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In Bushwick: Reyna beats Davila — and Vito!
Election: Incumbent Diana Reyna beat Maritza Davila for the second straight time. Comments (2).
In Park Slope: Lander triumphs again
Election: The Democrat beats back a Republican and a Green. Comment.
In Williamsburg: Levin doesn’t even break a sweat
Election: The Democratic nominee didn’t even have a Republican challenger. Comment.
In Fort Greene: Tish James in a landslide
Election: The Democratic nominee rolls to an easy win. Comment.
In Bay Ridge: Gentile beats off Capano
Election: It turns out that Republican power in Bay Ridge really is limp. Comments (2).
Campaign tricks no treat for former candidate
Election: Vandals attacked the Conselyea Street home of former City Council candidate Gerry Esposito just days after the Community Board 1 district manager endorsed an insurgent candidate against the incumbent he tried to defeat. Comment.
Jackie Robinson’s widow endorses the non-black, non-Brooklynite mayoral candidate
Election: Rachel Robinson, the widow of great Brooklyn Dodger and legendary civil rights pioneer Jackie Robinson, endorsed Mayor Bloomberg for re-election, chosing the white, non-Brooklynite over a black borough native. What would Gil Hodges think? Comments (7).
Who will win on Tuesday? These pols think they know
Election: Downtown Democratic powerbroker Steve Cohn had his annual pre-Election Day breakfast at Junior’s, so we caught up with all the local poobahs to get their predictions about Tuesday’s mayoral election. Mayor Bloomberg may be up by 15 percent in the polls, but these Democratic pols are convinced that he’ll wake up on Nov. 4 as the outgoing leader. Comments (3).
Last gasp of the GOP in Bay Ridge?
Election: The battle between a Democratic incumbent and a Republican upstart isn’t just a race for Bay Ridge’s Council seat — it’s a litmus test for conservatives in the borough’s longtime right-wing stronghold. Comments (6).
Join our editorial board as it grills three Council hopefuls — live!
Election: What other newspaper lets you into the boardroom when we grill three candidates for City Council who are seeking our endorsement? With video … Comment.
Betrayal! Boro’s two top Dems are supporting non-Democrats
Election: The head of the Brooklyn Democratic Party and the party’s highest ranking elected official both turned against their party’s nominees for the Nov. 3 general election when they lent their endorsements to non-Democratic candidates. Comments (16).
The speaker? A squeaker!
Election: The three men who want to represent Park Slope in the City Council weigh in on Council Speaker Christine Quinn Comments (1).
Hey, Yassky — how about cleaning up your mess?
Election: Our photographer finds the vanquished would-be comptroller’s mess at a major intersection. Comments (10).
BREAKING: Marty — a loyal Dem — backs Bloomy for mayor!
Election: Borough President Markowitz — a Democrat — endorsed Mayor Bloomberg over Democratic rival (and Brooklynite!) Bill Thompson near Borough Hall today, calling the would-be third-term mayor “one of the greats.” Comments (10).
Brooklyn, you win one, you lose one
Election: Park Slope’s Bill DeBlasio trounces Mark Green for the Democratic runoff for public advocate while Brooklyn Heights’s David Yassky fails — and falls bad — to John Liu in the comptroller runoff. Comments (6).
Pechefsky is one candidate with balls (croquet balls, that is)
Election: Green Party longshot challenges his rivals to a game of lawn polo this Saturday. Comments (2).
GOP and Green nominees say they’ll beat Lander (maybe)
Election: Now that he’s won the Democratic nomination for the 39th Council District, Brad Lander is facing two challengers: Republican Joe Nardiello and Green Party nominee David Pechefsky. We checked in with both upstarts to see if they stand a chance against the better-funded, better-known Democrat. Comments (16).
And now, the runoffs!
Election: It’s DeBlasio vs. Green and Yassky vs. Liu — and Brooklyn stands poised to take two citywide offices. Comment.
Tuesday’s primary results are in!
Election: After a year-long campaign for the Democratic nomination in various citywide and local offices, the results are in. Find the races you’re interested in below, click and enjoy. Comment.
In the 35th District: Letitia James steamrolls Yards-loving foe
Election: A popular incumbent wins in a romp. Comments (5).
In the 33rd District: Levin, party boss’s pick, wins handily over six rivals
Election: The former chief of staff to the Democratic Party’s county boss, Vito Lopez, won going away. Comments (6).
In the 39th District: Lander crushes four rivals
Election: The win was somewhat expected, but not by this much. Comments (12).
In the 34th District: Reyna reigns — but barely
Election: A controversial incumbent holds on by a tiny margin against a machine-backed candidate. Comments (7).
The 39th District: A battle for Park Slope, Windsor Terrace and Carroll Gardens
Election: This forum — featuring John Heyer, Gary Reilly, Josh Skaller, Brad Lander and Bob Zuckerman was moderated by Brooklyn Paper Editor Gersh Kuntzman — and you’ll want to watch it again and again. With video … Comments (1).
The 33rd District: A battle for Williamsburg, DUMBO, Bklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Park Slope
Election: All seven candidates for the 33rd District seat — Isaac Abraham, Ken Baer, Doug Biviano, Ken Diamondstone, Steve Levin, Jo Anne Simon and Evan Thies — participated. With video … Comments (2).
Public Advocate: Siegel and Green fight each other
Election: All four the candidates — Councilmembers Bill DeBlasio (D–Park Slope) and Eric Gioia (D-Queens), civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel and former Public Advocate Mark Green — clashed in a spirited debate held by The Brooklyn Paper in conjunction with Brooklyn Independent Television. With video … Comment.
The 35th District: Letitia James takes on two challengers in Fort Greene-Clinton Hill
Election: Some of the wildest action so far this campaign season involved one man and two women going at it in front of a camera — in a hot City Council debate in The Brooklyn Paper’s Metrotech offices last month. With video … Comments (1).
Comptroller: All four candidates in our debate
Election: ouncilmembers Melinda Katz, John Liu and David Weprin, all of Queens, and Councilman David Yassky (D–Brooklyn Heights), were grilled by reporters from Community Newspaper Group, the parent company of The Brooklyn Paper, in a debate held in conjunction with Brooklyn Independent Television on the BCAT TV Network. Comment.
Mayoral race: Meet Comptroller Bill Thompson
Election: Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson visited The Brooklyn Paper’s office last month to outline his vision for the city — and his plans differ from his Democratic rival on just about all counts. With video … Comment.
Mayoral race: Meet Councilman Tony Avella
Election: The Queens lawmaker is a firebrand — and he wants to be your mayor. With video … Comment.
Challenger: Call her Sara ‘Gone’-zalez
Election: Insurgent candidate Robinson Iglesias lobbed the ultimate hand-grenade in his longshot bid to defeat Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez in Tuesday’s primary for the Red Hook-Sunset Park seat — he’s gone after Gonzalez’s poor attendance record. Comments (3).
In the 39th district: Five men standing
Election: All five candidates for the Democratic nomination to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio make their pitch. Comments (16).
In the 33th district: Seven candidates, seven pitches
Election: All seven cintestants for the Democratic nomination to succeed Councilman David Yassky get their last chance to earn your vote. Comments (3).
Zuck unleashes ‘lighthearted’ attack ad against rivals Skaller and Lander
Election: It could be a political first: a cartoon attack ad. Comments (3).
Here’s how to watch our TV debates!
Election: It ain’t Lincoln vs. Douglas, but our television debates — a collaboration with Brooklyn Independent Television — are a great way to make an informed decision this election season. Comments (1).
In the 33rd District, candidates must love bikes
Election: Some City Council debates focus their energy on lower taxes, affordable housing, or crime. But in the 33rd District, at least for one night, bicycles were the main issue. Comments (9).
Meet Comptroller Bill Thompson
Election: The Democrat who wants to be mayor sits down with our reporters and editors. With video … Comments (1).
Meet Councilman Tony Avella
Election: The Queens lawmaker is a firebrand — and he wants to be your mayor. With video … Comment.
Watch our public advocate debate now!
Election: Last week, we taped a scintillating debate with the four public advocate candidates — and you can watch it right now by clicking the link above! With video … Comments (1).
Our debate is a brawl! Candidates for Fort Greene seat get testy
Election: Some of the wildest action so far this campaign season involved one man and two women going at it in front of a camera — in a hot City Council debate in The Brooklyn Paper’s Metrotech offices this week. With video … Comments (6).
Marty enters Bermuda ‘Triangle’ by endorsing Levin — and the rezoning
Election: Borough President Markowitz endorsed two of Assemblyman Vito Lopez’s pet projects this week, giving his blessing to a controversial rezoning and the powerful Democratic Party boss’s Council candidate. Comments (8).
Junior’s. Nathan’s. Yassky?
Election: Borough President Markowitz is out on the hustings for David Yassky in a fun new TV ad. Comments (2).
Watch our comptroller debate now!
Election: Who should be our next comptroller? Decide for yourself by watching our exclusive debate featuring all four hopefuls. Comment.
‘Debate Week’ continues with our comptroller forum tonight!
Election: Chapter three of our week-long series of candidates’ debate — a fight to be city comptroller — will air tonight at 9 pm on the BCAT TV Network. Comment.
Super Mario stumps for tall Bill
Election: Former Gov. Mario Cuomo, a giant in the Democratic party, on Wednesday endorsed Councilman Bill DeBlasio (D–Park Slope), a life-sized giant, in his bruising race for public advocate. Comment.
GOP candidate has a criminal past — and present, say cops
Election: One Republican City Council candidate is not running on his record — his criminal record, that is. Comments (9).
Proxy battle in 34th District as Reyna fights Vito’s ghost over B’way Triangle
Election: The incumbent, a former protege of Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez, is making the Broadway Triangle rezoning a big issue in her race for re-election — even though the project is in the next district. Comments (6).
Our 39th District debate is online — now!
Election: Who needs Tivo? The Brooklyn Paper and Brooklyn Independent Television’s exciting debate featuring the five men who hope to succeed Bill DeBlasio can be viewed just by clicking here.
With video … Comments (2).
In the 33rd district, six candidates speak on Brooklyn Bridge Park
Bridge ‘Park’: Brooklyn Bridge Park is being built — no, really — so now it’s time for the candidates for the City Council seat that includes the park to explain how it will be maintained for years to come. Comments (3).
Watch our 33rd district debate now — or whenever! It’s online all the time!
Election: There’s no need for Tivo! You can watch candidates for the 33rd Council District — currently occupied by David Yassky — debate right here, right now! With video … Comments (4).
‘Debate Week’ continues with a fight to succeed DeBlasio
Election: Chapter two of our week-long series of candidates’ debate — a fight for the 39th district seat — continues tonight at 9 pm on the BCAT TV Network. Comments (4).
Who needs ‘Shark Week’? Our ‘Debate Week’ begins tonight!
Election: Set your Tivo! Our candidates’ forums begin tonight at 9 pm on the BCAT TV Network. Comments (4).
Two candidates, one subway entrance, one issue
Election: One candidate announced in advance that he’d show up this morning — the other just showed up. Isn’t this subway system big enough for the both of them? Comment.
Heyer: Fight MTA booth closings on Monday
Election: City Council candidate John Heyer has found an issue that he hopes to ride all the way to office. Comments (9).
Here’s how to watch our TV debates!
Election: It ain’t Lincoln vs. Douglas, but our television debates — a collaboration with Brooklyn Independent Television — are a great way to make an informed decision this election season. Comments (3).
Skaller and Lander trade more barbs — this time over campaign shenanigans
Election: For the second time in as many days, the race to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio has turned into a vicious, mud bath between rivals Josh Skaller and Brad Lander — this time as the two leading candidates exchanged accusations of illicit campaign spending all day long on Tuesday. Comments (6).
Candidates savage the front-runners in our cable TV debate!
Election: It wasn’t the answers that separated the front-runners from the longshots at The Brooklyn Paper and Brooklyn Independent Televisions’s 33rd Council District debate — it was the questions themselves. Comments (21).
Schoolyard brawl over Skaller’s 8-year-old kid!
Election: The once-genteel race to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio was thrown into turmoil this week, when the pregnant wife of one of the candidates sent an e-mail from her hospital bed to slam another candidate for making an issue out of the couple’s decision to send their son to private school. Comments (15).
Weiner stands tall for Zuckerman
Election: The popular Democratic congressman endorsed Bob Zuckerman for City Council on Sunday in Park Slope. Comment.
Chuck wagon! Schumer makes the Steve Levin endorsement official
Election: City Council hopeful Steve Levin, slammed by his opponents in the Greenpoint to Park Slope district as the “machine candidate” because of his relationship with Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez, moved into higher gear thanks to last Friday’s endorsement by Sen. Charles Schumer. Comments (16).
Hey, political junkie! Get your fix at our new election Web site
Election: The Brooklyn Paper is a part of a huge new Web site covering local — and only local — politics! Finally, Brooklyn political junkies have a place to call their own on the Web. Comments (2).
Schumer to endorse Steve Levin for Council on Friday
Election: The “machine candidate” just moved into high gear. Comments (27).
Mayor wants F train on fast track — but he doesn’t control the MTA
Election: Mayor Bloomberg called for the creation of express subway service on the F line, one of the most crowded routes, as part of a larger campaign announcement calling for a multitude of mass transit improvements — and maybe even the return of trolleys! — for Brooklyn. Comments (12).
King Marty! Markowitz’s Dem challenger booted off the ballot!
Election: Borough President Markowitz locked up a third-term in a Manhattan board room on Tuesday afternoon as the Board of Elections kicked the Beep’s Democratic challenger off the ballot. Comments (10).
Josh Skaller is the machine candidate — the copy machine candidate
Election: A tight race for a rare open City Council seat in Brownstone Brooklyn was thrown into turmoil, however briefly, this week after one of the candidates copied another’s press release and passed it off as his own. Comments (9).
Biv, you whack! Longshot candidate goes ballistic on ‘machine’ pols
Election: The organizers of Tuesday’s 33rd City Council District debate dubbed their Williamsburg forum a “Verbal Smackdown,” but only one of the hopefuls took that name literally. Comments (17).
Skaller vs. Lander: A war of words
Election: So how bad was the Skaller campaign’s plagiarism? You be the judge. Comments (3).
Democracy in action — DeBlasio is back on the ballot!
Election: Front-running public advocate candidate Bill DeBlasio fought his way back onto the ballot at a hearing on Tuesday, convincing the famously Kafka-esque Board of Elections that the agency, and not his campaign, had caused the error that had knocked the Park Slope councilman off the ballot last week. Comments (5).
Marty: I have to knock my challenger off the ballot to save democracy
Election: Borough President Markowitz’s campaign says that it must kick the Beep’s sole Democratic primary challenger off the ballot to ensure the “integrity” of the balloting process. Comments (6).
DeBlasio off the ballot in bizarre bureaucratic bungle!
Election: The front-runner for the hotly contested public advocate race — Park Slope Councilman and ultimate political insider Bill DeBlasio — has been knocked off the ballot because of a technical error with his campaign petition signatures. Comments (6).
They’re off! Fields are set for September primaries — and The Brooklyn Paper is there
Election: It’s our big election package — online! Comments (17).
Marty’s campaign tries to knock rival off the ballot
Election: Borough President Markowitz is a shoo-in for a third term — yet the powerful beep isn’t taking any chances, moving this week to knock his virtually unknown Democratic challenger off the ballot. Comments (15).
In the 33rd district, seven candidates speak
Election: Public schools are a big topic right now — but not every candidate sends his or hers to public school. Is that a problem? Comments (3).
In the 33rd district, one candidate is truly in ‘jeopardy’
Election: Answer: This Park Slope brainiac has moved beyond the world of game show competition and entered the rough and tumble world of Brooklyn politics to endorse a candidate for the City Council seat being vacated by David Yassky. Comments (1).
It ain’t easy being Green — if you want to get on the ballot
Election: David Pechefsky begins the long struggle to run as a Green in one of the city’s most-liberal neighborhoods. Comments (2).
It’s on! Council candidates begin the long march to the ballot
Election: Hopefuls for two hotly contested City Council seats in Brownstone Brooklyn kicked off the primary election season in that most democratic of traditions: standing on street corners asking you to sign your name on their petition to get on the ballot. Comments (4).
It’s a scream! Howard Dean endorses two guys in the same race!
Election: The former presidential front-runner (who eventually lost, by the way) has endorsed both Josh Skaller and Brad Lander for the City Council. Wow, that was helpful. Comments (6).
Fray by the Bay! Capano takes on Gentile for Council seat
Election: Longtime Republican political backroomer Bob Capano will challenge Councilman Vince Gentile for his Bay Ridge seat. Comment.
So, what IS John Heyer’s view on abortion and gay marriage?
Election: Hear it all for yourself in this exclusive podcast with the controversial candidate. With video … Comments (1).
In the 39th district, five candidates speak out
Election: Residential parking permits are a big topic right now. Here’s where your would-be councilman stands on the pay-to-park plan. Comments (1).
In the 33rd district, seven candidates speak
Election: Residential parking permits are a big topic right now. Here’s where your would-be councilman stands on the pay-to-park plan. Comments (25).
No Heyer love! Club president quits rather than campaign for John
Election: Clubhouse politics were thrown into turmoil on Tuesday when the president of one of the borough’s best-known liberal groups took a leave of absence rather than work to elect the right-of-center candidate who won the club’s endorsement for a council seat last week. Comments (4).
Heyer gets clubhouse nod — rival ‘insulted’!
Election: One of Brooklyn’s oldest and most-progressive political clubhouses was riven last night after a closed-door meeting led to the “insulting” endorsement of the most-conservative of five Democratic candidates seeking to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio. Comments (8).
In the 39th District: Heyer Heyer pants on fire
Election: Four Democratic candidates for City Council rebuked their more conservative rival John Heyer for boycotting a debate in Park Slope on Tuesday night after he claimed it was “rigged” because one of the moderators was biased against him due to his supposed positions against gay marriage and abortion rights. Comments (3).
After controversy, angry Heyer bails on ‘rigged’ debate!
Election: Controversial City Council candidate John Heyer abruptly dropped out of tonight’s political forum, claiming that the event was “rigged” against him because of comments made by “front men for opposing candidates” on The Brooklyn Paper’s Web site yesterday. Comments (2).
‘Nice guy’ to finish last? Local pol calls on Dem club to reject Heyer
Election: Democratic officials are ramping up their attacks on John Heyer, one of five hopefuls to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio, slamming right-of-center candidate as too “conservative” for the Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Windsor Terrace district because of his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights. Comments (8).
Levin to Dems: I will show up this time
Election: Candidate Steve Levin vows to stop his “Rose Garden” strategy, break away from Vito Lopez’s shadow and finally debate the issues in the race to succeed Councilman David Yassky. Comments (12).
Question time: New format helps reveal candidates’ traits — and car ownership!
Election: The fight to succeed Councilman David Yassky in the 33rd Council district was never considered “scrappy” until Tuesday night, when candidates posed no-holds-barred questions to their opponents and showed some of their true colors in the process. Comments (7).
Tish of the day: Councilwoman finally pays her back taxes!
Election: Councilwoman Letitia James moved quickly this week to diffuse what could have been a major distraction in her re-election campaign, personally heading to a Department of Finance office in Manhattan to pay $9,000 in overdue property taxes on her Lafayette Avenue house. Comments (20).
Voters to pols: Knock us dead
Election: It’s time for the five candidates to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio to put aside the talking points and dazzle us already. Comments (1).
Hammerman out of Council race
Election: Community Board 6 District Manager — and New York City Hall of Fame inductee — Craig Hammerman has abandoned his second quest to represent Park Slope in the City Council. Comments (2).
Scandal forces DiBrienza from race
Election: Former City Councilman Steve DiBrienza has reportedly abandoned his controversial and scandal-tarred campaign for his old seat. Comment.
Secular healing! Club finds non-church venue for political forum
Election: A Brooklyn political club has moved the location of its scheduled forum so that Jewish candidate Isaac Abraham can attend. Comments (22).
Jew gotta be kidding! Abraham can’t go to church basement forum
Election: Council hopeful Isaac Abraham, an observant Hasidic Jew, has turned down a political club’s endorsement forum invitation because the event is in a church basement. Comments (26).
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