Latest Election Bid Updates

By COLlive reporters in Crown Heights

Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent $109.9 million to get re-elected last year (including an ad on COLlive.com), but in Crown Heights where the stakes are lower and the players are limited, the cash spent on the elections for Vaad Hakohol – Jewish Community Council is relatively low.

Why low? Because the elected volunteer members have access to funnel government funding to projects and organizations of their choosing.

The cash spent thus far is estimated in the low thousands – for sending printed letters to local homes, flyers on street poles and in shuls, 2 prominent advertisements on COLlive.com (paid for by competing groups) and a slanted edition of the Crown Heights Chronicle (paid for by one of the sides).

“These elections are seen as a crucial step towards regaining normality and peace in our community,” said Mrs. Mica Soffer, Director of COLlive.com and a Crown Heights resident.

“And I’m glad to be able to state that our Community News Service has proven itself as a fair and honest information source for the candidates, the voters and anyone interested in Crown Heights.”

A DOCTOR’S SELF SACRIFICE

Seen on Kingston Avenue Friday was candidate Dr. Meir Shlomo Spinner who was handing out some of the 500 flyers he printed bearing the slogan “It’s Your Schuna – Get Involved.”

The 55 year-old psychologist said public speaking was not his “style,” but he wants to get elected so he’s speaking to people and introduced himself at the candidates forum (“which was a very big deal for me.”)

What reaction is he getting?

“Most people will ask what I need this for. Why the headache. So I get into detail and they become more receptive. Many are fearful to get involved.”

We asked him if he was aware of the voting bloc recommended by ANewCrownHeights.com. “I agree with a lot on that platform and the people it promotes, but not 100%. I will work with whoever gets elected.”

RUBASHKIN SENDS LETTER

Previous Vaad Hakohol members have weighed in Friday with a letter promoting an anything-but-the-current-Vaad agenda. It was sent out to local homes.

Former members Moshe Rubashkin, Dr. Tzvi Lang and Rabbi Shmuel Plotkin said that the current Vaad “have demonstrated by their actions that they believe that their cause justify the means.”

Fishel Brownstein, Chanina Sperlin, Zev Cadaner and Elie Poltorak have taken the Rubashkin administration to court questioning their management of funds (they said it was a reaction to an effort to discredit their election. The case has since been removed).

“Vote responsibly,” the previous Vaad urged in the letter but did not endorse a specific candidate.

In response, Elie Poltorak told COLlive: “They brought three lawsuits against us before we counterclaimed against them. We had to do so to defend against their lawsuits—rather than as a ‘reaction to an effort to discredit their election.’”

CADANER WON’T CAMPGAIN

Cadaner says he is not worried.

“At this point everybody knows what’s what. I cannot knock more sense into people. It’s time for them to decide what they want,” he told COLlive.com.

Not even campaigning in the neighborhood Shuls over Shabbos?

“No. That’s not more important for me than the things I do on Shabbos. Elie (Poltorak) is going around for us.”

Us?

“We are running as 4 candidates together. That is our success. It’s the first time in a very long time that Crown Heights had a Vaad Hakohol who all got along and worked together. And we are running to keep working together.”

In fact, a number of candidates were seen throughout Shabbos at various neighborhood Shuls, some making campaign speeches, others mingling with the public.

HECHT GOES PRO

While candidate Rabbi Shea Hecht is included in the “New Crown Heights” bloc, his campaign is focusing on himself and he has told COLlive.com he’ll work with anyone who is elected.

That didn’t stop opponents from spreading slander about him supporting Mayor David Dinkins, hated by Crown Heights Jews for his incompetent policies during the 1991 riots.

Hecht himself said that was not true.

A member of his campaign added: “Shea supported Rudy Giuliani in those elections and we can back this up with documents but we won’t get dragged by those who promised to run a clean elections and doing the opposite.”

It seems like the source of that rumor was Hecht’s objection for the Vaad to sue Dinkins, claiming the Rebbe was against publically fighting politicians while in office.

In any case, Hecht has released a well-produced short video highlighting his accomplishments and years of service to the community:

The source within the Hecht campaign added that the video is just one step and that another “surprise promotion” will be announced after Shabbos.

GETTING “THE YOUNG VOTE”

Another voting bloc is Yossi Hackner and Avraham Benarroch who are saying they represent a demographic which has not voted in the past – “the young Crown Heights.”

Hackner told COLlive.com he was going to visit some “young shuls” over Shabbos to get them to care.

Currently, Bais Shmuel, The Crown Heights Shul, The Shul, Bais Simshon and the like do not have members in the Netzigim (body of representatives of local shuls which work with the Vaad).

Hackner and Benarroch stated in a letter sent to COLlive.com that “we are running on our own and not against anybody and look forward to working with whoever gets elected to the Vaad.”

Their goals, they said, are unifying and strengthening the voice of the Bais Din, Chinuch, working with the police but not being afraid to hold them accountable, finding jobs and transparency.

Other candidates with a good chance to get the young vote are Aaron Vogel and Zaki Tamir, who are also running together.

CHAZAN IS NOT CAMPAIGNING

Candidate Rabbi Michoel Chazan is officially not part of any voting bloc and does not have running mates.

Truth be told, he is also not campaigning.

As part of his job as Chaplain of Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, he was seen this week at the 25th anniversary dinner of the Chesed Shel Emes organization (which has a chapter in Crown Heights).

Along with fellow Lubavitchers Rabbi Avrohom Leider of Kings County Hospital and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Holtzman of SUNY Downstate and others, he awarded the organization on behalf of the Central Committee of Rabbinic Chaplaincy.

So why isn’t he getting the word out?

“If people want me, they’ll vote. And if not, I’ll still be involved in community matters.”