By Colin Campbell 7/03/12 3:13pm

rsvps

A scene from The Tudors.

Marty Golden Cancels Female Etiquette Event

State Senator Marty Golden’s event to help women learn how to do such activities as  “Sit, stand and walk like a model” and “Walk up and down a stair elegantly” was soundly mocked by a number of publications, and now it seems that it’s no more. His government website removed the seminar from its calendar* and his office sent out a statement defending concept but announced “we have chosen not to hold” the event.

“Each year, Senator Golden holds several well received events to provide options to his constituents for personal and business development.Our upcoming event, which we have chosen not to hold, is similar to ones being organized by other elected officials, as well as classes conducted in local high schools,” the press release read. “The Senator’s support of legislation and programs to help create jobs for all New Yorkers is a matter of public record, and we will be holding future events to assist them in finding and keeping a job.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 7/03/12 12:04pm

tv references

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Gounardes Campaign: Possibility Golden ‘Thinks Leave It to Beaver Is A New Reality Show’

Earlier today, City & State reported on GOP State Senator Marty Golden’s somewhat antiquated-sounding seminar where female constituents can learn such subjects as, “The art of feminine presence. Sit, stand and walk like a model. Walk up and down a stair elegantly……and much more.”

And while Mr. Golden ultimately removed some of those phrases from his website, that didn’t stop his Democratic rival, attorney Andrew Gounardes, from pouncing.

“Tragically, this is Golden’s idea of the 21st Century woman,” Mr. Gounardes’ campaign manager Chris McCreight declared in a statement this morning. “This just goes to show that Marty Golden just doesn’t get it – either that or he lives in a cave and thinks Leave It to Beaver is a new reality show.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/08/12 2:34pm

pac attack

One side of the ad, implying the recipients could get tossed out of their homes because of Marty Golden. (Photo: CapitalTonight.com)

Golden Campaign Slams Tenants PAC Over Attack Mailer

It looks like GOP State Senator Marty Golden and a tenant’s advocacy organization have rhetorically gone to war with one another.

The word brawl started when Tenants PAC released a mailer attacking Mr. Golden sharply for being part of a Republican caucus that thwarted efforts to strengthen rent regulations.

“If you rent, you could lose your home, because Marty Golden sold us out to the landlords,” the advertisement declares. “Thousands of Brooklyn families face unfair evictions each month because Marty Golden and his Republican cronies in Albany get their way.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/25/12 11:41am

gounardes' gold

Andrew Gounardes (Photo: Facebook)

LGBT Raises for Gounardes

Andrew Gounardes is taking his fundraising pitch to the LGBT community as he seeks to unseat Republican State Senator Marty Golden. At a reception tomorrow evening, Mr. Gounardes will notably be joined by four openly LGBT elected officials: State Senator Tom Duane, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Councilman Daniel Dromm, and Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.

The event, also attended by Manhattan Borough President — and 2013 mayoral candidate — Scott Stringer, is even directly billed on Facebook as an “LGBT reception” and is jointly hosted with Brooklyn’s main LGBT club, Lambda Independent Democrats, so there’s little question as to the fundraising angle involved. Read More

By Colin Campbell 4/03/12 11:55am

legislation

Marty Golden (Photo: Vimeo)

Marty Golden Stars in Freelancers Union’s Coffee-Themed Web Video

Republican State Senator Marty Golden recently teamed up with the Freelancers Union to argue that “coffee is a right.”

In a video posted online, Mr. Golden fields a call from a hypothetical freelancer constituent whose account is overdrawn and is unable to purchase his preferred breakfast beverage. Mr. Golden informs him that there’s legislation out there to solve his woes. Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/21/12 12:34pm

Photo Finishes

storobinpic

Storobin Celebrates A Race That’s Too Close To Call

The race between veteran Councilman Lew Fidler and Republican upstart David Storobin was a vicious campaign that included charges of pedophilia, Nazism and election day allegations “a Storobin thug” ran over a Fidler volunteer with a van. A police spokesperson subsequently told The New York Times the claim about the van proved to be untrue. In the end, Mr. Storobin was up by 120 votes in the final pre-paper ballot tally, but both candidates declared victory and the campaign is headed to a close count and court fight. However, as Mr. Storobin pointed out in a speech at his election night party, no one expected him to come close.

“We counted 100 percent of the votes but there are still some votes, some paper votes that are left, but based on all the info that we have, I’m proud to say that we, all of us, won this race. There may be recounts and we may have to wait for official results for a few days, or maybe even a couple of weeks, but like I said, the good won, we won,” Mr. Storobin said. “Tonight, we’ll go to bed as winners when nobody outside believed that we had a shot to even compete, when every story about this campaign began with Lew Fidler, the heavy favorite.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/08/12 10:55am

battle lines

new-22

Gounardes and Golden Tussle Over Redistricting

The Democratic challenger for Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden, Andrew Gounardes, wrote him a letter yesterday on redistricting, taking particular issue with a recent New York Post story suggesting Republicans in the State Senate were attempting to hold Governor Andrew Cuomo’s agenda hostage over the redistricting issue.

“[I]t is so unfortunate that you and your Republican colleagues in the Senate have chosen to break the New York Uprising pledge that you signed just 18 months ago,” Mr. Gounardes wrote, attaching a copy of the pledge with the letter. “In that pledge, you swore to support an independent and non-partisan redistricting plan based on the 2010 Census. I was raised to believe that a person’s word is as good as their bond. With broken promises like this, why should voters take you at your word in the future?”

“I call on you to disavow the legislative threats of your colleagues and to recommit yourself to the pledge that you so recently signed,” he concluded.

Reached for a response, Mr. Golden’s campaign defended the redistricting process and expressed support for its outcome. Read More

By Colin Campbell 2/06/12 8:32am

social media excitement!

(Photo: Facebook)

Politicians Celebrate Super Bowl Victory (!!!!!)

Everyone who hasn’t been living under a rock knows the New York Giants whipped up an impressive victory in the Super Bowl last night. However, even rock-dwellers were aware of the news if they were friends with any elected officials on Facebook.

Generally, the excited politicians’ responses needed at least five exclamation marks.

Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and State Senator Marty Golden were examples of this. Ms. Crowley wrote “NY Giants XLVI Super Bowl Champions!!!!!” while Mr. Golden wrote “Congratulations to the SuperBowl Champions the New York Giants!!!!!! Go Big Blue.”

Councilman Jumaane Williams, who correctly predicted the score of the game, might have been the most excited of them all. “UH…Yeah! We did it again. ANY DAMN QUESTIONS!!!!!!!” he declared, adding “WHOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” He also had another “WHOAA” post containing 50 exclamation marks. Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/30/12 12:37pm

redistricting

The "Super Jewish" State Senate District

Golden, Fidler & Turner Weigh In On New Jewish District

After Assemblyman Dov Hikind and a key lobbyist in the influential Jewish social services organization Agudath Isreal both praised the State Senate’s decision to create an Orthodox Jewish-majority district last week, it seems unlikely that any elected official in southern Brooklyn will blast its creation in the redistricting process.

In an interview with Shimon Gifter, Republican State Senator Marty Golden praised the new district, which will neighbor his. “I was very happy with my seat, obviously,” he said. “A new Jewish seat will  be a good seat for the future for the state, and I thought that was well-designed as well.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 1/28/12 4:52pm

campaign announcements

Andrew Gounardes announces his campaign

Andrew Gounardes Declares for State Senate [Video]

Andrew Gounardes, a 26-year-old attorney and official in the local Bay Ridge Democrats club, formally declared his candidacy to run against Brooklyn’s only Republican State Senator, Marty Golden, this afternoon.

“Our state government still lacks the accountability, transparency, and honesty that we deserve. And worst of all, some of the politicians we’ve elected to office and entrusted with our votes, aren’t doing much about it,” he said early in his speech. Read More