budget, which has directed resources to yeshivas, senior centers, and programs for the developmentally disabled.
76th Assembly District, Manhattan (Upper East Side, Yorkville, Roosevelt Island)
We urge the nomination of Rebecca Seawright for the vacant Assembly seat in the 76th AD. A member of Community Board 8 and a former assistant district attorney and counselor to small business owners, Ms. Seawright has important experience fighting for families and helping to create economic opportunities. She will make funding for education a top priority and has fought against the proposal to build a waste transfer station on E. 91st Street.
We also endorse:
30th AD, Queens (Maspeth, Woodside, Middle Village, Astoria, Sunnyside, LIC): Assemblywoman Margaret Markey
42nd AD, Brooklyn (parts of Flatbush): Rodneyse Bichotte
51st AD, Brooklyn (Sunset Park, Red Hook): Assemblyman Felix Ortiz
78th AD, Bronx (Fordham, Bedford, Kingsbridge Heights, Belmont): Assemblyman Jose Rivera
85th AD, Manhattan (Soundview, Clason Point, Longwood, Hunt’s Point, Rikers Island): Assemblyman Marcos Crespo,
86th AD, Bronx (University Woods, West Bronx, parts of Grand Concourse): Assemblyman Victor Pichardo
90th AD, Westchester (Yonkers): Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer
96th AD, Rockland (Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Pomona, Wesley Hills, New Hempstead, portions of Ramapo): Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski
State Senate
19th SD, Brooklyn (Sheepshead Bay, Canarsie, Mill Basin, East New York): Dell Smitherman
20th SD, Brooklyn (mostly Crown Heights and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and parts of Sunset Park, Brownsville, Gowanus, Park Slope and Prospect Heights: Jesse Hamilton
Democratic Party State Committee District Leader, Female
57th AD, Brooklyn (Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant): Olanike Alabi. A well-known and respected advocate for housing and other quality of life issues in the area, Ms. Alabi has enjoyed the strong support of the Jewish community in Crown Heights.
