City Council Member Rafael Espinal Jr. (D-Bushwick, East New York) this week took his rumored bid to become Brooklyn’s next borough president on the road while upstart 46th Assembly District Candidate Ethan Lustig-Elgrably campaign got off to a shaky start.
It was all a part of the Bay Ridge Democrats monthly meeting last week, which drew over 100 people and packed the Bridgeview Diner, 9011 3rd Avenue, mainly to see the main attraction, gubernatorial candidate and Sex and the City star, Cynthia Nixon.
But the undercard was the story.
Espinal, in introducing himself, touted the recent legislation he passed concerning overturning the ancient cabaret laws that barred dancing in many clubs, and was one of the reasons some of America’s greatest jazz musicians became expatriates in France during the height of the jazz era.
Espinal also was behind the city creating a new agency – the Office of Nightlife, which is charged with overseeing clubs and cabarets. The new agency has an annual budget of $407,000 — including $370,000 to pay the director and deputy.
Espinal was not questioned about his greenlighting the mayor’s first mandatory inclusionary housing (MIH) rezoning in the city, which took place in his East New York district. MIH allows developers to build higher with more density in exchange for more affordable housing.
The controversial plan has a number of longtime residents saying they are now being pushed out and that it is increasing gentrification. Additionally, there was nothing in the plan to help small businesses, which has these owners arguing is one of the main reasons why there are more ‘For Rent’ signs at storefronts around the city.
That’s because much of the density (taller buildings) is being done along commercial corridors with no lease protections to help the small businesses on these corridors. This allows developers to jack up the commercial rents with the knowledge that more residents along the corridor entices more big box stores and chains.
There has also been allegations in East New York from small businesses that the city has been putting the squeeze on them with more tickets.
To put this in perspective, if MIH was ever proposed in a community like Bay Ridge, with its large number of small businesses and low-rise buildings along the commercial corridors, the neighborhood would likely secede from the city.
Meanwhile, Lustig-Elgrably, who some argue is City Council Member Mark Treyger‘s (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) hand-picked candidate was often caught with the proverbial “deer in the headlights” look from questioners.
Lustig-Elgrably, who served as Treyger’s legislative director, and then chief of staff, was called on the carpet several times to explain the thousands of dollars Tryeger’s office gave to disgraced former Assembly Member Pam Harris’ non-profit organization, Coney Island Generation Gap.
Harris, who Treyger strongly supported, resigned earlier this year to defend herself against federal corruption charges stemming from utilizing government funding towards the nonprofit for personal use.
At the meeting, even Delia Schack, Coney Island’s female Democratic District Leader, was heard saying that Treyger hand picking the next assembly member again is not a good look for the district.
Meanwhile, the apparent winner in all this was the other announced Democratic candidate for the assembly seat, Coney Island activist Mathylde Frontus.
Sources say the club leadership was very impressed with Frontus, and rank-and-file members were even more impressed.
“Mathylde walked in here with 30 years experience on the street and was very well spoken,” said one source.
The meeting was held as the Bay Ridge Democrats are still playing it close to the vest if they will run anybody in the assembly race. Among those rumored to be considering a run is club president Chris McCreight.
