The Brooklyn Papers' Endorsements

Editorial
>The Brooklyn Papers

The Papers makes these endorsements:

• State Senate, 25th District (Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill): No endorsement. This race pits longtime incumbent Marty Connor against gadfly Ken Diamondstone. We strongly objected to Connor’s effort to knock Diamondstone off the ballot on a factually inaccurate charge that Diamondstone did not live in the district. But in recent mailings, Diamondstone has lied about Connor’s record. Both candidates should be ashamed.

• State Senate, 18th District (Park Slope, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights): We endorse incumbent Velmanette Montgomery. Montgomery is running a transparent and reasonable campaign, while her opponent, Tracy Boyland, seems to regard openness as a luxury, ignoring requests for basic information and not filing campaign finance reports. They also differ on Atlantic Yards, which Montgomery opposes.

• State Senate, 20th District (Park Slope, Prospect Heights): We endorse former police officer Eric Adams, who will make a fine senator. His opponents offer no competition.

• State Assembly, 57th District (Prospect Heights, Fort Greene): In a close battle, we endorse Community Board 8 member Bill Batson.

While his opponent Hakeem Jeffries is intelligent, articulate and talented, his inability to take a clear position on the Atlantic Yards mega-development — which is centered in this district — is problematic.

Batson has been a strong opponent, pointing out the project’s flaws, including a recent discovery of tens of millions more in public subsidies. In addition, he has been a strong voice in the fight against landlords who set fire to their own buildings to drive out low-rent-paying tenants. For that, we endorse Bill Batson.

A third candidate, district leader Freddie Hamilton, signed the Community Benefit Agreement with Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner, rendering her unable to negotiate on behalf of the community.

Pick your candidates and vote — Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6 am to 9 pm.