On the Candidates: Isaac Abraham

How did I get into politics? I didn’t. I’m still not into politics. That’s why I’m a real reformer.

It’s almost 9 pm, and Isaac Abraham’s headquarters on Broadway and Roebling is packed with volunteers. Abraham appears, his sleeves rolled up, and leads me into a back room, where our short interview will be interrupted promptly every five minutes.

“Excuse me,” says one polite campaigner. “We just, we really need Issac!”

Isaac Abraham is a true community organizer, and his office is full of supporters: He is running for city council in the 33rd district.

“I’ve been doing it for 35 years, on every level of government from city, state to federal government,” Abraham said. “I am the unelected councilperson. I have been for 36 years, I honestly feel that, and so does the community.”

Isaac Abraham, the first ever Hasidic Jew to seek a city council seat, is certainly a South Williamsburg staple, though his influence stretches far beyond the reaches of North Brooklyn. He has been an active community member for 36 years, rallying for change in a variety of capacities. He served on the volunteer ambulance corp, Hatzolah, for 27 years, and was also active delivering Sabbath meals for the needy through Tomchei Shabbos in Williamsburg. Active on Affordable Housing issues, Abraham is also a leader and spokesperson for two tenants’ multi-ethnic associations—Clemente Plaza Tenants Association and the Bedford Gardens Tenants Association. If elected Abraham vows to be a true community advocate—a role he feels he has played in his neighborhood, and beyond, for his entire life.

“I have the god-given gift of speech, language, and communication, and I want to address the issues,” Abraham said. “And I’m so involved in the community: One of my children calculated that, according to the number of years of volunteer work, I’m already living 280 years!”

Among Abraham’s priorities are rehabilitating the half-built blighted buildings of the 2005 Greenpoint/Williamsburg rezoning by working with the city, and with developers, to rent out vacant units to individuals and families in need of affordable housing, and rallying on behalf of the parks and open space that were promised to the community. In conjunction, Abraham promises to fortify the infrastructure necessary to support the influx of residents into North Brooklyn neighborhoods, and lobby for federal stimulus money to fulfill the rezoning promises promptly and properly.

“Waterfront and open space are two things which the city c omitted itself,” Abraham said. “It’s open space and park space that the families and children need. If you are going to occupy these units with working class families and individuals, you must make sure that the infrastructure and open space is there as well. We have to reoccupy these empty buildings, and we have to make them affordable. That will be the highest priority, because this market wont’ turn around for a year or two and people looking for homes now just can’t wait.”
Abraham has also developed a budgetary plan that, through a series of cost-cutting strategies and alterations, could potentially save the city $1.2 billion.
“Everyone sees my plan, and they say it’s amazing! They say I should run for Comptroller!” Abraham said.
However, Abraham maintains that he is, at his roots, a member of the community—“just a Yeshiva boy”—and will act as their true representative in local government, albeit with unflinching motivation, dedication, care and concern for all constituents.
“I’ve been to the battlefield to challenge government when businesses, block associations and tenants aren’t getting what they should,” Abraham said. “I’m not the type to give up, and with my experience, being in city council is just a title they will give me. I’m already doing it.”