Yes, we do requests.

Lumi of NoLandGrab writes:

I don't know if you noticed, but this weekend the Times endorsed Hakeem Jeffries for the 57th AD without even mentioning the one issue that clearly divides the three candidates, Jeffries, Bill Batson and Freddie Hamilton. What's even more disappointing is that the only reason given for Jeffries endorsement was the he "has the makings of a political star..."

I still personally think that the Times's endorsement of Betsy "do nothing" Gotbaum was the lowest point in recent Times-endorsement history, however to give away an endorsement to a candidate based upon charisma is pretty pathetic.

True. But neither the Gotbaum endorsement nor this one is surprising. Gotbaum was the incumbent; the Times always endorses incumbents not under indictment.

Jeffries takes another few steps.

Here's the full endorsement.

Hakeem Jeffries, a bright and eloquent young lawyer, did such a good job of challenging outgoing Assemblyman Roger Green a few years ago that Mr. Green’s colleagues in Albany rearranged this district to carve out the Jeffries’ home. Now Mr. Green has moved on and Mr. Jeffries has moved into the district so that he could try again.

He is not the only good candidate in the running. Freddie Hamilton, who started Parents United to Rally for Gun Elimination, has had a real impact in this area. And Bill Batson, a former aide to State Senate Minority Leader David Paterson, has raised the level of debate about the Atlantic Yards development. But Mr. Jeffries has the makings of a political star in a place that needs his intelligence and his energy. We endorse Hakeem Jeffries.

1) Bruce Ratner is building the Times's new headquarters on Eighth Avenue.
2) The Times editorial board endorsed the Ratner project.
3) Hakeem Jeffries basically supports the Atlantic Yards project, with some waffling.
4) A good portion of the 57th AD is pretty solidly anti-Yards. If the Times announces it supports Jeffries because he supports the Yards project, it undoes all his careful waffling and sinks him with much of the Times's mid-Brooklyn readership. Another reason must be found, and in the absence of anything substantive to say there's always the option of saying nothing.

Even without all that, Jeffries is the closest thing to an incumbent in the race, with the most money and the fanciest website.

Sorry, Lumi. I know you wanted humor, but there's nothing all that funny here. Just some garden-variety backscratching and establishment politics.

Fun fact: Bill Batson is also an artist! (For real, actually.)



UPDATE: As long as we're on the Yards, and as long as you're no longer assembling for rights in police plaza (that has been canceled, right?), tomorrow is the Public Hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Forest City Ratner’s proposed "Atlantic Yards" project. From DDDB:

This hearing is the only opportunity our community will have to speak out publicly about the DEIS. Please be there!

When: Wednesday, August 23rd, 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Where: New York City Technical College, Klitgord Auditorium, 285 Jay Street (@ MetroTech, between Tillary & Johnson)

Mass Transit Access: A/C/F to Jay Street, M/N/R to Lawrence Street, 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall