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A Debate -- Smackdown Style
July 29th, 2009

This post was contributed by Dan Compitello.

Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
Main Entry: smack·down
Pronunciation: \ˈsmak-ˌdaun\
Function: noun
Date: 1997
1 : the act of knocking down or bringing down an opponent 2 : a contest in entertainment wrestling 3 : a decisive defeat 4 : a confrontation between rivals or competitors

That definition was read by moderator Susan Albrecht of Neighbors Aligned for Good Growth at the start of the “Ultimate Verbal Smackdown” last night — a candidates forum for those vying to replace David Yassky in Brooklyn.

The main event may have disappointed WWF fans, but “smackdown” was a fitting name. The high stakes seat is open this campaign season, since Yassky is running for city comptroller. The debate had an audience of roughly 100, a moderator dressed as a referee, a rounds bell, and six trained candidates. Ahem, fine: ultimate fighters.

All but one opponent, apparent lightweight Stephen Levin, was present — including candidates Jo Anne Simon, Ken Baer, Ken Diamondstone, Isaac Abraham, Evan Thies, and Doug Biviano. They covered issues from affordable housing to quality of life, parks and open space to transportation, and schools to City Council reform.

When asked if the candidates supported mandatory, not incentivized, affordable housing all answered yes. When asked whether they supported corporate uses of public parks, a resounding no came from everyone except Jo Anne Simon, who answered “on occasion,” and Isaac Abraham, who answered yes. All the candidates supported adding more bike lanes, even Isaac Abraham, who has led a fight to remove bike lanes from Kent Avenue. Each candidate would vote no on a proposed rezoning of the Broadway Triangle, the intersection of Bushwick and East Williamsburg, which would designate the industrial area for residential use. Most would support the community’s plans instead.

Taking a detour from the night’s WWF theme, candidates were handed sheets of paper and large black markers, and were then asked to draw the shape of the snakelike District 33 from memory. All the strangely drawn depictions received cheers from the crowd.

While no one was knocked out, per say, residents came away from the debate with a greater sense of whom these candidates are. Greenpoint resident Steve Chesler, a freelance web designer, said he didn’t know enough about all the candidates before the debate, but he has now narrowed the race down to his top four: Biviano, Abraham, Diamondstone and Thies.

While the debate covered a lot of ground, it mostly represented neighborhoods and issues in the northern section of the district — mostly Greenpoint and Williamsburg. In a brief aside with the event planners, a debate could be in the works organized by neighborhood associations from both the northern and southern parts of the district later in the race. So, if this was the “Ultimate Smackdown,” what kind of theme would that discussion take?

By Courtney Gross on July 29, 2009, 11:23 am
In category: City Hall, Gotham City, Governing, nextNY | No Comments »

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