National Politics:
President Donald Trump‘s pick for secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Ben Carson, will surprisingly do some innovative things, particularly in the area of public housing, which will help NYCHA. He will also unroll an innovative program that will spur inner city job development in several ways.
While both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio will be talked about as presidential candidates in 2020, U. S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will wind up as New York’s top candidate for the job.
On the Republican side, Congressman Daniel Donovan‘s stock, both locally and nationally, will continue to rise.
On the Democratic side, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke will gain prominence in Congress as one of President Donald Trump’s more outspoken critics.
City Politics:
Mayor Bill de Blasio will avoid an indictment, but several of his top aides will have to fall on the sword and step down and/or be indicted for de Blasio to get re-elected in a close election against Ivanka Trump.
If de Blasio does get indicted, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will enter the primary, and James will win based on a big plurality of votes in Brooklyn, and surprisingly Queens.
Immediately upon being re-elected, de Blasio will begin turning his attention towards the 2020 Democratic nomination for president.
After a bruising political battle, City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) will succeed term-limited Melissa Mark-Viverito to become the first ever Speaker of the City Council from Brooklyn, narrowly besting another Brooklynite, City Councilman Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood). Brooklyn City Council Member Stephen Levin will be a dark horse candidate for the position
Brooklyn Politics & Elections:
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams will run unopposed for the second straight election, despite early rumors that former Borough President Marty Markowitz will oppose him. If Markowitz does enter the race, political junkies should get ready for the political Super Bowl of Brooklyn.
State Sen. Jesse Hamilton will continue his innovative and independent rise in the political ranks fueled by his and Assemblywoman Diana Richardson‘s opposition of the Bedford-Union Armory project as it is now planned, his innovative work in revitalizing Brownsville with Adams’ support, and his strong support from Crown Heights religious Jewish community. This will set him up to either challenge Congresswoman Yvette Clarke in 2018, or to run for Borough President against City Councilman Mark Treyger in 2021.
City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) will face a tough re-election challenge from Ede Fox, and may even be upset.
Acting Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez will beat back several challengers and get elected as district attorney.
City Council Members Robert Cornegy Jr., Stephen Levin, Rafael Espinel Jr., Jumaane Williams, Brad Lander and Alan Maisel will all face little or no opposition and thus be re-elected handily.
City Council Members Chaim Deutsch, Mark Treyger, Carlos Menchaca and Antonio Reynoso will all face interesting challenges but all will be re-elected. Treyger’s win will increase his base and set him up to run for borough president in 2021.
In the much heated Bay Ridge and Brownsville open city council seats, KCP’s crystal ball looks so murky that no prediction can be made except the obvious that both seats will be highly contested, and that the Arab and Muslim vote will become increasingly important in Bay Ridge.
Brooklyn Development:
With the de Blasio Administration’s help, the Brooklyn Public Library will sell off another one or possibly two branches – perhaps in Bed-Stuy, Brownsville or Crown Heights/Lefferts Gardens.
The proposed Brooklyn Queens Trolley (BQX) will get a continued push from the de Blasio Administration and will remain on the drawing board.
Grand Army Plaza and Flatbush Avenue between Grand Army Plaza and the Ocean Avenue/Empire Boulevard intersection will both become more bicycle friendly.
Both Google and Facebook will increase their corporate presence in Downtown Brooklyn.
