Marty Markowitz
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| Marty Markowitz | |
| Image:Marty Markowitz by David Shankbone.jpg
| |
| | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Howard Golden |
| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Jamie Snow |
| Alma mater | Brooklyn College |
Marty Markowitz is the Borough President of Brooklyn, New York City.
Contents |
[edit] Personal life
Marty Markowitz was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. His father, Robert, was a waiter at Sid's, a kosher delicatessen. When Markowitz was nine years old his father died; his mother, Dorothy, later moved the family to public housing in Sheepshead Bay.[1]
He took night classes at Brooklyn College for nine years[1], and received his bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1970.
Markowitz and his wife Jamie Snow were married in 1999.[2]
[edit] Political career
Markowitz became involved in politics in the 1970s, by organizing tenant and senior citizen organizations in Flatbush, Brooklyn.[3]
He was elected to the State Senate in 1978, and spent over two decades as a New York State Senator for Brooklyn. During his time as a state senator, he was known for creating a series of oceanfront concerts and other festivals rather than drafting legislation.
Markowitz first ran for Borough President in 1985, but failed to unseat the incumbent Howard Golden. Markowitz subsequently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for failing to disclose a campaign contribution; he was fined and performed community service.[1]
Markowitz was elected to the borough presidency in 2001, on the Democratic Party line.
Markowitz was re-elected on November 8, 2005, with 79% of the vote, compared to 13% for Republican challenger Theodore Alatsas, and 7% for Gloria Mattera, the Green Party candidate. In the 2005 New York City mayoral election, Markowitz endorsed Republican incumbent Michael Bloomberg, along with many other Democrats like Ed Koch.
[edit] Borough Presidency
As Borough Presidents have little real power within City government, Markowitz has used the office to be an enthusiastic advocate for Brooklyn, promoting tourism and events borough-wide.
During the North American blackout of August 2003, Markowitz stood on the Brooklyn Bridge as throngs of fellow Brooklynites trudged home from work in Manhattan. Markowitz held a megaphone and cheered: "Welcome home to Brooklyn!", receiving thunderous applause. He repeated this during the 2005 New York City Transit Strike, inviting Brooklynites into Borough Hall for warm drinks and a chance to call loved ones.
Markowitz also is known for supporting many public schools in Brooklyn on occasions such as performances and graduations.
Despite having 13 reserved parking spaces, Markowitz and his staff park their vehicles in the Brooklyn Borough Hall pedestrian plaza.[4] Markowitz has opposed expanded car-free hours in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.[5]
[edit] Atlantic Yards
Markowitz is a supporter of the controversial Atlantic Yards complex, which will feature a new home for the New Jersey Nets and 6,430 units of housing. His desire to bring an NBA team to Brooklyn had been known since his campaign for Borough President, and he was instrumental in persuading Bruce Ratner to purchase the team in 2004.[1]
In 2002 Markowitz appointed Dolly Williams to the New York City Planning Commission. In 2004 it was revealed that Williams, who is co-founder of a Brooklyn construction company, had invested a million dollars in Bruce Ratner's purchase of the New Jersey Nets. Williams announce that she would recuse herself from any decisions about the Atlantic Yards project. Williams is the only Brooklyn appointee to the Planning Commission.[6][7]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Mead, Rebecca: "Mr. Brooklyn", The New Yorker (2005-04-25)
- ^ New York Times. "Marty Markowitz and Jamie Snow" (1999-11-21)
- ^ NYC Campaign Finance Board: Candidate Statements (2001)
- ^ Hays, Elizabeth: "Must they park in city's park?", New York Daily News, (2006-09-29)
- ^ Hays, Elizabeth: "Prospect Park slighted by car ban", New York Daily News, (2007-08-14)
- ^ Kolben, Deborah: "HELLO DOLLY!", The Brooklyn Paper, (2004-08-21)
- ^ Wisloski, Jess: "REC-U-U-USE ME!", The Brooklyn Paper, (2005-03-19)
| Preceded by Howard Golden | Borough president of Brooklyn 2002 – present | Incumbent |
