★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ELECTIONS 2021 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
BY ROSE ADAMS
Candidates are already facing off
for the soon-to-be-vacated City Council
seat in the 47th district representing
Coney Island, Sea Gate, Gravesend, and
Bensonhurst. The winner of the Democratic
primary in June will likely go on
Alec Brook-Krasny Ari Kagan Joseph Packer
COURIER L 26 IFE, FEB. 26-MAR. 4, 2021
to sweep the general election in November
and take offi ce in January 2022, replacing
term-limited Mark Treyger,
who has held the seat since 2013.
The race comes as Coney Island’s
economy reels from the season-long closure
of the amusement park, dealing a
tough blow to the neighborhood’s thoroughfares,
which were already struggling
with vacancies. Storm recovery
and residential development are two
other issues in the district, which is
seeing a boom of large apartment towers
rising across the peninsula.
Four candidates, all Democrats,
have offi cially jumped into the race,
with a fi fth undecided, according to
the latest Campaign Finance Board
fi lings. All four confi rmed candidates
responded to Brooklyn Paper’s questionnaire
Here are their responses, ordered
alphabetically by last name:
(These answers have been edited for
brevity. For more, visit BrooklynPaper.
com)
Steven Patzer
Brooklyn Paper: Why are you
running for City Council?
Alec Brook-Krasny: I am running
for NYC Council because I intend
to bring my experience and expertise,
which is essential, in order to
represent the entire community and
every one of my neighbors on the path
to the real change — that we and our
children deserve.
I have experience fi ghting completely
false, devastating accusations.
I understand what it means to overcome
obstacles in extreme situations
and persevere.
BP: Tell us about yourself, what
you do for a living, and your relationship
to the district.
AB: I have four degrees, expertise
and experience in many different
fi elds: serving community for over 20
years, politics, small business operations,
non-profi t organizations. Currently
I am working as an HR and
Staffi ng Manager for Competent Care
Early Intervention Agency. We provide
resources and services to children
0-3 helping them reach their full
potential at no cost to parents. I have
lived in the 47th Council District —
in Sea Gate — for 28 years.
BP: Political experience?
AB: In 2000, I ran for state Assembly,
and collected 4,500 signatures in
support. I was removed from the ballot
but received 1,800 write-in votes
in general elections. In 2001, I ran for
City Council, endorsed by the New
York Times and lost. In 2006, I ran
for state Assembly and won. I was reelected
to represent the 46th Assembly
district from 2007 through 2015.
BP: What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and how
will you solve them?
AB: Education, heavy traffi c and
the relationship between different
groups, community and police.
Brooklyn Paper: Why are you
running for City Council?
Ari Kagan: Our communities are
hurting. We are in the middle of a serious
crisis. The next Council Member
must focus on helping every resident to
recover and fi nd stability in a post-pandemic
world. I am committed to strong
investment in our public institutions
like hospitals and schools, as well as
senior programs and libraries.
BP: Tell us about yourself, what
you do for a living, and your relationship
to the district.
AK: I came to the United States with
my family in 1993 from Belarus and
have lived in southern Brooklyn ever
since. I live in Gravesend with my wife
and daughter, who is attending Murrow
High School. I am the Democratic District
Leader of the 45th Assembly District
which includes several neighborhoods
of the 47th Council District. I am
currently the Director of District Operations
for the Offi ce of Councilmember
Mark Treyger. I served people in this
district after Superstorm Sandy and
during COVID-19 pandemic.
BP: Political experience?
AK: I was elected as the Democratic
District Leader for the 45th Assembly
District nine years ago and continue
to proudly serve. I am the president of
Bay Democrats, a diverse political club
that aims to educate and engage.
BP: What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and how
will you solve them?
AK: Our district cannot be left behind
in the city’s post-pandemic recovery.
I will fi ght to ensure recovery includes
grants to small businesses, help
to small homeowners, vocational/trade
courses, overcoming the digital divide.
I am going to work with local leaders to
address the lack of an accessible multipurpose
community center in Coney Island.
Brooklyn Paper: Why are you
running for City Council?
Joseph Packer: As a “Native Son,”
I am running for City Council in the
47th District because I want to represent
this iconic area that I love. I feel
that my life experiences and the extensive
background in community organizing
along with massive community
support that I possess will enable me
to fast-track certain key initiatives in
transportation, education, youth, employment
and housing.
BP: Tell us about yourself, what
you do for a living, and your relationship
to the district.
JP: I am a devout Christian, husband,
father and grandparent and
sports enthusiast. I am the only candidate
that has deep roots in this community.
I work and live in the district
that I look forward to representing.
With that said, I am a lifelong resident
of Coney Island from the Carey Gardens
NYCHA developments and now
presently a Sea Gate homeowner. Additionally,
I worked on Wall Street,
before returning home to work as a
Mitchell Lama housing assistant manager
for fi fteen years.
BP: Political experience?
JP: My political experience dates
back to the David Dinkins administration.
I assisted in getting him elected.
As a result of helping Mayor Dinkins
win, I was able to negotiate and secure
a Heartshare Beacon Program
that provided youth the use of school
accommodations for educational and
recreational services at no cost to the
participants.
BP: What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and how
will you solve them?
JP: Education, housing, employment
and transportation share top
billing in terms of issues that need to
be immediately addressed.
Brooklyn Paper: Why are you
running for City Council?
Steven Patzer: Our district needs
someone they can count on in and out
of a crisis. Before the pandemic, we put
on over forty nonpolitical events such
as job fairs, career-related toy giveaways,
and singing tours in nursing
homes to honor my late grandma. During
the pandemic, we’ve organized and
given away over 250,000 pounds of food,
COVID testing, COVID vigils, virtual
job fairs, and thanked police offi cers
and frontline workers on all shifts
with meals and PPE supplies. We even
helped someone adopt a dog when she
was alone throughout the pandemic.
BP: Tell us about yourself, what
you do for a living, and your relationship
to the district.
SP: I rent a room in Gravesend
while volunteering full-time doing
community work. I saved up to do so
since I was 14 by working construction
jobs, creating websites, cleaning
houses, and working for the Simon
Wiesenthal Center educating individuals
on hate crimes. My favorite childhood
memories are of my single mom
taking us to the Coney Island boardwalk
for Friday night fi reworks and
pizza at Spumoni Gardens with my
grandma.
BP: Political experience?
SP: I’ve worked on campaigns and
lobbied in Albany for higher education.
However, my most important
political experience was helping Mathylde
Frontus deliver hot meals to seniors
throughout the early months of
the pandemic.
BP: What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and how
will you solve them?
SP: We’re headed for a crisis in
housing when the rent moratorium
ends and affordable housing will be
more important than ever.
The 47th District Council race