He has also attempted to work closely with Brooklyn’s diverse groups, including the Orthodox, in a cooperative effort to bring down crime rates. This has involved taking into account the differing social dynamics of the various communities in an effort to maximize effectiveness of investigation and prosecution. The approach reflects a hard-nosed assessment about what it takes to enforce the law in manifestly different circumstances across the borough.
Mr. Hynes’s opponent, Ken Thompson, brings much to the table: he has many good ideas and has had important crime fighting experience as an assistant U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, but he is relatively young and his time will come. For now, Mr. Hynes deserves reelection both in terms of hakoras hatov for what he has done for Brooklyn and the Jewish community, and for the experience and accumulated wisdom he will bring to the next four years as Brooklyn’s chief prosecutor.
NY City Council
23rd District in Queens (Hollis Hills, Queens Village, Little Neck, Douglaston, Bayside, Bellerose, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, New Hyde Park, Hollis, Hollis Park Gardens, Holliswood, Fresh Meadows and Oakland Gardens)
The Jewish Press endorses Mark Weprin, who has served on the Council since 2010 and before that in the New York State Assembly for 15 years. He has shown a keen interest in criminal law and legislation affecting the aging. He has been a stalwart on issues of direct concern to the Jewish community. We urge his reelection.
24th District in Queens (Briarwood, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Hillcrest Estates, Jamaica Hills, Utopia Estates, parts of Forest Hills, Flushing, Jamaica and Rego Park)
The Jewish Press endorses Rory Lancman to succeed the term-limited James Gennaro in the 24th district. While in the New York State Assembly, Mr. Lancman expressed strong support for legislation requiring reasonable accommodation of religious needs in employment and in such relatively new problem areas as the public display of mezuzahs and the construction of sukkas – and has represented, as an attorney, individuals who faced these and related problems.
44th District in Brooklyn (Bensonhurst, Boro Park, Flatbush)
The Jewish Press supports David Greenfield in the 44th district. In the three and a half years since his election to the Council, Mr. Greenfield, in addition to trying to address the needs of all his constituents, has emerged as a major spokesman on a broad range of issues of particular concern to the Jewish community. He is respected by his colleagues for his mastery of the New York City budgetary process and has developed a reputation as a serious legislator seeking real solutions to real problems.
46th District in Brooklyn (Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Mill Basin and Sheepshead Bay)
The Jewish Press supports Alan Maisel in the 46th district to succeed the term limited Lew Fidler. He shares many of our community’s concerns and brings impressive credentials to the race. Since 2006 he has been a member of the New York State Assembly and has served as chief of staff to former assemblyman and now Brooklyn Democratic County leader Frank Seddio and as administrative assistant to former congressman and now U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
47th District in Brooklyn (Coney Island, Gravesend and parts of Bensonhurst)
The Jewish Press urges voters in the 47th district to vote for Mark Treyger to succeed the term-limited Domenic Recchia, Jr. Mr. Treyger is a civics teacher at New Utrecht High School and a Bensonhurst-based political activist with an abiding interest in the governmental process. He impresses with his enthusiasm for harnessing that process to solve society’s problems.
48th District in Brooklyn (Brighton Beach, Seagate, Gravesend, Mill Basin and Sheepshead Bay)
The Jewish Press endorses Chaim Deutsch in the 48th district to succeed the term-limited Mike Nelson. Mr. Deutsch has long been a fixture in Brooklyn as the go-to person for those in need of help with government officials and agencies, including, importantly, law enforcement. He has been indefatigable in this regard, making himself available at all hours of the day and night. His positive contributions to the everyday lives of countless Brooklynites have been immense.
He has served with great distinction as a senior aide to Councilman Nelson and he is also a founding member of the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol, which started from humble beginnings but now boasts 50 volunteers, a 24-hour hotline, portable radios, immediate response teams and a state-of-the-art mobile command center.