In this year’s primary election, Upper West Side voters gave a favorite son a promotion and rewarded legislative incumbents with another two-year term. Here are the results from contested Democratic primary races in the Upper West Side.

Attorney General:

Eric Schneiderman

Eric Schneiderman

Eric Schneiderman, an Upper West Sider and six-term state senator, narrowly won a five-way Democratic primary for attorney general.

Schneiderman beat his nearest competitor Kathleen Rice, a district attorney from Long Island, with 34 percent of the vote to 32 percent, according to the AP’s latest tally.

He totaled 202,894 and cleaned up in the five boroughs, especially in Manhattan. There, he took 57 percent of the borough’s vote.

In November, he faces a tough challenge from Republican Dan Donovan, Staten Island’s district attorney.

Congress:

Charles Rangel

Charles Rangel

The Harlem Lion handily beat back four challengers in the Democratic primary. Rangel, elected in 1970, ran for re-election as he faced 13 counts of ethics violation. But voters in a district that covers Harlem, northern Manhattan and a sizable part of the Upper West Side, gave Rangel another term in Congress with 51 percent of the vote. Adam Clayton Powell IV, an East Harlem Assembly member, was a distant second with 23 percent of the vote.

State Senate:

Bill Perkins

Bill Perkins

Bill Perkins, first elected in 2006, overwhelmingly beat his challenger, charter school advocate Basil Smikle, in this Harlem State Senate seat that extends into the Upper West Side. The voters sent Bill Perkins back to Albany with 76 percent of the vote. Gov. David Paterson, who used to hold the State Senate seat, campaigned with Smikle in a last-minute effort to boost his candidacy.

State Senate:

Adriano Espaillat

Adriano Espaillat

In the race to succeed Eric Schneiderman in the State Senate, Adriano Espaillat won the Democratic nomination against his rival Mark Levine with 51 percent of the vote. This is a diverse district that stretches from the Upper West Side to cover all of northern Manhattan and reaches into the Bronx. In the four-way race, Levine, from Washington Heights, took 39 percent of the vote. With Espaillat’s assured November victory, this is the first time the Upper West Side will be without a state senator from the neighborhood.

State Committee:

Daniel Cohen

Daniel Cohen

The state committee primary was a race for an obscure spot that only garnered the attention of die-hard Democrats. It’s an unpaid position within the Democratic Party. The committee member goes to the state convention to vote for statewide candidates to be placed on the ballot and craft the party platform.

Daniel Cohen, who advocated for an increased role in local community issues, beat Bob Ginsberg, who held the seat for 30 years until 2008, with 55 percent of the vote. Cohen will represent Democrats in the 69th Assembly district, which covers the Morningside Heights and Manhattanville area of the West Side.

New York Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman

New York has recently had top-notch attorneys general in Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo. The next attorney general must be able to match their stature, their skill in taking on complex issues of national importance, and their ability to extract reform. The next attorney general must also be adept at addressing Albany corruption and protecting consumers.

Of the five candidates seeking to be the state’s top cop, we endorse Eric Schneiderman, a state Senator from the Upper West Side.

As Albany disappointed New Yorkers for decades, Schneiderman has been a prime example of a smart, effective, reform-minded legislator. He has crafted legislation that promotes equal justice under the law and ended discriminatory practices. He led the fight to end the harsh Rockefeller Drug Laws, which disproportionately targeted blacks and Latinos. He introduced the Fraud, Enforcement and Recovery Act, which closed loopholes in the state’s False Claim Act.

Although Gov. David Paterson vetoed Schneiderman’s ethics reform bill for being too weak, the legislation would have brought much-needed change to Albany. The fact that his legislation was introduced and passed by a nearly unanimous vote is a major accomplishment.

Each candidate is talking about cleaning up Albany. But Schneiderman actually did it when given the opportunity. Against the wishes of his chamber’s leadership, Schneiderman convened a bipartisan panel to expel his colleague and fellow Democrat Hiram Monserrate after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault against his girlfriend. These accomplishments occurred after the Democrats took the Senate majority in 2009. He has spent the rest of his 12 years in the State Senate fighting Republican senators that blocked his progressive reform-minded legislation.

We are concerned that Schneiderman lacks an investigatory background, but we are confident he will hire an accomplished staff that can follow his vision for the attorney general’s office, which separates him from his competitors. Schneiderman’s core philosophy of equal justice will ensure that the interests of all New Yorkers are heard. He has a broad agenda that protects consumers, prevents the pollution of the environment and fights discrimination.

The other candidates in the race are well-qualified and have strong ideas for the office. Sean Coffey has an exemplary legal background as a federal prosecutor and lead lawyer in the WorldCom fraud case, in which he won more than $6 billion for burned investors. Coffey fashions himself as an outsider, but can speak on the issues passionately and eloquently with the knowledge of a seasoned elected official. If spending time in Albany is a disqualifier for voters, Coffey is a welcome alternative.

Eric Dinallo, former deputy to Spitzer in the attorney general’s office, has an accomplished government background. He also was head of the state’s Insurance Department. He knows the job and how to wield it for powerful results. But we feel Dinallo’s vision—that the attorney general should focus on kitchen table issues—is too limited.

We extend that feeling to Richard Brodsky, an Assembly member representing parts of Westchester. As attorney general, he said he would focus on unfair or hidden fees New Yorkers pay for energy. But his temperament makes him ill-suited for the attorney general’s office, evidenced by his stance on the Islamic cultural center in downtown Manhattan. He unnecessarily waded into the debate and, despite saying he would defend the center as attorney general, proposed a “compromise” in which the center moves for the sake of appeasing its detractors.

Kathleen Rice, the district attorney for Nassau County, Long Island, has been a superb local prosecutor. She has tackled a drunk driving scourge, sexual predators and fought Medicaid fraud. But many of these—save for Medicaid fraud—are quality-of-life issues. She is under-qualified to be the state’s highest law enforcement official.

We support Eric Schneiderman for attorney general in the Sept. 14. Democratic primary.

State Senate—30th District: Bill Perkins

Although many New Yorkers may be angry about political deadlock in Albany and calling for reform, that doesn’t mean that all incumbents need to be ousted in this election cycle. For example, Bill Perkins has been a positive force for reform in his district, which covers Harlem, Washington Heights and part of the Upper West Side. While Perkins has criticized the way charter schools operate within existing public schools—and suffered some backlash for questioning this fairly new practice—it doesn’t mean he hasn’t been a strong force in the Legislature, addressing constituent concerns and, in fact, supporting a bill that would increase the number of charter schools.

His challenger, Basil Smikle, is an impressive candidate who has worked as a top aide for Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Convention. Smikle has his own ideas for improving affordable housing and job creation in the district and will undoubtedly continue to be an imaginative and expressive politician who we hope to see continue his drive to better the city for everyday New Yorkers.

We are certain Perkins, however, will continue his progressive work concerning affordable housing issues and public education and therefore endorse him for re-election.

State Senate—31st District: Mark Levine

When State Senator Eric Schneiderman announced his candidacy for attorney general this year, it meant that his seat in the 31st District was wide open. There are four strong Democratic candidates in the primary, and the district—which covers parts of the Upper West Side, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood and Riverdale—calls for someone prepared to tackle the constituent concerns of a wide swath of New Yorkers in an area undergoing profound changes—especially in regards to housing and job creation. For this reason, we support Mark Levine in the Democratic primary.

Levine, a Washington Heights resident, represents the possibility of new leadership for the district and has a broad background of community building and activism. He has the fresh ideas and independent background that voters want when it comes to reform in Albany. He plans to support campaign finance reform as well as assist constituents in navigating state government hurdles in dealing with health, housing and transit issues.

Levine began his career as a bilingual science teacher and later served as executive director of Teach For America-New York. He understands, firsthand, the issues facing our public school system. Levine went on to found Upper Manhattan’s first and only community development credit union, Neighborhood Trust, which has helped many lower-income residents. In 2007, Levine won a Democratic district leader position, campaigned for Barack Obama’s presidential primary and created the Barack Obama Democratic club uptown.

Levine’s strongest competitor in the primary is Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, also from Washington Heights, who has served 14 years in the state legislature and possesses a stellar background when it comes to constituent concerns, and is a strong candidate.

On immigration reform, tenants rights, urban education and economic development, Espaillat has always been on the right side of progressive legislation and would most likely continue to be a strong advocate for the district’s constituents. Espaillat has strong support from other incumbent politicians, including Senator Schneiderman, but for voters looking for a new perspective at the state level, it’s difficult to make the argument for Espaillat.

A former Democratic district leader and the only Upper West Side resident in the race, Anna Lewis is an attorney with 25 years of experience; she knows the law. Lewis has a legacy of drafting legislation supporting constituent concerns, and she wants to continue her efforts in that direction, especially concerning health care and consumer rights. We also think her idea for housing reform—in particular to start a new housing initiative modeled after the Mitchell-Lama program—is the best we have heard and hope that she continues to advocate for such a program in the future and that others support similar ideas. The fact that there are so few elected women running for state political positions should change, and we hope that Lewis will run for a position in the future.

The other woman in the race, Miosotis Muñoz, has very heartfelt ambitions for the district, and her background in social work and grassroots organizing for various community causes should be applauded. Her compassion, leadership and enthusiasm for neighborhood concerns, however, seem better suited for on-the-ground community efforts, rather than the bureaucracy of state politics.

We endorse Mark Levine for the State Senate in the 31st District for his promise of reform, new ideas and a background that seems exceptionally suited to this vibrant and transforming district.

15th Congressional District: Charlie Rangel

Representative Charles B. Rangel is seeking his 21st term, and we endorse him in that effort. Despite the recent controversy surrounding his office due to the charges of ethics violations, Rangel still deserves the support, and votes, of his constituents after years of dedicated political service.

Although Rangel has relinquished the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, which he had waited since 1981 to take over and finally did in 2006, he still holds quite a bit of power after 40 years in Congress and letting that pass away at this point would be a mistake for New Yorkers. Although many have called for his retirement, Rangel continues to work with indefatigable strength and dedication for his constituents and the nation as a whole.

Even though Rangel will most likely win re-election to the House, we will still need a new generation of qualified and eager candidates to fill his estimable shoes. One of the more fascinating aspects this year was meeting the group that had the pluck to run against the incumbent. For those seeking a change, they will find an excellent candidate in Vince Morgan. The community banker is new to political campaigning, but we found that he had a winning personality and many ideas for where the district could position itself in the 21st-century. In particular, his involvement as the chairman of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and the chair of the 125th Street Business Improvement District will give him a valuable perspective as he continues his political career in the district.

Adam Clayton Powell IV may have many bona fides, most obviously sharing a name with the man who preceded Rangel as the Congressman for the district and serving as a New York City councilmember and in the State Assembly. But Powell’s record in the Assembly has been spotty, his attendance poor. Overall, we think if there is indeed going to be change in the district, we should be looking to the future, not the past.

The other two candidates, Joyce Johnson and Jonathan Tasini, should both be commended for entering the race. Johnson has dedicated many years to public service in various capacities, as well as being a pioneer for women of color in the corporate sector. We hope that she does continue in her unremitting efforts to create a world that supports the efforts of women and minorities to achieve their dreams on an equal playing field. Tasini’s career as a gadfly when it comes to labor and economic issues is needed in politics. Lending his ideas and energy to the race is much appreciated.

We look forward to the next primary for the district, which will undoubtedly have an even stronger and diverse pool of candidates, but in the meantime, we endorse Charlie Rangel for Congress.

In the current New York State Senate, there are few lawmakers truly fighting for a better environmental future for New Yorkers. Bill Perkins is one such legislator. He has a proven record of fighting for New Yorkers and getting results.

As State Senator for the 30th District, Bill Perkins has fought for cleaner air in a district where nearly one in four children suffer from asthma. He has worked with local organizations to fix problems at the North River Sewage Treatment Plant and has fought against the siting of additional bus depots in Northern Manhattan, a huge source of air pollution. And while he was serving in the City Council, Bill led efforts to pass The Childhood Lead Paint Poisoning Act of 2004. This crucial legislation led to a sharp decrease in lead poisoning cases, particularly among people of color and in low-income neighborhoods.

It is for these reasons that my organization has endorsed Senator Bill Perkins in the upcoming September 14 Democratic Primary. Senator Perkins’ demonstrated commitment to the environmental health of New Yorkers makes him the right choice for voters of the 30th District. For the environmental health of New York, we urge Democratic voters in Washington Heights, Harlem and on the Upper East Side to support Senator Bill Perkins this September 14.

Marcia Bystryn
President, New York League of Conservation Voters

State Sen. Bill Perkins’ campaign for a third term started with him being named public enemy number one for criticizing charter schools. Yet almost two weeks before the Sept. 14 Democratic primary, he got an endorsement from the New York Charter Parents Association.

The organization announced their endorsement for Perkins Aug. 23, arguing that the senator held the first hearings on charter schools in their 10 year existence and exposed “many of the questionable practices of charter school administrators that were violating the rights of NYC children and their parents.”

“We support Senator Bill Perkins because he is not anti-charter, but for protecting the rights of parents wherever they choose to enroll their children, whether at district or charter schools,” Mona Davids, founder and president of the association.

Basil Smikle, a political consultant, jumped into the race against Perkins after he refused to back legislation that raised the cap on charter schools in the state. But Perkins has since voted for a bill to allow more charters in New York that also contained a provision blocking for-profit companies from running these schools.

State Sen. Bill Perkins’ re-election campaign got a boost from the League of Conservation Voters.

Perkins is facing a challenge from Basil Smikle, a political consultant and former campaign aide to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Perkins authored a bill recently signed into law that mandates a reduction of sulfur in some home heating oil.

“This law will help clear the air and help New Yorkers who have respiratory trouble breathe easier,” said the League’s president, Marcia Bystryn, in a statement. “We are proud to stand with Bill Perkins and will work hard to re-elect him to the State Senate.”

In the open State Senate seat that covers the Upper West Side, northern Manhattan and the Bronx, the League is backing Adriano Espaillat, an Assembly member from Washington Heights.

His opponents include Mark Levine, a Democratic district leader in Washington Heights, Anna Lewis, an Upper West Side attorney, Miosotis Muñoz, Francesca Castellanos and Rafael Figuereo.

Since charter schools became the new battleground for New York education reform, State Sen. Bill Perkins has become public enemy number one for advocates of these publicly-funded, privately-operated schools.

Perkins, who represents a Harlem district that covers parts of the Upper West Side, has criticized the way charter schools operate and occupy existing public school buildings. Those views have earned him derision from pro-charter school organizations and editorial boards. The group Education Reform Now cut a harsh ad targeting Perkins that aired on cable television, and a Daily News editorial said the State Senator is in the “pouch of the teachers union.”

Basil Smikle, campaign consultant and State Senate candidate. Photo by Dan Rivoli

Now, Perkins has a primary challenger in the form of charter school supporter Basil Smikle, a Columbia-educated campaign consultant.

To Smikle, charter schools are the alternative to a public school system that has failed students. Reflecting on his childhood as a Catholic school student in the Bronx, Smikle recounts how he had to avoid walking in front of the public school because of violence from other students.

“What’s happening in Harlem is that a lot of the students and parents have no choice,” Smikle said. “And what the charter schools have done is actually just give them a choice.”

But Smikle, a former campaign aide to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also acknowledged the validity of complaints over charters: that they purport to accept students based on a lottery but in fact pick the more talented kids, and that they occupy space in public school buildings. He said that although public schools have underutilized space that can be shared with charters, he understands that students would be affected by seeing other children in the same building wearing uniforms, using new computers and participating in a different education program.

“I think, psychologically, it’s going to have an impact. I don’t deny that,” Smikle said. “But I don’t think the answer is to get rid of the charter. The answer is to find a way to improve the institution.”

Perkins, elected to Gov. David Paterson’s Senate Seat in 2006, did not return calls for an interview about his re-election campaign. But he is rallying support, scoring endorsements from Borough President Scott Stringer and the Upper West Side and Harlem Democratic clubs. His campaign announced the collection of 1,890 signatures, nearly double what is needed by the July 15 petition deadline. And he eventually did vote to raise the cap on charter schools in the state to 460 from 200, a bill that was tied to billions of federal dollars known as Race to the Top funds. But the legislation also addressed charter school critics’ concerns, such as blocking for-profit companies from running these schools and increasing regulations for charters that operate in buildings housing public schools.

With 20 charter schools in the area, a fair amount of Harlem parents and voters have first-hand experience of these organizations, and there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue. But for Upper West Side voters, charter schools are more theoretical. Families in that neighborhood are more familiar with the frustrations of waitlists at high-performing public schools and gifted programs. The closest charter school is Opportunity Charter School, on West 113th Street.

Still, Noah Gotbaum, head of District 3’s community education council, which covers the West Side from Columbus Circle to West Harlem, believes that politically-attuned Upper West Side parents have opinions about charters. The families who attend parent council meetings, Gotbaum said, have heard about crowding in Harlem schools due to charters.

“Half of our members are from lower portion are from the district,” Gotbaum said, referring to the Upper West Side. “Yet we are staunchly critical of the way they’ve managed to do this co-location in charter schools.”

But Smikle wants to be known to voters as more than a pro-charter school candidate, a position that “gets a lot of media attention,” he said. He rails against a dysfunctional Albany that has failed to address the district’s needs, from empty storefronts to the high unemployment rate among black males.

“I feel that there are times when the elected officials should be taking the lead when trying to solve problems,” Smikle said. “I don’t see that happening in Albany.”

The new station house design allows easier access to train platforms.

The new station was influenced by the West 72nd Street station in Verdi Square, on the Broadway median. The West 96th Street station house features granite blocks and benches for pedestrians.
Council Member Gale Brewer, who represents the West Side between Columbus Circle and West 96th Street, said the new station will be a destination similar to Verdi Square.
“It’s something people will gather toward,” she said outside of the station. “We hope it stays clean.”
That, too, is a concern for the MTA. Walder, the head of the transit authority, said there will be a maintenance program to keep up the new station.
“It’s clear we haven’t been able to do that for a long time,” he said. “The issue is keeping it in this condition.”
Now that the station house is open, construction will focus on other projects, including rehabilitating the West 94th Street sidewalk entrances and installing ADA-accessible elevators, which other express stops along the 1, 2 and 3, lines offer.
“This opens a whole new corridor for people who travel from 100th Street down,” said Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal.
Rosenthal added: “We have concerns with the MTA budget and completion of capital projects, but on the Upper West Side, we’re glad.”
The opening of the station house—and the fact that construction is on schedule—gave the beleaguered MTA a boost after voting on service cuts to balance its budget. Other capital projects, like the East Side’s Second Avenue subway and Fulton Street station, have been behind schedule.
Sen. Perkins, who chairs a committee that oversees the MTA and other authorities, said the opening of the new station should restore some of the public’s confidence in city transit.
“Projects are in the pipeline and get clogged—that’s the perception,” Perkins said. “This restores some faith, that when the MTA wants to, they can be successful.”