Ruben Diaz Sr. (Photo: nysenate.gov)

State Senator Ruben Diaz sent a special New Year's-themed edition of his regular "What You Should Know" email newsletters this morning. In his year-end missive, Mr. Diaz took a series of shots at the State Senate with backhanded "political wishes" for the new IDC/GOP leadership coalition, "Uncle Tom" State Senator Malcolm Smith and State Senator Adriano Espaillat. 

Most of Mr. Diaz's "wishes" for next year involve the new leadership in the State Senate. He expressed his hope State Senator John Sampson, who just lost his position as leader of the Democrats in the chamber, will "find better and more faithful friends." Mr. Diaz also wished for the new Democratic leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to "buy a back-stabbing-proof vest."

The leadership coalition between the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference and the State Senate Republicans has been sharply criticized for lacking any minority members besides IDC State Senator Malcolm Smith. In his New Year's list, Mr. Diaz echoed this criticism when he wished for Mr. Smith "to find another minority to join him in order for him not to be the only Uncle Tom in the house." He also predicted the IDC's expectation the Senate Republicans will back a "progressive agenda" will prove wrong and wished for the dissident Democrats to have "a parachute to allow them to make their landing easy and soft" when the GOP pulls back their support.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has argued it is his job to remain above the fray in the various State Senate leadership disputes. However, Mr. Diaz, like some other Democrats, clearly thinks the Democratic governor should have done more to fight the coalition and support a Democratic majority in the Senate. One of his New Year's wishes was for Gov. Cuomo "to be honest enough to admit that he has been the creator of the mess in the New York State Senate."

As usual, Mr. Diaz's missive also included a reference to his closest former colleagues in the State Senate: Carl Kruger, Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada. Mr. Diaz is the last remaining member of these "Four Amigos" still in the Senate. Mr. Kruger received a seven-year prison sentence after a bribery case in April. Mr. Monserrate was expelled from the State Senate in 2010 after being convicted of slashing his girlfriend with broken glass and was sentenced to two years in prison on an unrelated corruption charge earlier this month. Mr. Espada pleaded guilty to corruption charges in October and is now facing up to a decade in prison. After this tough year for the "Amigos," Mr. Diaz said he hopes they can "get together in 2013 while they are away and write a book" giving the IDC instructions on how to deal with the Senate Republicans.

Along with weighing in on the Senate leadership situation, Mr. Diaz's list included a slam directed at State Senator Adriano Espaillat, who unsuccessfully ran for Congressman Charlie Rangel's seat in the House of Representatives this year. Mr. Diaz said Mr. Espaillat should "get a big handkerchief to wipe away his saliva" in 2013 because Mr. Rangel "will be there for many years more" and former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV is "warming up in the bullpen."

Read Mr. Diaz's full year-end top ten list below.

This year on December 31st, when I bend my knees in church and make my New Year's resolutions, you should know that I will be making the following political wishes for some people:

1. For Senator John Sampson, to find better and more faithful friends.

2. For reporters Bob Kappstatter, from the Bronx Times and Jim Odato from the Times Union, to learn how to be impartial and objective journalists.

3. For Senator Jeff Klein and his Gang of Four, to find a parachute to allow them to make their landing easy and soft when Senator Dean Skelos and the Republicans - fearing the Conservative Party - reject their support for a progressive agenda, leaving the Gang of Four out in the cold.

4. For Senator Malcolm Smith, to find another minority to join him in order for him not to be the only Uncle Tom in the house.

5. For Assemblyman-Elect Luis Sepulveda, to take it a little bit easier with a little more patience and wait for his time, because it will come.

6. For my three friends, Carl Kruger, Pedro Espada, and Hiram Monserrate, to try to get together in 2013 while they are away and write a book instructing Jeff Klein and the Gang of Four how to deal with Dean Skelos and what to expect from him.

7. To Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, to buy a back-stabbing proof vest.

8.  For Senator Adriano Espaillat, to get a big handkerchief to wipe away his saliva because Charlie Rangel will be there for many years more - and aside from that, Adam Clayton Powell is warming up in the bullpen.

9. For Governor Andrew Cuomo, to be honest enough to admit that he has been the creator of the mess in the New York State Senate.

10. As for myself, should these nine other wishes come true, that I will be able to take a break and keep my mouth shut.

This is Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

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David Storobin (Photo: Facebook)

The campaign of David Storobin, the Republican candidate in the special election to replace Carl Kruger in the State Senate, announced this evening they are pursuing a federal elections complaint against Russian-language media force Gregory Davidzon, a key supporter of Mr. Storobin's Democratic opponent, Councilman Lew Fidler.

"Storobin’s campaign attempted to purchase $10,000 in radio advertising from Davidzon radio two weeks ago," their press release read. "After several delay tactics, Mr. Davidzon himself refused to allow the advertising even though he is required to do so under federal law."

Capital New York reported Mr. Storobin's intentions to purchase media on Davidzon Radio last February, but Mr. Storobin's campaign spokesman told The Politicker those efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Mr. Storobin's statement said they have since filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission:

Title 47 “Electronic Code” of the C.F.R. that governs telecommunications states in Subsection 73.1941 (e) that there can be “no discrimination between candidates” when it comes to licensees making time available to candidates for office on public airwaves.

Mr. Davidzon, an influential Russian-language media mogul based in southern Brooklyn, has received increased recognition in the media in weeks. In February, the Wall Street Journal profiled his political influence and last week the New York Times did the same.

He is credited with driving large swaths of Russian-American voters to the polls in Congressman Bob Turner's upset special election victory last summer. The district Mr. Storobin and Mr. Fidler are competing in shares very similar boundaries and contains an even higher percentage of Russian-speaking voters.

Today's statement from the Storobin campaign also accused the Fidler campaign of using Mr. Davidzon as "a proxy to pay people $10 to $20 each to pose as 'supporters' to attend [a] phony event."

The Politicker reached out to Mr. Fidler's campaign, who declined to comment on the record.

(Photo: YouTube)

Yesterday evening, Councilman David Greenfield endorsed fellow Councilman Lew Fidler's state senate campaign, giving Mr. Fidler a bit of momentum as he campaigns for the sizable Orthodox Jewish vote in the district he seeks to represent.

Mr. Greenfield, saying Mr. Fidler is "the best person to fight for the frum community in the New York State Senate," specifically praised his plan to reduce the financial burden of Jewish educational institutions.

"I'm not only endorsing Lew, but I'm also endorsing his five point plan to help yeshiva parents, which I know is the best plan to reduce the cost of tuition of hundreds of thousands of Orthodox families throughout New York," he said.

Mr. Greenfield notably sat out the last contested special election in southern Brooklyn, declining to endorse Assemblyman David Weprin, the Democratic candidate in the campaign to replace Anthony Weiner in Congress. Mr. Fidler acknowledged this fact as he thanked Mr. Greenfield, all the while occasionally dropping in Hebrew phrases.

"I know David doesn't give out his endorsements out lightly, he's taken a pass every now and then. That he would weigh in, in this race to support me, I am so ever grateful to him and all of you," Mr. Fidler said. "This is a mitzvah I will always be very, very proud of."

"Anybody can slap a yarmulke on their head in campaign time and tell you that they're frum," he added. "What I've done my entire life has been from my heart and my Jewish soul."

View the video from Shimon Gifter below:

Lew Fidler (Photo: Facebook)

Councilman Lew Fidler might be getting a possible boost to his State Senate campaign this evening.

His colleague in the City Council, David Greenfield, will join Mr. Fidler in order to make an "announcement" today, suggesting a possible endorsement.

And, although Mr. Greenfield never seemed particularly likely to get behind Mr. Fidler's Republican opponent, David Storobin, his backing would provide a welcome voice of support in the more ideologically conservative Orthodox Jewish components of the State Senate district Mr. Fidler and Mr. Storobin are campaigning for.

Mr. Greenfield sat out the last competitive special election in this corner of Brooklyn, declining to endorse the Democratic candidate, David Weprin, in his ultimately unsuccessful congressional campaign. However, Mr. Fidler has already been using Mr. Greenfield's name in advertising, suggesting a solid level of comradery between the two councilmen.

The March 20th special election is to fill the vacancy left open when former State Senator Carl Kruger pleaded guilty to corruption charges and resigned.

Councilman Fidler (Photo: Facebook)

After being forced off the campaign trail for at least the past two weeks, Councilman Lew Fidler appears to be actively competing in the special election for Carl Kruger's old State Senate seat again.

“It’s 1,000 percent full steam ahead,” Mr. Fidler told Brooklyn Daily, which first reported the news. Calling the extended stay in the hospital "a temporary setback," he further vowed to “beat the pants off of" his Republican opponent, attorney David Storobin.

He had been hospitalized due to a severe allergic reaction to medications he was taking.

“It’s understandable that people were worried, but those who came to visit me knew that I was going to be walking out of the hospital," he explained to Brooklyn Daily. "Once people see me back on the job, they’ll understand that I’m going to be fine.”

Mr. Fidler's absence had caused debates and candidates' forums to be canceled, as well as some amounts of confusion and concern in the race overall. Mr. Storobin's campaign previously told The Politicker the candidates were next scheduled to debate on NY1's Inside City Hall next Monday.

The special election in the southeastern Brooklyn district is March 20th. The seat opened up when then-State Senator Carl Kruger pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and resigned last December.

The Republican candidate, David Storobin, used his ad space to further draw attention to a letter signed by Rabbis arguing it is religiously forbidden to support the Democratic candidate, Councilman Lew Fidler. Mr. Fidler's ad, meanwhile, sought to connect Mr. Fidler to local Jewish elected officials, Assemblyman Dov Hikind and Councilman David Greenfield.

Mr. Fidler's messaging is made more interesting by the fact that, as of recently at least, neither Mr. Greenfield or Mr. Hikind have formally endorsed his candidacy yet, although Mr. Greenfield has publicly defended Mr. Fidler from criticism.

However, the ad never implies an endorsement and merely offers supportive statements about certain actions Mr. Fidler has taken. For example, Mr. Hikind says "When anti-Semites stormed our neighborhood, Lew Fidler was right next to me standing up to them," referencing the Westboro Baptist Church holding one of their extremely controversial protests in Brooklyn.

View Mr. Fidler's ad below. Mr. Storobin's ad can be found on page 27 of the newspaper here.

The latest charge in the high-profile special election to replace former State Senator Carl Kruger emerged yesterday when The Politicker reported the New York Senate Democrats were running ads accusing the Republican candidate, David Storobin, of being a "shady lawyer" willing to work "overtime to keep child predators out of jail."

The attack was based off of Mr. Storobin's law firm's website listing the federal crimes it will defend, which includes child pornography. The text, which further says, "We don't need a State Senator who stands up for child molesters," is juxtaposed with the large face of a crying child with Mr. Storobin providing an ominous stare in the background.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Mr. Storobin's campaign spokesman, David Simpson, expressed disagreement with these charges.

"David believes that people who commit crimes should be held accountable for their actions, and people who commit crimes against children should be punished to the fullest extent of the law," he wrote in an email. "That said, this isn't a totalitarian state where you're accused and sent straight to jail (David knows this better than anyone because he escaped the Soviet Union in 1991). Under the Constitution, people accused of crimes are entitled to legal representation before the courts, and a small part of David's law practice is criminal defense."

"For the record, during his career David has defended exactly one person who committed a sex crime involving child pornography. That person pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, received a 12 year sentence and is in currently jail where he belongs," he added.

"The Democrats must be pretty worried about their position in this race to try and bolster Lew Fidler with this sort of mud slinging."

Hamodia's cover story today

Brooklyn's Jewish media has not been overly nice to Democratic Councilman Lew Fidler in the last two days. Yesterday, COMMUNITY Magazine converted itself to an almost cover-to-cover advertisement for his opponent in his campaign for the State Senate, and today, one of the most influential newspapers in the district, Hamodia, wrote a fairly scathing piece as well.

Underneath the front-page headline "Scandalous Claims," one of the newspaper's editors went after Mr. Fidler for insufficiently supporting tuition relief for the district's yeshivas while boosting his Republican opponent, David Storobin. "In truth, Storobin's conservative qualifications appear solid," he wrote. "But for Fidler to claim the conservative mantle, in support of funding for yeshivos, is just scandalous, say people involved in yeshivah aid."

Mr. Fidler is campaigning heavily on yeshiva funding and both candidates told Hamodia the issue was the most important one in the district.

The newspaper's harshest words were over gay marriage, however.

"The deplorable bill that passed the state legislature last year may turn out to be somewhat of a watershed in politics in the Orthodox community," the article continued. "I've heard people, several of whom I respect deeply, say that the bill is passed and there is little to gain from revisiting the subject. I disagree, Lew Fidler, as a NYC councilman, did not vote for the state bill in August, but he did vote for a council bill in 2010 demonstrating his support -- financial and moral -- for the beneficiaries of that legislation."

"While the community cannot undo the harmful bill, they could make their protest known at the ballot box," he added.

Hamodia is widely read in the Orthodox Jewish portions of Mr. Kruger's former district, and Wednesday's expanded weekend edition is the most notable one of the week. For religious families not using electronic devices on Shabbos, a newspaper might be more closely read.

In addition to the editor's barrage on Mr. Fidler, the newspaper published several other pieces on the March 20th special election today, running pro-Fidler and pro-Storobin op-eds, as well as several letters to the editor on the subject.

Most of the content can be found on pages 46 and 47 here.

COMMUNITY Magazine's next cover

COMMUNITY Magazine, a monthly publication that claims a solid circulation in Brooklyn's Sephardic Jewish community, not only endorsed the Republican candidate in the race to replace corrupt former State Senator Carl Kruger, but they went nuclear in working to persuade their readers follow suit.

Their message starts on the cover, which contains a giant picture of Mr. Storobin with the influential Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Belsky, declaring it a mitzvah (commandment) to vote for the candidate on March 20th.

Further into the magazine is another copy of the National Organization for Marriage's advertisement blasting Mr. Storobin's Democratic opponent, Councilman Lew Fidler. Digging even deeper is "A Message for the Community," a two page document organized by the group Jews for Morality where 49 Rabbis declare it religiously forbidden to support Mr. Fidler on account of his support for gay marriage.

The magazine's endorsement of Mr. Storobin is similarly extensive in its support and positively outlined the candidate's policy positions on issues ranging from marriage to yeshiva vouchers, while declaring Mr. Storobin a "product of the proverbial American dream."

They also dinged Mr. Fidler in the editorial, writing that "despite numerous attempts, Fidler’s camp appeared unresponsive – even after requests from Fidler’s publicity manager for an advance list of interview questions was expeditiously fulfilled."

View the relevant pages of the magazine below: