El-Yateem Throws His Hat In The Ring
Khader El-Yateem, Pastor at Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, 8221 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge is officially throwing his hat in the ring to run for the vacant 43rd District City Council Seat.
El- Yateem’s entrance in the race brings to five the number of Democrats running for term-limited Vincent Gentile‘s seat representing Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and parts of Bensonhurst and Bath Beach. The others who have announced or are acting they are running include Justin Brannan, Kevin Peter Carroll, Nancy Tong and Assemblyman Peter Abbate.
El-Yateem’s entrance in the race, as far as KCP knows, is groundbreaking as he is the first Palestinian-American to run for public office in New York City. El-Yateem hails from Bethlehem, West Bank in what is now Israel.
Bay Ridge has a large Arab-American population, and Palestinian Arab-Americans make up a large part of that demographic in the neighborhood.
While much has been written about controversial activist Linda Sarsour, whose day job is executive director of the Arab American Association on New York, and for which El-Yateem is the treasurer, Bay Ridge’s Arab community is more mainstream and has been part of the overall fabric of Bay Ridge for years.
Among the notables that have come from this community includes popular longtime Lincoln High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Renan Ebeid. Under Ebeid’s watch, the Railsplitters have won numerous boys City Basketball Championships, football championships and remains a powerhouse in PSAL (Public School Athletic League) sports.
El-Yateem’s campaign kickoff is slated for 2 p.m., this Sunday, Feb. 26 at Le Sajj Restaurant, 8221 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge.
Butler Gets Union Endorsement
Henry Butler last week received the endorsement from the Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers Local 46 union in his run for the vacant 41st City Council District seat,
Term-limited Darlene Mealy curently holds the seat in a district that includes Brownsville and parts of Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and East Flatbush.
“I am humbled to the receive the endorsement from Metallic Lathers and Reinforcing Ironworkers Local 46,” said Butler. “Their backing is very significant to my campaign and builds on the momentum and support that has flooded in since I began this campaign just several weeks ago. Their support signals that I am the best person to fight to protect workers rights, ensure all New Yorkers can earn a living wage and can continue to raise their families in our City. I am extremely proud to receive their endorsement as many of their members reside in the district and know firsthand that it is time for new leadership that prioritizes working families.”
“We know that Henry will listen to our concerns and give working men and women a strong voice in the City Council,” said Local 46 President John Skinner. “He will be a champion for working New Yorkers, advocating for policies that create good paying jobs, create affordable housing, and ensure our kids get the highest quality education. He is an advocate for our interests and will work his hardest to ensure that all people of our great city thrive.”
Other in the crowded Democratic primary race include Alicka Samuel, Cory Provost and Deidre Olvera.
Capano Takes Brannan To Task
Bob Capano, one of the three Republican candidates for Brooklyn’s 43rd Council District (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst), last week slammed Democratic candidate Justin Brannan for taking a job in the office of Councilman Vincent Gentile shortly after he leving a position in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Administration.
“This is exactly why voters are tired of political insiders like Justin Brannan. I am not sure if Mr. Brannan left his position with Mayor de Blasio voluntarily because he understood the political risks of being associated so closely with his mentor, or if he was forced to leave because he was running his campaign from City Hall on the taxpayers’ dime. Either way, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to know that Gentile gave Brannan a wonderful Valentine’s gift by allowing him to continue to collect a government salary while he campaigns. The councilman’s office should be used to help constituents, not serve as a launching pad for a political campaign,” said Capano.
The other candidates in the GOP primary and Liam McCabe and John Quaglione.
