Goodbye, Boro Park. Hello, Tammany Hall.

Fight for the 44th

By Sergey Kadinsky and Michael Orbach

Issue of March 19, 2010 / 4 Nissan 5770

The special election for New York City’s 44th Council District seat looks more and more like old-school Brooklyn politics by the day: a down-and-dirty, bloody, bare-knuckled brawl.

In one corner is Joe Lazar, a longtime community activist and former NYC regional director of the New York State Office of Mental Health. His opponent is David Greenfield, executive director of the Sephardic Community Federation and Teach NYS. Both are vying for the recently vacated seat of City Council Member Simcha Felder, whose district includes Borough Park, and parts of Bensonhurst, Midwood and Kensington. In January, Felder joined the administration of the newly elected city comptroller, his former council colleague John Liu.

“I’m a very frustrated 31-year-old lawyer,” said Greenfield, on why he is running. “I can’t afford my home, kids’ tuition, and parking fees.”

Lazar, through his spokesman Gary Tilzer, refused repeated requests for comment.

While both candidates speak of excessive parking ticketing and affordable housing, they differ only in the details ­— and in their personalities. Both have attempted to portray themselves as Borough Park insiders, appealing to charedi voters. Behind each candidate is strong political backer: Assemblyman Dov Hikind for Joe Lazar and Assemblyman Vito Lopez behind Greenfield.

“The Jewish community is divided in this race,” said longtime community activist Isaac Abraham. “It will determine the role of Dov Hikind and the value of his endorsement.”

An endorsement from Lopez, who is considered by many Brooklyn’s Democratic Party boss, Abraham says, might actually hurt Greenfield.

“This is a political endorsement,” said Abraham. “It shows that he is part of the machine, and people want change.”

Greenfield disagreed. “We worked together on securing the $330 tuition tax credit for Jewish and Catholic students,” said Greenfield. “It’s a very positive relationship, a kiddush Hashem.”

Greenfield has also taken heat for his role in blocking the Child Victim Act, known as the Markey bill after its sponsor, legislation that would extend the statute of limitations for filing civil suits in cases of sexual abuse, as well as open up a year-long window beyond the current statute in which criminal charges could be filed. In his role in the Sephardic Community Federation, Greenfield backed a competing bill sponsored by Lopez that did not include the window. In an interview, Greenfield avoided the question.

“This is not a city issue,” said Greenfield. “They try to change the topic, but we won’t let them.”

The race also shows residual marks of last year’s mayoral race, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg supporting Greenfield, and Comptroller John Liu supporting Lazar.

“In this time of such fiscal austerity, government must be more resilient - and creative,” said Liu in a statement. “With his budget experience, Joe will know where to find the waste in city government and how best to save resources for New York City taxpayers.”

Felder’s move to Liu also neutralized Greenfield’s strongest possible ally, Felder himself, who has been silent about the election.

Initially, the crowded field of contenders included a Borough Park real estate attorney, Nachman Caller; 18-year-old Abraham Tischler; and local community board staffer Jonathan Judge, a Republican. But in recent weeks all three have dropped out of the race, not always willingly.

Caller dropped out after failing to secure significant support among local community leaders. He also met with State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is thought to have told Caller that he stood no chance of winning. Silver is aligned with Hikind.

Judge and Tischler both were knocked off the ballot by petition challenges filed by Greenfield and Lazar. Judge has accused Greenfield of using “Obama-style legal tactics to undermine this race.” The lawyer representing Greenfield in challenging Tischler and Judge, Carl Landicino, has close ties to Lopez and the county party organization.

Greenfield defended the court challenge. “The lawyer is a friend of mine, someone I trust,” said Greenfield. “Judge challenged our candidacy first.”

Since ending his campaign, Tischler has endorsed Joe Lazar. In a telephone interview on Wednesday morning he said he didn’t want to comment too negatively on Greenfield.

“I am not going to talk badly about him,” Tischler explained. “He’s a person who did a lot for education but a person like him, he should not be knocking out people and instead should be helping out the community. The people see what he’s doing and it’s wrong.”

Even though he did not make it to the ballot, Tischler said he views his attempt as a success.

“I’m showing teenagers to reach for the stars,” he explained. “Even though I got knocked off, it’s in the history books that I was nominated for City Council.... I work with children in Ohel and meet a lot of people on the street with problems, whether with drugs and other issues. I’m trying to show them they have an opportunity to succeed.”

Allegations have emerged from both camps.

City Councilman Lew Fidler, a Greenfield supporter, told The Courier-Life that he’s heard from several organizations aligned with Greenfield that their support at the polls might cost them their Pesach donations.

“I’ve heard threats to withhold Passover food to the needy from those organizations whose leadership is aligned with Greenfield,” said Fidler. “I’m not blaming Joe Lazar, but there are people who get carried away and lose sight of what is appropriate or inappropriate.”

Lazar denied the accusation and accused Greenfield of negative politicking.

The election will also test the standing of Assemblyman Hikind, who has gone all out in his support of Lazar. Representing Borough Park since 1982, Hikind is often viewed as a powerbroker, but in recent elections, his endorsements have put him at odds with local rabbinic leaders.

In 2009, Hikind endorsed Brad Lander to represent the 39th City Council district, which includes part of Borough Park. Lander’s views on gay marriage and Israel, as well as aspects of his personal life (his wife is not Jewish), were very unpopular in Borough Park.

“He was victorious with Lander,” said Abraham, “but Lander lost in Borough Park.”

With most religious leaders in Borough Park backing Lazar, Greenfield is counting on other communities in the district for support.

“I’ve seen him participate in Russian community events,” said radio commentator Ari Kagan. “He is an advocate for school parents, and has a wide variety of supporters.”

Among those endorsing Greenfield are Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island). Abraham dismisses these endorsements an unrepresentative of the community and pointed instead to the numerous endorsements Lazar received inside the charedi community.

“Lazar has the community endorsements,” said Abraham. “That shows he is the people’s choice.”

Kagan disagrees, noting that the district also includes more diverse neighborhoods such as Midwood and Bensonhurst.

“The Orthodox community is divided, and the Russian community will decide,” predicted Kagan.