How are our political personalities staying cool in this summer heat? While OEM Commissioner Zach Iscol and Comptroller Brad Lander had differing views and stats regarding NYC cooling centers remaining open on Juneteenth, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh had a different type of solution to beat the heat: anyone can request a spray cap for a fire hydrant in their neighborhood…
The Nova Music Festival Exhibition – Israel’s October 7th attack memorial and museum downtown at 35 Wall Street – closes tomorrow after tens of thousands of visitors paid tribute by visiting over the last eight weeks. Leading up to its closing this week, Governor Kathy Hochul visited alongside UJA’s Eric Goldstein, Linda Mirels and Todd Richman, and JCRC’s Mark Treyger… Also there this week, Barowitz Advisory’s Jordan Barowitz; former COO and current consultant to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Elyse Buxbaum; community organizer Rachael Schienman, Bronx Dems’ Rondane Hollar, and SL Green’s Garrett Armwood…
Political personalities celebrated Juneteenth in a variety of ways across NYC and Long Island – absent from the Gracie Mansion event, NYC Mayor’s Chief Advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, spent the evening in Hempstead, where she was honored by Black Legacy Partners at the African American Museum of Nassau County, alongside former NYS Governor David Paterson and NAACP’s Dr. Hazel Dukes…
Long Island City Partnership president Laura Rothrock was in Manhattan this week to testify before NYC Council about her BID expansion (full Council vote in August) before dinner at Pera Mediterranean Brasserie near Grand Central on her way home to Dobbs Ferry…
We hear former Brooklyn Assemblyman Walter Moseley is enjoying adjusting into his role as NY Secretary of State… (political personalities video forthcoming!) and Assemblyman Harvey Epstein was endorsed by Council Member Erik Bottcher in his race for NYC Council District 2, as current member Carlina Rivera is term-limited. With Harvey’s Assembly seat opening up… who will run for that? Former Fox 5 reporter now Holocaust storyteller Dana Arschin is on her way to Poland, where she’ll be reporting live each day from the very places her ancestors lives and perished in the Holocaust, meeting with the Chief Rabbi of Poland, and attending a Shabbat Dinner in Krakow, and even visiting Auschwitz…
With the upcoming primary elections on Tuesday, In The Room Media had the chance to conduct Candid(ate) Conversations with the following political personalities – you can hear what they have to say on the In The Room Media YouTube channel:
Johanna Carmona for Assembly 37 (Queens, Juan Ardila seat)
Taylor Darling for Senate 6 (Long Island, redistricted Kevin Parker, now vacant seat)
Ellen Lederer DeFranceso for Assembly 14 (Long Island, Dave McDonough seat)
Skyler Johnson for Assembly 4 (Long Island, Ed Flood seat)
Rebecca Kassay for Assembly 4 (Long Island, Ed Flood seat)
Gabi Madden for Assembly 103 (Kingston, Sarahana Shrestha seat)
Melissa Rosenberg for Assembly 69 (Manhattan, vacant Danny O’Donnell seat)
Julien Segura, Assembly 71 (Upper Manhattan, Al Taylor seat)
TOMORROW: Jewish philanthropist and owner of Miami Marlins, Ari Ackerman, will be honored at Rabbi Marc Schneier’s The Hampton Synagogue… Vinny LeVien’s Palm Tree Music Festival will happen in Southampton featuring Swedish House Mafia – on Native American territory this year instead of at Gabreski Airport, where the event has taken place for the last three years…
STAY TUNED: Style Across the Aisle: a first-of-its-kind fashion show is coming to New York City during Fall Fashion Week, September 2024… Elected officials model the runway wearing designers from their districts. Mayor Eric Adams will be modeling, and Ingrid Lewis-Martin will be emceeing. Guess whose idea this was? 😉
Political Personality of the Week
New York State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein
Assembly Member Harvey Epstein has been in office since 2018, representing the Lower East Side, East Village, and Murray Hill. He previously served on Community Board 3 for 14 years and was active in local educational organizations. Harvey has played a role on the Rent Guidelines Board and has advocated for low-wage workers, public school diversity, and tenant rights. A champion of progressive causes, he has supported and introduced significant legislation to protect LGBTQ rights, promote environmental sustainability, and reform the criminal justice system.
Harvey co-authored the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 and secured funding for public transit and tenant relief during the pandemic. He serves on multiple Assembly committees, including Corrections and Environmental Conservation, and chairs the Committee on State-Local Relations.
Harvey earned his JD from the City University of New York School of Law, and previously served as associate director at the Urban Justice Center and a staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society. He lives in the East Village with his wife Anita, their children, Leila and Joshua; and their rescue-dog Homer.
- Vegan
- Former PTA president
- Dad of two
- Rescue dog dad
- Has both ears pierced, typically rocks small hoops