Bruce Springsteen was in Albany this week, performing for a crowd of concert-goers, while trapped inside the Capitol Building, a group of Assemblymembers were working on a 1,000 piece puzzle – analogous to the seemingly never-ending budget process coming together…
Downstate, a warm start to the week in NYC inspired many to dine outdoors, including finance entrepreneur Carolyn Vaeth who was spotted at AVRA Rockefeller Center for a late lunch with “Text-to-Pledge” guru, David Mack… also spotted midday on the streets of midtown, 710 WOR Radio host, Marc Simone…
NYC Hospitality Alliance at TAO Downtown attracted over 800 hospitality personalities and local leaders such as Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Tom Grech, Open Plans’ Sara Lind, NYSEDC’s Ryan Silva, ReThink Food’s Matt Jozwiak, Cozen O’Connor’s Jamie Ansorge, Bolton St. John’s Robin Brown, Mayor’s Office of Nightlife’s Jeff Garcia and a variety of New York City Councilmembers such as spiked-shoe-wearing Kevin Riley, Selvena Brooks-Powers, Gale Brewer, Erik Bottcher and Joe Borelli… Mingling on the dance floor, you could overhear City Hall’s Fabien Levy sharing stories with Geto & de Milly’s Sam Weinberger from a recent interfaith pre-Passover seder, Oaktree Solutions Frank Carone and Ariel Palitz exchanging exciting upcoming travel information, and of course The Alliance’s Andrew Rigie being pulled in a million directions for selfies with his wife Farnaz in tow…
Hon. David Greenfield’s Met Council organized 200 different Passover food giveaways across the five boroughs this week, gathering hundreds of volunteers and dozens of political personalities from both sides of the aisle to join together and help pack and distribute $10 million worth of kosher food… With all his running around this week, we hear David was looking tall, trim and buff while eating sushi at an anti-DSA event in Brooklyn, attended by real estate industry pros…
In Sheepshead Bay, bipartisan City Councilmembers from the Office of Marine Debris Disposal and Vessel Surrendering (Inna Vernikov, Joann Ariola and Selvena Brooks-Powers) hosted a press conference with NYC Parks to demonstrate the removal and demolition process of an abandoned boat… Later in the week, Inna attended a birthday party for WABC Radio host Sid Rosenberg at Casa Cipriani…
This week’s City Council Stated Meeting attracted dozens of political personalities to the steps of City Hall before entering the Red Room for pre-stated and then the Chambers for the official meeting. Overheard on the steps, Council Member Justin Brannan talking about property tax reform, Eric Dinowitz looking forward to outdoor movies this summer in Van Cortlandt Park, and Pierina Sanchez sharing some of the conversations taking place in the world of housing to create an affordable New York City for this generation and the next, like her 20-month old baby boy…
On Long Island, First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury’s Bishop Lionel Harvey, hosted a spirited birthday extravaganza attended by former New York Governor and Sands New York executive David Paterson and Rep. Tom Suozzi, who presented the Bishop with a flag that flew over the US Capitol… In the room, bopping to beautiful, soulful religious music were other members of the Sands Resort New York team like Tracey Edwards, Lauren Corcoran-Doolin and Marvin Amazan, as well as AJC’s Eric Post and Nassau County Legislators Siela Bynoe and Seth Koslow…
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE FUN THAT WILL BE HAD AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S INNER CIRCLE SHOW. Who will be In The Room Where It Happens at Ziegfeld Ballroom? Stay tuned…
Political Personality of the Week:
Justin Brannan, NYC Council Member, Chair, Finance Committee
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Justin was a hardcore punk guitarist for the bands Indecision from 1993 to 2000 and Most Precious Blood from 2000 onwards, where he toured the world (over 50 countries) creating and sharing music lyrics amplifying commitment to social justice and vegetarianism.
Later in his career while working at a New York City radio station, Brannan got involved in union organizing and fought to recover unpaid wages for his co-workers. He then served as chief of staff to his predecessor Councilman Vinnie Gentile before being tapped by Mayor de Blasio to help oversee the expansion of universal pre-K as director of intergovernmental affairs at the NYC Department of Education.
A believer in the importance of making government work efficiently and making life easier for working and middle class families, Brannan was first elected in 2017 from a crowded field of ten candidates to represent southwest Brooklyn. Today, when he isn’t personally making sure your garbage gets picked up or rescuing a wayward kitten in a tree, Brannan serves as Chairman of the Committee on Finance where he oversees the largest municipal budget in the country.
Justin lives in Bay Ridge with his wife Leigh, an artist, educator & small business owner, and two retired racing greyhounds: Luna and Fiorello (named after Justin’s hero, Fiorello LaGuardia)
Fast Facts
- Justin toured the world in a hard core punk band before being elected
- Greyhound dad
- Started playing guitar in 5th grade
- Met with US Senator Chuck Schumer at his local bakery, Paneantico
- Justin’s mom lives in same apartment where Justin was raised
- Champion for increased arts & music funding in our public schools