(Click HERE for photos) On Wednesday, August 26, the West Side Council of Orthodox Jewish Organizations (COJO) hosted a candidates’ forum for the New York City Comptroller and the New York City Public Advocate race at The Young Israel of the West Side. The event was organized by COJO Chairman Michael Landau and Council of Young Jewish Presidents (CYJP) Chairman David Borowich, and moderated by Mr. Zev Brenner, President of Talkline Communications, as well as Mr. Sheldon J. Fine, Vice President of COJO.

The forum provided the four leading candidates from each race a platform to distinguish their respective backgrounds, records and policies from one another, and served as an opportunity for constituents to gain a nuanced impression of the candidates in an open, candid environment. The event also allowed constituents to highlight issues of foremost importance to the Orthodox community.

The candidates’ forum represents a continued effort on the part of the West Side COJO to remain socially relevant for its members while maintaining its reputation as a unified voice for the growing number of Manhattan residents who affiliate themselves with it.

“The COJO is very pleased with the forum,” said Mr. Landau. “We appreciate the significant turnout despite it being a Wednesday evening in August, which exemplifies the dedicated political involvement of our community. We are also thankful to the candidates for being so generous with their time and for their informative and sincere remarks throughout.”

The candidates for Comptroller – Ms. Melinda Katz, Mr. John Liu, Mr. David Weprin, and Mr. David Yassky – uniformly highlighted the Comptroller’s oversight of State pension funds totaling $81 billion, as well as the Comptroller’s duty to audit government agencies.  Several candidates detailed where they see possibilities to cut expenditure by government agencies, as well as what more the Comptroller could do to ensure that State pension funds do not indirectly support terrorist activities.  Ms. Katz cited her record of providing affordable housing in New York and emphasized her mergers and acquisitions background as good training for getting things done.  Mr. Liu, the first Asian American elected to the New York City Council, noted that he is a pension actuary by profession, and stressed the need to increase revenue in addition to cutting expenditure.  Mr. Weprin highlighted the need for transparency in the city’s budget process, and mentioned that certain functional necessities, such as towing cars, should not be perceived as a source of revenue.  Mr. Yassky talked about his strong governmental background and accomplishments, as well as the need to ensure a thriving middle class.

The candidates for Public Advocate – Mr. Bill de Blasio, Mr. Eric Gioia, Mr. Mark Green, and Mr. Norman Siegel – all spoke passionately about standing up for the rights of New Yorkers and acting as a “watchdog” for city government.  Each noted the recent 40% decline in the budget for the Public Advocate, and several candidates criticized City Hall for downsizing the budget of its own overseer.  Mr. de Blasio stressed the position’s mandate to ensure quality of democracy as well as accountability for the city government.  Mr. Gioia spoke passionately about his own “American dream” rise in politics and his promise to ensure the possibility for others.  Mr. Green highlighted that he has previously held the position and touted a hundred new ideas his campaign would begin unveiling.  Mr. Siegel stressed his non-political background and drew on personal experiences to convey that he is “a dreamer about how things are supposed to be” and that his record shows he takes action.

The event drew nearly 100 people, including New York City Councilwoman Ms. Gale Brewer and community leaders and rabbis from the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Lower East Side, and Washington Heights, including Yeshiva University.

The forum was coordinated by The Friedlander Group and will be rebroadcasted in its entirety at a later date by Talkline Communications Network.

(YWN Desk – NYC)