Candidates Ross Barkan (D) and Andrew Gounardes (D) running to unseat State Sen. Marty Golden (R- Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Marine Park and Manhattan Beach) dropped in on the Independent Neighborhood Democrats Club’s (IND) monthly meeting in downtown Brooklyn to rally Democratic support and bash the incumbent.
Neither candidate said anything about the other but railed against the Republican incumbent in front of an audience of 100 at St. Francis College at 180 Remsen St. in Brooklyn Heights.
“I didn’t turn my back on journalism for fun or to run for office –– which I am enjoying –– I did it because I have a terrible state senator and he needs to go,” said Barkan.
The statement came after Barkan called Golden misogynistic, homophobic, islamophobic and a race baiter.
In addition to an ongoing call to take the Republican seat away from the borough’s only Republican state senator, the candidates touched on the failing transportation system, illegal home conversions and environmental resilience.
“My district, Southern Brooklyn has been battered by storms – Hurricane Sandy,” said Barkan who also suggested investing in a seawall to protect Brooklyn’s coastal front.
Barkan also bashed the real estate industry and pledged not to accept money from developers throughout his campaign.
“It’s time we stand up to the overdevelopment and to gentrification which is now on steroids, which is going to turn this city into a place where the very poor and the middle class cannot live here,” said Barkan.
The incumbent has been criticized for issuing tax abatements for a Manhattan development in 2013. And while candidates in Southern Brooklyn typically run on halting large-scale development, the district has not escaped the city’s housing crisis.
Both candidates equally weighed in on the city’s transit woes. Barkan, a former journalist, told the audience he is in favor of congestion pricing with the caveat that measures are in place to ensure transportation fees return to the transit system. His opponent, Gounardes, highlighted the inaccessibility of train stations within the voting district.
“The governor declared a state of emergency in June, since then not a single legislative hearing has been held on the state of the MTA,” said Gounardes, calling the failure an abdication of duty.
Golden and his Party were not the only group under fire last night. Both candidates talked about the importance of beating the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC). While Barkan was clear about his direction towards the IDC, Gounardes wavered slightly by adding the option of bringing the rogue counterpart of Democratic party into the fold to ultimately beat Republicans.
State Sen. Diane Savino (D-Coney Island, Sunset Park, Staten Island) whose district abuts parts of the 22nd senatorial district is a member of the IDC, the independent arm of the Democratic Party that has a majority coalition with Senate Republicans.
Gounardes also did not hesitate to take jabs at the incumbent, pointing out Golden’s history of voting against emergency contraception for rape victims three times, fair pay for women and leading the opposition to marriage equality, argued Gounardes.
Staten Islander Zach Emig (D – Staten Island, Southern Brooklyn) vying for the 11th Congressional seat to unseat Dan Donovan was also in attendance to garner support. Emig touched on the borough’s opioid crisis and suggested prosecuting large pharmaceutical companies as a start to end the emergent concern. His opponent, Max Rose (D), was slated to appear at the meeting but did not show.
To date, Golden leads in fundraising. According the New York State Board of Elections, Golden raised $339,297.36 for the 2018 filing period, while Gounardes trails far behind with $114,349 and Ross at $50,500.15.
