Conflicting Endorsements from Crown Heights Groups

In what has been a hotly contested race, candidates Rubain Dorancy and Jesse Hamilton will face-off at the polls tomorrow, September 9^th, for the Democratic Party nomination to represent district 20, which includes Crown Heights, in the New York state Senate.

Various Crown Heights Political Activists and Youth Groups have coalesced behind either of the candidates, each believing the election of the one they support will benefit the community.

We have reached out to a coalition of groups endorsing each candidate, and asked them to make their case to the Crown Heights community on why they believe that their candidate deserves the community’s vote.

*********

Supporting candidate Rubain Dorancy is the Crown Heights Political Club, a group comprising young Shuls and emerging leaders within the Jewish community of Crown Heights. The club is headed by Avi Lesches of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Sruly Clapman of the Besht Center and community activist Shlomie Hecht.

The following is their appeal to Crown Heights’ voters:

Dear Crown Heights Residents,

As you know this election season has been a busy one. After much consultation and internal discussions, we believe that the candidates we are endorsing are the right leaders our community needs right now.

Many of you will say that this is the same old, and nothing is going to change. Well, we believe that things will change, because many of the candidates we have endorsed are running in very tight races, and they are leaning very strongly on the Jewish community to help them win – which in return will allow us to get their attention when requesting services and assistance for our community.

Many of us have to run around the borough to find the appropriate agencies and programs that provide the services we all may need; from purchasing health insurance, applying for a business loan, registering for affordable housing, section 8, WIC, navigating the city and state governments and so much more.

All these difficulties could be over soon: one of the candidates, who is running for state senate, has promised to open a satellite office that handles the above-mentioned services right here in our very own community. This way we will not need to go elsewhere; it will all be located in one place. To our knowledge, no other politician has ever offered or promised such a thing to our community.

As we all know, Brooklyn as a whole and Crown Heights in particular are rapidly changing, and unless we unify and make sure our voices are heard through our votes, we will be pushed aside by other communities and groups who now call Crown Heights home. Our community needs now more than ever a strong and vocal leader who can navigate the large bureaucracy of government, and help pass legislation that will help our community with the rising costs of living and tuition.

Our choice for such a leader is Rubain Dorancy!

Please go out and vote for him on Tuesday, September 9^th, as well as for Andrew Cuomo for Governor, Kathy Hochul for Lt. Governor, Moses Moore for State Committee Male Representative (District Leader), Shirley Patterson for State Committee Female Representative (District Leader) and Diana Szochet for Civil Court Judge.

We implore every eligible and registered voter of the Crown Heights Jewish community to come and vote; help make our voices heard!

Wishing you all a k’siva v’chasima tova,

Avi Lesches, Shlomie Hecht and Sruly Clapman
The Crown Heights Political Club

*********

Supporting candidate Jesse Hamilton are a number of community activists, including: Yaacov Behrman of the Jewish Future Alliance, Rabbi Moshe Feiglin, Rayi Stern, Mendy Margolin, Joseph Rapoport and Mordechai Lightstone.

The following is their appeal to Crown Heights’ voters:

Dear members of the Crown Heights community,

Many of you will head to the polls on Tuesday, September 9th, to elect the Democratic Candidate for State Senate. We have been without a State Senator since Eric Adams was elected Borough President. Although the general election will take place be on November 4th, this election will actually determine the next State Senator. The Republicans have virtually no chance of winning in the general election.

The two choices are Rubain Dorancy and Jesse Hamilton.

The State Senate has limited power and both Rubain and Jesse will likely toe the Democratic Party line in Albany. Whoever promises you major changes is lying or is naive and doesn’t know how the State Senate operates. Still, it is important that Crown Heights has a State Senator who is both competent and a friend.

Jesse is a friend who has lived in Crown Heights for some twenty years.

As district leader, Jesse went well beyond his job requirements and was active in helping the Jewish community in our time of need. He knows the intricacies of the community and has always shown us friendship. When the ‘knockout’ attacks happened last summer, Jesse was the first African American leader to condemn the violence in the neighborhood. I’ve seen Jesse at Friendship Circle events, Lag Bo’omer parades, Simcha’s Beis Hashuava, Bar Mitzvahs, weddings and, sadly, at funerals and Shiva calls. I doubt Rubain Dorancy even knows what any of these events are. Additionally, Jesse worked for the former Senator and knows how the office operates. Rubain had very little to do with the Jewish community or the State Senate and, although Rubain claims to live in the district, his opponents question whether that is in fact the case.

A few months back, it seemed that a modern miracle was about to occur in Crown Heights. The entire Jewish community seemed to be supporting the same candidate. Jesse was someone who knows both the community and the job, an obvious choice. He also was projected to win. Many in the Jewish community assured him their support.

Eric Adams and Bill Thompson endorsed Jesse while Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and her mother, former Councilwoman Una Clarke, threw their support behind Rubain. Those in the political arena know that over the last few years there is a political battle in Brooklyn between EricAdams and the Clarkes. The State Senate had just become the latest playing field.

Jesse still believed the community would support him due to his credentials and long term friendship.

I started to hear from Crown Heights’ activists that they are no longer supporting Jesse after Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement endorsing Dorancy. “I am supporting Rubain Dorancy because he is the best progressive choice for State Senate,” wrote de Blasio. Apparently, the Mayor feels that Rubain fits better into his vision for New York. These activists are likely worried that supporting Jesse may upset the Congresswoman and the Mayor, and that Rubain is more likely to win with de Blasio’s support. Some even went as far as to say that de Blasio may show gratitude if we support his candidate.

I wasn’t planning on writing an op-ed or giving an endorsement, but after an image of the Kinus Hashluchim in front of 770 appeared online with a misleading headline implying that the worldwide Jewish community is united for Rubain Dorancy, I could not remain silent and let injustice prevail.

The race is projected to be very close but it’s not about who wins or loses. The political leadership is attempting to use the community as puppets for their personal political pursuits. This is infuriating. It is my opinion that voting for Jesse will send an important message to the political leadership in New York – “we stand by our friends.” I can assure you that everyone respects loyalty.

On the other hand, if you vote for Rubain you’re essentially saying that a phone call or a pat on the head from a Congresswoman or Mayor is more important than twenty years of friendship.

I am proud to join Rabbi Moshe Feiglin, Rayi Stern, Mendy Margolin, Joseph Rapoport and Mordechai Lightstone in support of Jesse Hamilton for State Senate.

Sincerely,

Yaacov Behrman,
Jewish Future Alliance