John Heyer and Brad Lander are fighting it out for the support of the conservative Hasidic vote in the 39th City Council district. Brad Lander has been hoping his ties to the ultra-orthodox, homophobic Dov Hikind will bridge the gap between Lander's anti-Israel views and his largely liberal views on gays and the Hasids. This devil's bargain between Hikind and Lander was at first working, bringing in Boro Park votes for Lander. But then Heyer came along. Heyer is being very honest with the Hasids, more honest about his conservative beliefs than he is on his website or when he campaigns in Park Slope. Some videos of Heyer discussing their social conservativism have popped up on Room 8 and on the Chaptzem blog. I think it is enlightening to hear Heyer in his own words, and comparing this with his website where he mentions little of his conservative views. So here he is, John Heyer uncut:

I find that Brad Lander's ties to Dov Hikind and his anti-Israel views don't play well in Park Slope. But I suspect neither will John Heyer's support for tax payer money going to private schools and his opposition to abortion. Three candidates fit the values of the majority of the district: Bob Zuckerman, Josh Skaller, and Gary Reilly. Lander and Heyer can compete over the conservatives. Hopefully the majority of the district will go for the other three.

One of the hottest contested races in the September 15th primary is who will be the next City Council representative for the 39th district (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Boro Park). I thought it was worth reviewing the candidates, all of whom I know fairly well, and all of whom I have heard speak and done some research on. Keep in mind I come into this as a supporter of Josh Skaller for this seat. So I save my endorsed candidate for last.  read more »

Tucked in the middle of two predominantly liberal districts in Brooklyn (the 33rd and 39th City Council districts) there are pockets of conservativism. Mostly when people think of these districts they think of the battle between the reformers and the machine candidates. In the 33rd the frontrunners are reformer Jo Anne Simon vs. Vito Lopez machine hack Steve Levin. In the 39th the frontrunners are reformer Josh Skaller vs. Working Families Party machine hack (to the extent of being caught up in the big WFP scandal this year) Brad Lander. But in each of these districts the machine candidates are also locked in another struggle: the attempt to take conservative votes from the sole conservative candidate in the district.  read more »

So today is a bit of a day for the race for the 39th City Council district. This morning heard about Jim Brennan endorsing Josh Skaller. Heard even more about Josh's campaign that isn't ready for prime time blogging, but will come out soon. As Rock Hackshaw, also hopefully soon to be City Councilman, would say, stay tuned.

Now I hear John Heyer, perhaps taking to heart my blogging about the match that could be made between him and the Hasids of Boro Park, has been seen with the Hasids in Boro Park. Sent by a reader and from Chaptzem Blog:

Gotta say, he looks the part.  read more »

This is a statement from IND President Kenn Lowy regarding the recent endorsement of John Heyer by the club and the issues it has raised:

Last week the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) endorsed John Heyer for the 39th City Council District and this act has set many things in motion. I have known John for many years and I respect his right to have his views. However, in two crucial areas our views are diametrically opposed.

My mother, the author Bonnie Bluh, spent her entire adult life fighting for women's rights. From an early age I saw first hand how important and vital this struggle was. Her first published book followed the beginning of the women’s rights movement in Europe during the 1970s. That book "Woman to Woman" charts the remarkable struggles women had to go through to obtain basic rights in some of the most advanced countries in the world. One of those rights, a woman's right to choose, is not negotiable for me. John does not believe in a woman’s right to choose.  read more »