lection Day scares turned out well for Orthodox Jews in Flatbush and Rockland County, but in Queens, the likely Democratic nominee for DA is promising to spread the socialism.

Hate Fails in Flatbush

What Happened

Monique Chandler-Waterman — whose campaign carried anti-Semitic undertones, with ominous references to “outsiders” and “Trump supporters” seeking to “take over” the district — almost won the Democratic Party primary for a Flatbush city council seat last Tuesday. She lost after the Jewish and Haitian communities formed a historic coalition behind her main opponent, incumbent Farah Louis.

Louis received 4,548 votes, a bit over 50%, while Chandler-Waterman got 3,887 votes, or 43%. Louis now goes on to run in the November general election as the Democratic nominee, all but assuring her victory.

The Background

This complicated tale actually began last year. A chain of political dominoes was set off in November 2018 when Letitia James was elected New York state attorney general. She resigned as New York City’s public advocate, triggering a March 20 special election for that post, which was won by Jumaane Williams, the previous occupant of the Flatbush city council seat being contested last week.

A special election to replace Williams on the council was called for May 14. The two main candidates were Louis and Chandler-Waterman, who was Williams’s handpicked replacement. The Jewish community was never particularly enamored with Williams, but since it only constitutes about 10% of the district, it joined with Farah Louis’s Haitian community to back her, providing a winning plurality of 40%.

But that victory only allowed Louis to serve out the remainder of Williams’s current term, through the end of 2019. To keep the seat for a full four-year term, Louis would have to win the November 2019 ballot. So in preparation for that, the same cast of characters faced off again in last Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

But Chandler-Waterman chose to run on hate this time. At her rallies, she and her surrogates painted local Orthodox Jews as interlopers from the “outside” who “bought” Louis.

“In the special election last month,” one of her ads said, “Trump-voting Republicans [the word is ominously italicized] got to decide who represents us [also italicized] in the City Council.” Other ads describe Louis’s supporters as “slumlords” and “real estate developers.” In the heavily African-American district, these terms are common code words for Jews.

The Upshot

A byproduct of the win was the community’s unity, bringing together all groups and politicians in the cause of defeating hate.

Queens’ New Socialist Law Enforcer?

What Happened

Tiffany Caban made a career out of defending criminals. In an improbable quirk, she is now on track to become the Queens district attorney — the chief law enforcement agent in New York City’s largest borough, with a population greater than 20 states.

But Caban’s story is overshadowed by what it means for her mentor, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. And by what it means for the city’s mayoral race in 2021. And what it means for the future of other longtime officeholders, suddenly no longer sure of their seats.

The Background

Exactly a year to the day after Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (nicknamed “AOC”) shocked the US political establishment by toppling one of New York’s most powerful congressmen, her credibility was cemented through the primary election victory of Tiffany Caban, an AOC acolyte.

AOC is proving not to be a fluke — to the dismay of Republicans, and of many liberal Democrats, who suddenly find themselves derisively labeled “moderates” for not backing her radical policy proposals.

Tiffany Caban, 31, ran on a promise to end prosecution for a host of crimes, including exploiting women, drugs, trespassing, and fare evasion. She dedicated her primary win to the inmates at Rikers Island, the city’s largest prison. As the Democratic nominee in the November general election, Caban is a strong bet to win.

But the biggest victor is seen as AOC, who backed Caban when no one else would. Every other major figure was supporting Melinda Katz, the Queens borough president and a reliably liberal Democrat. But it’s hard to be more liberal than socialist, apparently.

Caban’s win — though Katz has yet to concede — answers a question about AOC politicos have been asking ever since the 29-year-old former bartender won a surprise primary on June 26, 2018, against Rep. Joe Crowley: How long are her coattails? AOC’s victory was stunning since it was so unexpected. Crowley had barely campaigned, so confident had he been. Now Caban follows in her footsteps.

The Upshot

But is AOC — whose empire is built on retweets and likes — here to stay? Might she lose if primaried by a mainstream Democrat? The city’s pundit class is convinced that Caban’s victory put an end to such hopes.

What about New York’s other mainstream Democrats? Last year’s state primary elections toppled several longtime legislators who weren’t liberal enough for the party’s increasingly socialist base. Will 2020 do the same for Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Elliot Engel? What about Assemblyman Joe Lentol of Williamsburg?

And of all the presumptive candidates jockeying to replace the term-limited Mayor Bill de Blasio in two years, only Comptroller Scott Stringer followed AOC’s lead and supported Caban. Will this help him or hinder him? Will a socialist surge help him make up for the moderates he loses?

Time, as the cliché goes, will tell.

Tsunami in Rockland

What Happened

In Rockland County, State Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, a known antagonist of frum Jews, lost a Democratic primary for district attorney he had been widely expected to win handily. The loss, by a surprising 51% to 25% margin, was a stinging rebuke for the groups opposed to the county’s growing Torah community.

The Background

Zebrowski had promised to go after “building code and fire safety violations” — code words in the tense county for Ramapo Jews — if he won the Democratic primary on Tuesday. He has been a leading foe of the state’s yeshivos in Albany.

The county’s sizeable Orthodox community — which includes Monsey, Spring Valley, and New Square — watched warily for months as Zebrowski gathered support for his bid. But their hands were tied. They feared that community backing for a given candidate would cause haters to finger the “bloc vote” — another code name for Jews — and lead to a backlash of support for Zebrowski.

So askanim bided their time. As recently as four days before the Democratic primary election, activists were urgently asked if they were aware of Zebrowski’s threats.

They were aware. Twenty-four hours before Election Day, posters and billboards suddenly appeared announcing the community’s united support for Thomas Walsh, a retired judge who was promising equal treatment, regardless of ethnicity. Askanim had decided to back him because of his commitment to fairness.

“We’re not looking for special treatment,” one askan told Mishpacha, remaining anonymous. “We just don’t want to be singled out, as Zebrowski was saying he would.”

Videos depicting a predawn raid on a house and frum Jews being led out in handcuffs were distributed, along with vivid ads urging that this could all be prevented by voting for Walsh. Other videos depicted forlorn children being forced to make Kiddush themselves since their father was in jail. A video of Rav Chaim Kanievsky wishing success to the campaign went viral.

The Upshot

The community’s response to the years-long campaign of harassment paid off. Walsh, who had already secured the Republican and Conservative party lines, came out the decisive victor.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 767)