Greenpoint Gazette Endorses Lentol for Assembly

As long-time readers of the Gazette know, it is our policy NOT to endorse political candidates in our newspaper. However, every rule has its exception and Assemblyman Joe Lentol is ours.

Since Assemblyman Lentol’s last election in 2008 the economy has been at the forefront of nearly every discussion. Budget cuts have been the word of the day in DC and Albany and many elected officials have used the excuse that there is not enough money to go around to be effective leaders. Joe Lentol on the other hand, declared the economic downturn an opportunity to get things done, and that’s exactly what he has done during the past two years.

Lentol has introduced and/or seen through legislation protecting our children, our pets, our housing, our environment, our open space, even the rights of those convicted of crimes. At the same time he has found creative ways to help raise funds to help support our local community organizations.
Among his initiatives during his most recent term, Lentol helped to bring the popular Pool Parties from McCarren Pool to East River State Park, allowing the Open Space Alliance of North Brooklyn to raise funds for the purpose of improving North Brooklyn’s outdoor space. Amid fare hikes and service cuts, he offered numerous solutions to the MTA to help protect North Brooklyn’s subway and bus service and led protests when the MTA tried to make cuts. He co-sponsored what is considered the toughest DWI legislation in the country, requiring ignition interlocks on cars driven by drivers convicted of alcohol-related crimes and raising the penalties for those who drive drunk with minors in their vehicles. Working with CB 1 and DOT, Lentol arranged for repaving Monitor Street between Greenpoint and Norman Avenue, one of North Brooklyn’s worst streets. He worked to raise funds for programs to videotape police interrogations, which it is expected will help save innocent people from prison and protect police officers from false allegations of misconduct. When Google announced a contest to bring ultra-high speed internet to our community, Lentol led the charge, offering to swim in Newtown Creek to bring the attention of Google to his bid to bring Google’s fiber optic Broadband North Brooklyn. He sponsored legislation prohibiting any kind of radioactive waste facility within 1,500 feet of the boundary of a school. He fought for greater oversight and more affordable housing at the Domino Sugar Development Site. The Loft Law (a real North Brooklyn effort – co sponsored with Assemblyman Vito Lopez and in the Senate by State Senator Martin Malave Dilan) gave tenants living in converted lofts increased protections against landlords who deprive them of essential services, such as heat and hot water. Since these residences were in commercial spaces, many tenants did not share the same protections as those living in residential-zoned housing. He successfully supported legislation to mandate that landlords disclose a building’s bed bug history to a potential tenant. Legislation he sponsored prohibiting inappropriate use of the internet by sex offenders was successful in helping to prevent sex crimes.

As someone who attends countless political functions, we are used to seeing “political star power” on parade in support of this or that candidate. More often than not their support is the result of lobbying by the elected and/or his staff to the “star” to make an appearance. At a recent fundraiser in support of Lentol’s upcoming primary campaign a different type of “star” turned out. Instead of politicians – many of whom have worked with and support Lentol’s re-election – the room was full of community activists and leaders – people who live in the community and wanted to show their support to Lentol. Familiar local names like Argento, Esposito, Cohn (and Cohn), Anderson, Torre, Cianciotta, Pool and Perlmutter were among the guests. One guest, Bob, proclaimed “we’re supporting [Lentol] because he’s still our Joe.” Lentol has never forgotten the reality that all politics is local.
Lentol’s success in these times is a testament to the strong relationships he has made in Albany and Brooklyn throughout his career in office and we at the Gazette believe North Brooklyn is best served over the coming two years by re-electing Assemblyman Joe Lentol, “Our Joe,” to the NYS Assembly, 50th Assembly District, on September 14th.

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