By COLlive reporter
Photos by Patrice Vare
Back in 2006, when New York’s Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was campaigning for Governor, legalizing aid to non-public schools was one of his agendas.
He was credited at the time for working to increase government funding for the education of students in yeshivas and religious Jewish schools.
This week, during a campaign stop in Crown Heights, the issue was once again on the table.
Meeting a group of young Jewish professionals at Basil Pizza & Wine Bar on Kingston Avenue, the candidate for NYC Comptroller was asked about the yeshiva school vouchers.
Spitzer explained that while he was governor, it was difficult to receive funding for the vouchers because of the separation of church and state.
Instead, Spitzer said he was was able to find and get funding for parochial schools and receive additional non-voucher funding from other sources.
One participant commented that he has 4 children in school, owns a home and makes a salary of $53,000 per year. “Is there anything you could do in your new position to help families with tuition,” he wondered.
Spitzer, a lawyer and political commentator, didn’t provide a definite answer. He reminded of his past accomplishments and commitment to find a solution.
The event – organized by Yaacov Behrman, Shlomie Hecht, Mendy Margolin and Yossi Rapoport – was an endorsement of sorts for Spitzer, with a flat screen in Basil’s party room reading “Crown Heights Supports Eliot Spitzer For City Comptroller.”
Endorsements have yet to be released by the local Crown Heights Political Action Committee.
Sporting a red leather yarmulka, Spitzer told the mostly male crowd that he cared for the needs of the Crown Heights community, although as Governor he didn’t interact or visit much.
While involved in politics since 1994, Spitzer said the difference between him and his opponent, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, is “the distinction between being independent or part of a system.”
He added that the difference was “between politics as a profession and politics as a cause,” explaining that “when you do it for the cause, you do it with a certain vigor and integrity.”
It is precisely his integrity that Spitzer is criticized for, but the event’s organizer Yaacov Behrman said Spitzer “has the experience and understands the capital market. He will hold Wall Street accountable.”
Sounding knowledgeable and presenting a friendly demeanor, Spitzer seemed to impress the crowd. And so did the gourmet pizza and drinks that kept coming out of the kitchen.
He never gave a person another chance, he was and still is the most ruthless person in business and in his personal life. I had to do business for years with his father Bernard, and the acorn didn’t fall far from the Oak tree.
His actions were absolutely disgusting and we should have nothing to do with a person like that.
Sounds more like- ‘Hold all people who work at jobs that create self-sufficiency accountable’. So what do you think is going to happen if Wall street goes down? There will be no one left to supply the other half with their food stamps, section 8, welfare and medicaid.
YES!
Americans REALLY KNOW HOW TO enjoy life.
There are about 30 million depressed Americans.
Now THAT’S Quality of Life.
Perhaps they need the TRUTH? Perhaps they need ‘TORAH?’
What is going on in Lubavitch?
The guy has absolutely nothing but disgrace to his name!!
the ch ledigers want their 2 mins of fame, how can u support this guy who is anti wall street?
Most of these comments are from the same IP address. I believe it’s coming from the stringer campghin.
Um, how does one get invited to these things? Spending so much time at the office, didn’t even know this was happening …
You guys are a bunch of blue collar kissups. This guy is an outright hippocrate. Besides, he prosocuted dozens of Chabad centers and NFP organizations as Attorney General.
Go out and get a real job and develop more meaning and values in life.
I doubt these guys recognize that Spitzer is a lawyer applying for an accounting job. He’s a desperate ex politician trying to regain power any way he can.
You haven’t the faintest idea as to what you are talking about.
In a “free market system” whole industries are not bailed out by taxpayers to the tune of a trillion dollars.
In a “free market system” whole industries are not propped up with trillions of artificially printed dollars by the Fed.
shame on these young naronim and shame on crown heights.
what have we been reduced to????
you are just like him
ITS ALL A GIMMICK FOR SPITZER TO REHABILITATE HIMSELF ON THE POLITCAL LADDER ON THE BACK OF JEWISH VOTES
Why on earth would you vote for him? Because he put some people in jail when he was AG? He is such a sleazy politician. The other guys looks like a nice, sincere guy.
He will hold wall street accountable? The banking system is the most regulated industry, it is called a FREE MARKET SYSTEM…
Acountable from what imposing his will , chabad should NOT be for quasi communism …
The comptroller job in its own is not a real position, it is a position that one takes as a stepping stone towards NYC mayor or other positions. I dont think he cares about us, the only reason he is coming to CH is because he is disgraced and will meet with any potential voter that wishes to meet with him. Once he becomes elected and moves back up the political ladder he will become the same as he was. He will be worse then bloomberg. In general I dont think we should vote for any Jews for higher office… Read more »
Because of seperation of church and state?
This was created in the constitution to protect the church ie religion not the STATE…How do you think that at the end of the day all the menorahs are at government buildings…
That lubavitchers support him. He is an arrogant immoral man who is hungry for power
Yankee Pearson!
Your friends in Bal Harbour miss you…
They only come when they need your vote
” Hold Wall street accountable”””
Is this the new battle cry from the children of the 60’s parents…??
Shein zet ois Lubavitch!!
No values
What a joke! What integrity? It’s precisely his LACK of integrity that he has always been criticized for, long before the FBI caught him committing crimes he had himself helped create. And it was his vindictive nature that caused nobody to stand up for him when he got in trouble, because everybody hated him, because he’s such a malicious person. A real shlechter, who will kick a person for no other reason than to see him hurt.
BS”D they should all be ashamed of themselves. The only thing important to these attendees are their egos and love of the limelight. Let them tell their children- by the way Daddy backed a man who was immoral and in the process violated the law. Never in ones wildest imagination would anyone bring this to Sunday dollars.Not only that but he will ruin the revenue stream to the City. Shame Shame, but they have no shame I consider everyone who attended immoral clowns. Look how happy with themselves they look.